Information on eviction moratoriums and tenant protections being enacted due to outbreak of COVID-19.
The federal government, as well as many any states, cities, and counties are taking steps to minimize the impact of the novel coronavirus crisis on tenants, including placing moratoriums on evictions, holds on shutting off utilities due to nonpayment, and prohibiting late rent fees.
Federal Tenant Protections
The CDC's Eviction Ban Is No Longer in Place. The Alabama Association of Realtors, along with other plaintiffs, challenged the validity of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s August 3, 2021 Agency Order halting evictions in areas with high COVID-19 transmission rates (Order).
The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (District Court) agreed with the plaintiffs that the Order was unlawful, but stayed (put on hold) its decision, leaving the Order in place.
The plaintiffs then asked the U.S. Supreme Court to lift (vacate) the District Court's stay of its decision, which would result in the eviction ban created by the Order ending. On August 26, 2021, the Supreme Court granted the plaintiffs' request to vacate the District Court's stay.
As a result of the Supreme Court's August 26, 2021 decision, the CDC's eviction ban is no longer in place.
Other Federal Tenant Protections
The government-backed mortgage buyers Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae (FHFA) have prohibited landlords of multifamily properties with Freddie Mac- and Fannie Mae-backed mortgages from evicting tenants for as long as needed. For the most current details on the FHFA's tenant protections, see the FHFA information sheet. To find out if your rental is covered by the Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac eviction bans, visit Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and enter your address. You can also use the National Low Income Housing's federal eviction moratorium lookup tool to see if your address is covered by one of the federal eviction bans.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is maintaining a detailed explanation of the federal eviction bans.
State Eviction Protection
The chart below attempts to capture the latest information on coronavirus-related tenant protections by state (and county and major cities, if applicable). Please note that this information is changing hourly, and the chart might not reflect all current protections. For the best information about the status of evictions where you live, check your state's judicial system or governor's website. You can also contact a legal aid organization in your area.
In the chart, click on the state's name to be directed to its official COVID-19 website.
| State | County or City | Hold On Evictions | Hold on Utility Shutoffs | Other Tenant Protections/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | No |
-Alabama's emergency rental assistance program. -Visit ALtogether to find resources for assistance in Alabama. -Alabama's Coronavirus Relief Fund. -Public Service Commission states that it is confident no customers will experience interruption during crisis, and that after crisis period utilities will help with past-due accounts. However, the decision is left to individual utility providers. |
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| No | No | -See the Regulatory Commission of Alaska's COVID-19 utility information page.
-Information for renters about 2021 rent relief programs. |
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| No | No |
-Arizona Corporation Commission's ban on utility disconnects has ended, but many providers are extending the hold on disconnects and are offering assistance to customers. Check with your provider. -Resources for individuals in Arizona. -Arizona utility assistance programs. |
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| No | No | |||
| (local ban information) | See notes | Water shutoff only (until 12/31/2021) |
-As of October 1, 2021, tenants earning less than 80% of the area median income will be protected through a pre-eviction diversion process through the courts if they have submitted a completed application for rental relief. -Also see California Eviction Moratorium (Bans) and Tenant Protections for the status of bans in various California cities and counties. -See the CPUC's website on consumer protections during the COVID-19 outbreak for details. -Water service will not be disconnected for unpaid bills until at least December 31, 2021. |
|
| No | No |
-By order of the governor, landlords must give tenants who have submitted an application for rental assistance 30 days' notice of nonpayment of rent before they can file an eviction suit. -See Colorado statewide utility tracker for information about whether your utility provider has put a moratorium on shutoffs during the crisis. You can also get current information about utility assistance programs on the PUC's website. -Check your court's website to see status. -Colorado's Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP). |
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| See notes |
No |
-Governor has ordered new steps landlords must take before delivering a notice to quit for nonpayment of rent, as well as other tenant protections (extended through February 15, 2022). -Connecticut's UniteCT (emergency rental assistance program). |
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|
No |
No |
-Delaware Housing Assistance Program -By order of governor, and until the end of the public health emergency, landlords could file eviction lawsuits, but courts were required to stay any proceedings. Order was in place until the end of the state of emergency, which ended July 13, 2021. |
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|
See notes |
Yes: see notes |
-The mayor has signed an act phasing out the eviction and utility shutoff moratoriums. Read text of act (A24-0125) here. Landlords can begin filing evictions on October 12, 2021 if the tenant owes $600 or more in rent, the landlord has applied for rental relief, and the tenant has been given a 60-day past-due rent notice. Details available here. The act also extends a shut-off moratorium for some customers. -D.C.'s STAY program (rent and utility assistance). |
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| No | No |
-Florida Housing's COVID-19 Information and Resources. |
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| No | No |
-Georgia Rental Assistance Program. -Courts have discretion as to whether eviction hearings can proceed; check individual Georgia courts' status here. -Georgia utility assistance programs. |
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| No | No |
-Resources for emergency rental assistance in Hawaii. |
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| No | No |
-Idaho emergency rental assistance. -Landlords and tenants in Ada County who are involved in an eviction for nonpayment of rent will be invited to negotiate an agreement through an online portal. -For financial and other assistance, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission has a county-specific resource guide. |
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| No |
No |
-Eviction ban ordered by governor ended October 3, 2021. (Also see Executive Orders 2021-13, 2021-14, and 2021-19 for details.) -Tenants and landlords might be able to get assistance through the Illinois Rental Payment Program (ILRPP). |
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| No | No | |||
| No | No |
-Iowa Rent and Utility Assistance Progam -Rent and utility assistance for residents of Polk County and the City of Des Moines |
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|
No |
No |
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|
No |
No |
-Kentucky's Healthy at Home Eviction Relief Fund. -Many utilities have voluntarily agreed to not shutoff for nonpayment. Please contact your utility provider for options. |
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| No |
No |
-Louisiana's Emergency Rental Assistance Program -For information on utilities, visit the Louisiana Public Service Commission's website. -Louisiana Law Help is regularly updating its website with COVID-19 information for Louisiana residents. |
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| No | No |
-Maine's Emergency Rent Relief Program. |
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|
No |
No |
-Eviction ban ended August 15, 2021. See the Maryland Attorney General's consumer alert and the Maryland Courts' website for more information. -Maryland's Emergency Rental Assistance Program |
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|
See notes |
No |
-Courts cannot order an eviction for nonpayment of rent if the tenant has a pending application for rental assistance. See the COVID Eviction Legal Help website for more information and resources for renters and landlords. -Massachusetts state resources for renters. -For utility information, see the DPU list of utility assistance resources. |
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| See notes | No |
-Courts must stay (put on hold) any eviction case where the tenant applies for CERA. For full details, see Michigan Legal Help's website. -Michigan's COVID Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA). |
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| See notes | See notes |
-MN legislature has passed an "eviction off ramp" law. As of August 13, 2021, landlords can terminate the lease of renters who are behind in rent and are not eligible for a COVID-19 emergency assistance plan. As of September 12, 2021, landlords can file evictions, and renters who do not qualify for COVID-19 related rental assistance can be evicted. As of October 12, 2021, the eviction ban will apply only to renters who have pending COVID-19 rental assistance applications. All protections will end as of June 1, 2022. For detailed information visit Minnesota Housing's RentHelpMN website (see particularly its FAQs and timeline for off ramp). -Information about utility assistance. |
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| No | No | |||
| No | No | |||
| No | No |
-Renters can seek relief from the Montana Emergency Rental Assistance program. -Visit the Montana Public Service Commission's website to locate your utility service provider's website and find out about status. |
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| No | No |
-Nebraska emergency rental assistance program. -More information and resources available from Nebraska Legal Aid. |
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| No | No |
-Tenants might be able to delay eviction by showing proof that they have applied for rental assistance. See the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada's website for more information. |
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| No | No | |||
| Yes: See notes |
Yes: through 12/31/2021 |
-Renters who qualify as moderate-, low-, or very-low-income are protected from eviction for nonpayment of rent through December 31, 2021 if they certify their income level and hardship, and have applied for rental assistance. Landlords can still seek a money judgment for the rent owing, but not an eviction. See New Jersey Eviction Moratorium Information + Question Form for more information. -New Jersey emergency rental assistance program. -See NJ's Board of Public Utilities FAQs on End of Shutoff Moratorium and Grace Period -New Jersey utility assistance programs. |
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| Yes: See notes | No |
-See New Mexico's website on the utilities' response to COVID-19. -NM courts have placed a temporary moratorium on eviction. You must provide the court with evidence of current inability to pay rent at your hearing on the eviction petition. Eviction hearings will be held by video or phone, unless parties file a motion for in-person hearing. The NM Supreme Court has a FAQ page for more information. Moratorium in place until end of emergency (in place until at least November 12, 2021). -New Mexico Emergency Rental Assistance Program -Many utilities have suspended shutoffs. Check with your provider for information. |
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|
Yes: Through 1/15/2022 |
Yes: Through 12/21/2021 |
-The state legislature's COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2020 was extended through January 15, 2022. It prohibits evictions and puts various tenant protections in place. On August 12, 2021 the U.S. Supreme Court struck down part of the eviction ban, finding that tenants must provide evidence to a court that they have experienced a COVID-related hardship—signing a hardship declaration form stating that they have experienced hardship isn't sufficient. On September 1, 2021, the NY legislature agreed to extend the moratorium through January 15, 2022. -New York emergency rental assistance program. -No utility shutoffs due to nonpayment during the state of emergency +180 days. See DPS's website for FAQs and more information. -Apply for New York Heating and Cooling Assistance (HEAP) program here. |
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|
No |
No |
-North Carolina's HOPE program. |
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| No | No | |||
| No | No |
-Ohio Home Relief Grant (for landlords and tenants). -Ohio Public Utilities Commission's information on utility plans. |
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| No | No | |||
| See Notes | No |
-Oregon's legislature passed a safe harbor bill to delay certain evictions: When serving a notice of nonpayment on tenants, landlords must include a notice about tenant's rights. Landlords must wait 60 days before filing an eviction if the tenant provides documentation of having applied for rental assistance. If the rent remains unpaid after 60 days, the landlord might be eligible to receive a grant for the rent that accrued during the waiting period, and the eviction can move forward. Many of these protections end February 28, 2022. See the City of Portland's Oregon Eviction Moratorium FAQs for more information. -Oregon emergency rental assistance. -Information about utilities in Oregon. |
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| No |
No |
-Pennsylvania emergency rental assistance. -Pennsylvania Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) |
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| No | No | |||
| No | No |
-South Carolina SCStay program (COVID-19 housing assistance) -SC Housing's list of resources for rental assistance. |
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| No | No |
-South Dakota CARES Housing Assistance Program -Check South Dakota PUC website for resources related to utilities. |
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| No | No |
-Tennessee Housing Development's list of energy assistance programs for renters. -Tennessee Office of the Courts' list of eviction resources. |
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| No | No |
-TXU Energy is offering customer support resources. |
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| No | No | |||
| No | No |
-See Vermont Legal Aid's website for details about evictions in Vermont. |
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|
See notes |
No |
-Landlords must provide certain information to tenants when serving a notice for unpaid rent, such as providing tenants information about the Virginia Rent Relief Program and (in some cases) offering tenants a payment plan. Until June 30, 2022, landlords cannot evict tenants who apply for or cooperate with landlord's efforts to apply for the rent relief program. See VPLC Housing Advocacy's website for details. -See Virginia Utility Assistance Program. A ban on utility disconnections still applies for some Dominion Energy customers (through March 1, 2022). |
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| No | No |
-The eviction moratorium "bridge" ended October 31, 2021. -Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission's information on COVID-19 utility assistance. -Washington mortgage relief and assistance information. |
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| No | No | |||
| Wisconsin | No |
No |
-Wisconsin Rental Assistance Program. |
|
| No | No |
-Wyoming Emergency Rental Assistance Program. -Check Wyoming's COVID-19 website for more information. |
Other Resources:
- You can check to see if your utility providers have taken the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC's) Keep Americans Connected pledge to not disconnect residential or small business customers during the coronavirus pandemic.
- Sources of Coronavirus Assistance for Landlords and Tenants: A list of federal, state, local, non-profit, and private sources of financial assistance and other resources for both tenants and landlords.
- The National Low Income Housing Coalition has an Emergency Rental Assistance Dashboard where you can look up local sources of rental assistance.
- If you need to find out the median income where you live to see if you qualify for certain types of assistance, you can use Fannie Mae's Area Median Income Lookup Tool.
Updated: November 1, 2021