Newsom Orders Statewide Moratorium On Evictions

On Friday, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an order halting evictions through May 31 for renters affected by COVID-19. The statewide action is effective immediately.

The governor's order says, "Minimizing evictions during this period is critical to reducing the spread of COVID-19 in vulnerable populations by allowing all residents to stay home."

Renters will be expected to write their landlords within a week of their rent being due, if they can't make a payment. Tenants will also be required to pay their full rent in "a timely manner" and can still face eviction in the future over non-payment of rent, once the moratorium is lifted.

Newsom's order prohibits law enforcement and the court system from moving forward on evictions.

The move could clear up widespread confusion about eviction moratoriums in California, where a patchwork of measures have been adopted by municipalities. A previous order by Newsom allowed local governments to create eviction moritoriums, but the order did not itself impose them.

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