Reactions to the COVID-19 outbreak have varied greatly around the United States. While some areas are under shelter-in-place orders, others are responding in different ways. All of us are feeling the impact. We decided to take a look at how eviction moratoriums are being put into place by cities and states. One of the challenges in pausing evictions is that how they are handled can vary both by state and by county.

As we previously reported, the Department of Housing and Urban Development announced that it's suspending all evictions and foreclosures until the end of April. The Federal Housing Finance Agency directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to do the same for a minimum of 60 days. The CARES Act puts a 120-day eviction moratorium in place nationally for tenants in properties that are part of government programs or that have a federally-backed mortgage loan.

The National Multifamily Housing Council put out a release on March 22 asking apartment owners and landlords to halt evictions for renters who were experiencing job loss or reduction in income due to COVID-19. The council went on to request a 90-day pause on all rent increases.

Alabama

No eviction moratorium in place. Small businesses across Alabama impacted by the coronavirus pandemic are eligible for assistance through the Small Business Administration's (SBA's) Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.

Alaska

No formal eviction moratorium in place. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy released the Alaska COVID-19 Economic Stabilization Plan. He will sign an executive order stating that no evictions can be carried out on the 13,000 Alaskans who receive rental assistance through the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation for 60 days. The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation will suspend foreclosures and evictions.

Arizona

Governor Ducey issued an executive order on March 24 temporarily delaying evictions for people impacted by COVID-19 for up to 120 days. The tenant will need to provide documentation and will still be responsible for paying any rent owed. The Arizona Supreme Court gave the courts authorization to suspend mandatory timelines on eviction hearings. The Arizona Multihousing Association has urged tenants to reach out to their landlords and has encouraged landlords to work with tenants who are having issues.

Phoenix

Maricopa County Justice Courts will delay eviction hearings until at least early April. Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego has said the city will pause all financial evictions on city-owned housing.

Tucson

Pima County Constables have filed a letter saying they will pause all evictions until they receive updates from the county health department and the Arizona Supreme Court.

Arkansas

No eviction moratorium in place. The state has made a request for disaster loans for small businesses and will allocate $12 million in block grant money and up to $4 million from the quick-action fund to provide bridge loans to help midsize companies and nonprofits.

Little Rock

The Metropolitan Housing Alliance has announced that public housing residents and Section 8 tenants in Little Rock will not be evicted during this time period. The housing agency will work with property management companies on rent forbearance.

California

Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order that authorizes local governments to pause evictions for renters. The protection is in effect through May 31, 2020, for now. Tenants are still obligated to pay rent, and landlords can still recover rent that is due.

Update: Governor Newsom has extended the moratorium through July 28.

Arcata

The city is discussing a moratorium on evictions. The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office said that it will not be enforcing evictions "effective immediately until further notice."

Contra Costa

As of April 21, the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors has put in place an eviction moratorium that is retroactive from March 16 and extends to May 31. Tenants need to prove they have been impacted by COVID-19.

El Monte

The city has a 60-day eviction moratorium in place.

Eureka

The Eureka City Council has extended a temporary moratorium on evictions and foreclosures through July 28.

Fresno

The city of Fresno issued an order on March 20, 2020, stating that no residential tenants can be evicted due to loss of income related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Commercial landlords are also prohibited from evicting commercial tenants who own businesses that are closed, either voluntarily or by a mandate to reduce the spread of the virus. The tenant must notify the landlord and provide documentation. Tenants will have up to six months after the termination of the emergency declaration to repay back rent. The eviction moratorium is in effect for 30 days but could be extended.

Los Angeles

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti issued an executive order that no landlord can evict a residential tenant in the City of Los Angeles during the local emergency period. Tenants will have up to six months following the expiration of the local emergency period to repay any back due rent. The LA City Council is considering expanding the moratorium to 12 months.

Oakland

An eviction moratorium is in place until May 31, 2020. Landlords can't charge late fees and cannot raise rents more than 3.5% until June 30.

Pasadena

Pasadena has an eviction moratorium in place for six months. It extends to businesses and even self-storage facilities.

Portola Valley

As of April 15, the Portola Valley Town Council has enacted an eviction moratorium for small businesses that can't pay rent due to COVID-19.

Rancho Cucamonga

On March 20, the Rancho Cucamonga City Council issued an eviction moratorium for both residential and commercial tenants impacted by COVID-19. Tenants must be able to provide documentation that the inability to pay is related to the coronavirus pandemic and must notify the landlord within 30 days after the rent is due. The ban will be in effect through May 31 for residential renters and April 30 for commercial tenants

San Bernardino

The San Bernardino City Council declared a local emergency on March 18 and plans to put an eviction plan in place.

San Bruno

The San Bruno City Council has paused evictions for small businesses as of April 28.

San Diego

San Diego Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer announced plans to take immediate steps on a temporary eviction moratorium to provide relief to residents and businesses facing financial hardship related to the COVID-19 outbreak. The proposed ordinance will still require tenants to pay rent and allow landlords to recover rental fees at a future time.

Update: the eviction moratorium is in place until June 30.

San Francisco

San Francisco Mayor London Breed has enacted a moratorium on residential evictions as well as commercial evictions for small and medium-sized businesses impacted by the coronavirus crisis. It applies to all businesses with a license to operate in San Francisco that have less than $25 million in annual gross receipts. The residential moratorium began on March 13 and lasts for 30 days but may be extended.

San Jose

The San Jose City Council has extended its moratorium until May 31. Tenants will have to prove that their inability to pay rent is related to the coronavirus outbreak. The city is also considering a potential rent freeze.

Santa Monica

The city has extended its eviction moratorium until June 30, 2020. Tenants are also given up to 12 months to pay rent that they skipped due to the COVID-19 crisis. The city is also providing protection for most commercial tenants (larger publicly traded companies are excluded).

Ventura County

A variety of cities in Ventura County, including Camarillo, Ojai, Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, and Simi Valley, have put an eviction moratorium for nonpayment of rent in place.

Colorado

On April 30, Colorado Governor Jared Polis issued an executive order enacting a statewide eviction moratorium.

Denver

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock announced that evictions are paused until further notice. Update: even when the state's moratorium expires, the Denver moratorium will remain in place.

Connecticut

The state has paused hearings on eviction cases through March 27; however, landlords can still file new eviction cases. Housing advocates have asked for eviction moratoriums.

Delaware

The Delaware Justice of the Peace has paused all landlord/tenant proceedings through April 16, 2020, to be rescheduled for a date no earlier than May 1, 2020.

Florida

A foreclosure and eviction moratorium is in place until June 2. The governor's executive order states that rent and mortgage payments will still be due. Florida is part of the Small Business Administration (SBA) program offering emergency loans to small businesses. Small-business owners with two to 100 employees located in Florida affected by COVID-19 can apply for short-term loans up to $50,000.

Update: The statewide eviction moratorium has been extended through July 1.

Broward County

Broward County has halted all residential eviction proceedings for the time being.

Orange County

The Orange County (Orlando) area has paused all evictions.

Seminole and Brevard County

Per Chief Judge Lisa Davidson of the 18th District, eviction and foreclosure proceedings in both Seminole and Brevard County are paused through April 15.

Georgia

No statewide eviction moratorium is in place at this time.

Atlanta

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has issued an executive order pausing residential evictions and filings for 60 days.

Hawaii

The Hawaii Department of Public Safety Sheriff Division is suspending all eviction activities. Housing advocates are pressuring Governor David Ige to issue a statewide moratorium.

Update: On April 18, Governor David Ige signed an eviction moratorium that was subsequently extended through May 31, 2020. A second order signed on May 18 extends the eviction moratorium through June 30.

Idaho

No eviction moratorium is in place yet. Idaho's constitution requires eviction hearings to be completed within a specific time frame, and there has been no announcement of a change by the state government or legislature. Eviction hearings have stopped in Blaine County after an order from 5th District Administrative Judge Eric Wildman.

Boise

The city of Boise will waive rent for April in approximately 300 units of public housing and block evictions for any of its residents.

Illinois

Governor J.B. Pritzker issued an executive order pausing enforcement of residential evictions until April 8. The 10th Judicial Circuit has postponed all eviction court cases until April 17 in Peoria, Tazewell, Marshall, Putnam, and Stark counties. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved the state's eligibility for disaster assistance loans for small businesses.

Chicago

In a press conference on March 19, Mayor Lori Lightfoot asked all property owners to "give tenants some grace" during this period. Eviction cases are handled in the Circuit Court of Cook County, which has paused eviction cases until April 15th.

Indiana

On March 20, Governor Eric J. Holcomb issued an executive order pausing evictions and foreclosures until the state of emergency is over. Tenants and homeowners will still be obligated to make up the payments. Public housing authorities have also been asked to extend deadlines for eligibility requirements for public housing.

Update: Governor Holcomb has extended the eviction and foreclosure moratorium through July 31.

Iowa

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has enacted a temporary suspension of some evictions and paused the commencement of foreclosure proceedings and the prosecution of ongoing foreclosure proceedings on residential, commercial, and agricultural real property located in the state of Iowa. The new rules are part of a state of public health disaster emergency plan set to expire on April 16, 2020, unless extended. Update: the governor has said she will let the order expire.

Kansas

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signed an executive order on March 20 to order financial institutions to pause both business and residential evictions as well as mortgage foreclosures until May 1.

Kentucky

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has paused eviction cases.

Louisville

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office has suspended evictions.

Louisiana

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards announced on March 18 that the state is suspending foreclosures and evictions. Small businesses in all 64 Louisiana parishes will have access to federal Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster aid.

New Orleans

New Orleans has extended its eviction moratorium until May 18, the end of the stay-at-home order in the state.

Maine

Governor Janet Mills has put out an executive order banning immediate evictions except for unlawful circumstances during the duration of the emergency. The state has also created a rent relief fund that will offer one-time $500 payments direct to landlords for people who are struggling to pay rent. Evictions in place before a March 18 emergency order was announced are allowed to proceed but most other evictions are paused in the state court system until at least May 1.

Maryland

On March 16, Governor Larry Hogan issued an emergency order that stops Maryland courts from ordering the eviction of any tenant who can show that their failure to pay rent is related to the COVID-19 outbreak. The order is in place until the state of emergency is over.

Baltimore

In Baltimore County, all evictions are suspended while the county is under a state of emergency.

Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Legislature put out an emergency declaration that prevents evictions by sheriffs and constables as well as foreclosures of residential property. Small businesses in the state are also eligible for low-interest federal disaster loans through the Small Business Association.

On April, 22, Governor Baker signed eviction moratorium legislation.

Boston

In a speech on March 17, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh stated he is working with housing advocates, property owners, and the Boston Housing Authority to halt all eviction proceedings until the coronavirus outbreak is over. His office is also working with lenders and landlords to prevent loan defaults and evictions for small businesses. The city is under a state of emergency until May 4. The Boston City Council passed a non-binding resolution calling for a 90-day pause on evictions and foreclosures.

Michigan

Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive order on March 20 temporarily halting evictions for nonpayment of rent through April 17. The order allows tenants and mobile home owners to remain in their homes and allows courts to delay eviction-related proceedings. The governor has also extended the tax foreclosure deadline.

Update: Governor Whitmer has extended the eviction moratorium through June 30.

Minnesota

The Minnesota Legislature has introduced a bill that includes a moratorium on evictions. The bill blocks rental property owners from filing for eviction for 30 days in places where public health emergencies have been declared. Late fees on unpaid rent could not be charged for 60 days. The bill also includes the creation of a temporary housing assistance program.

Mississippi

No eviction moratorium in place currently, although some state activists are calling for one.

Missouri

No eviction moratorium in place. Eviction proceedings in court are currently suspended in Jackson County. Tenants have asked Governor Mike Parson for a statewide moratorium.

Montana

No eviction moratorium is currently in place. The Montana Legal Services Association recommends you work directly with your landlord if you are a tenant.

Nebraska

No statewide eviction moratorium is in place currently. Over two dozen state advocacy groups have asked for a pause in evictions. Governor Pete Ricketts said he is looking into who has the authority to halt eviction proceedings on a state level.

Nevada

Evictions are paused until May 15 when the state of emergency for Nevada ends.

New Hampshire

On March 17, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu issued an executive order saying that landlords will not be allowed to start eviction proceedings for any tenant unable to pay due to the impact of the coronavirus and that foreclosures will also be frozen.

New Jersey

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy issued an executive order on March 19 pausing evictions and foreclosures for 60 days after the state Senate passed a bill to give him the authority to make changes. Murphy has also requested that lending institutions work with borrowers who are experiencing hardship.

New Mexico

No statewide eviction moratorium in place. Anyone who has received an eviction notice is asked to call the state's COVID-19 general hotline at 833-551-0518.

Albuquerque

The City of Albuquerque has stopped evictions on all public housing for nonpayment. Judges hearing eviction cases can grant continuances.

Santa Fe

Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber has frozen both residential and commercial eviction indefinitely as well as putting a moratorium on water shut-off.

New York

Governor Andrew Cuomo has enacted a three-month suspension of all commercial and residential evictions. The state will also suspend mortgage payments for people who are out of work for 90 days. As of May 7, evictions are suspended until August 20.

New York City

Although evictions are paused, New York landlords can still file new eviction cases even though all new cases are being postponed for at least 45 days. A hotline run by Housing Court Answers at 212-962-4795 offers advice and resources. On March 27, Mayor Bill De Blasio called for a rent freeze for tenants in nearly 1 million rent-stabilized housing units for the coming year and is considering extending the eviction moratorium.

North Carolina

An order from North Carolina Chief Justice Cheri Beasley on March 13 paused all eviction and foreclosure cases for 30 days. Representative Alma Adams has asked for a 90-day moratorium on evictions, foreclosures, and utility shut-offs.

North Dakota

No eviction legislation in place yet, but the High Plains Fair Housing Center has asked North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum to enact an eviction moratorium.

Ohio

There is no statewide eviction moratorium in place. Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor of the Ohio Supreme Court has asked municipal courts to limit eviction and foreclosure proceedings.

Cleveland

There isn't a formal ruling in place yet, but Cleveland City Council President Kevin Kelley has announced that the city will suspend evictions due to economic hardship caused by the impact of the coronavirus. Kelley has asked the Cleveland Municipal Housing Court to stop eviction proceedings.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma’s county courts, have suspended most of their activities until May 18 at the earliest. Oklahoma County Sheriff P.D. Taylor has suspended the enforcement of residential evictions, and Tulsa County announced a two-week moratorium on evictions.

Oregon

Oregon Governor Kate Brown passed an executive order granting a 90-day eviction moratorium on March 22.

Portland

Multnomah County officials are planning to rescind their moratorium to match the statewide one.

Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has closed all courts and ruled that state residents can't be evicted from their homes or businesses. As of May 7, Governor Wolf extended the eviction and foreclosure moratorium statewide until July 10.

Philadelphia

Most foreclosure proceedings have been suspended. All evictions are on pause until at least March 29, and the Philadelphia Housing Authority has also updated its eviction policies.

Rhode Island

Rhode Island Governor Gina M. Raimondo has announced that state courts will not process any residential or commercial evictions for the next thirty days.

South Carolina

South Carolina has extended its eviction moratorium through May 15.

South Dakota

No eviction moratorium yet. South Dakota small businesses are eligible for the Small Business Association's Economic Injury Disaster Loans, which offer up to $2 million in assistance per small business to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that can't be paid because of the disaster's impact. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses without credit available elsewhere; businesses with credit available elsewhere are not eligible. The interest rate for nonprofits is 2.75%.

Tennessee

The Tennessee Supreme Court has suspended most in-person court proceedings, including eviction cases.

Nashville

Nashville was already recovering from the impact of a tornado on March 3. Mayor John Cooper has announced that the Davidson County Sheriff's Office would stop serving evictions for victims of the tornado or who are dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak.

Texas

On March 19, the Texas Supreme Court issued an order stopping eviction proceedings for the next 30 days, until April 19. There are exceptions for criminal activity or if the tenants "pose an imminent physical threat."

Utah

There is no statewide eviction moratorium in place, although courts have paused eviction proceedings in many counties. The Utah Apartment Association is creating rent deferment plans for renters who can show that their income is affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vermont

As of May 1, the state passed a law that will keep an eviction moratorium in place until 30 days after Vermont exits its state of emergency due to COVID-19.

Virginia

The Supreme Court of Virginia has suspended all new eviction cases in the Commonwealth of Virginia for tenants unable to pay rent as a result of COVID-19 through April 6.

Update: The eviction moratorium has been extended through June 28.

Washington

Governor Jay Inslee has prevented residential landlords from serving a notice of unlawful detainer for default payment of rent for the next 30 days. Additionally, law enforcement may not enforce eviction orders based solely on nonpayment of rent. Up to $5 million of the Governor's Strategic Reserve Funds will be made available as small grants to small businesses across the state to help prevent closure due to COVID-19.

Update: Governor Jay Inslee issued an executive order on April 18 that extends the eviction moratorium through June 4. The new order expands protection to renters in a wider variety of living situations including transitional housing and mobile homes.

Second update: The eviction moratorium is now extended through August 1.

Seattle

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan has paused residential and small business evictions until June 4, 2020.

Update: Durkan has extended the eviction moratorium through August 1.

Washington, D.C.

The D.C. Supreme Court has suspended evictions of all tenants and foreclosed homeowners.

West Virginia

No statewide eviction moratorium is currently in place. West Virginians in need of assistance with an eviction are encouraged to call 2-1-1 or visit WV211.org.

Wisconsin

As of March 27, Governor Tony Evers issued an executive order prohibiting landlords from terminating tenancy for failure to pay rent. Both evictions and foreclosures are paused for 60 days.

Wyoming

No eviction moratorium is in place as of now. Wyoming small businesses are now eligible to apply for up to $2 million in Economic Injury Disaster Loans designed to help small businesses and private nonprofits that have suffered substantial economic injury as a result of COVID-19.