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 nationwide ban on evictions has ended. On September 1, 2020 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an Agency Order titled Temporary Halt in Residential Evictions to Prevent the Further Spread of COVID-19 (Order). The Order and its extensions banned evictions for nonpayment of rent through July 31, 2021.
Even though the federal eviction ban has ended, states can still ban evictions and enact other tenant protections. See the chart below for information about any eviction ban or tenant protections in your state.
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 until at least September 30, 2021. 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. |
||
| No | No | -See the Regulatory Commission of Alaska's COVID-19 utility information page.
-Information for renters about 2021 rent relief programs. |
||
| 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. |
||
| No | No | |||
| (local ban information) | Yes: through 9/30/2021 | Yes: through 9/30/2021 |
-The governor has announced an extension of the eviction ban through September 30, 2021. -Also see California Eviction Moratorium (Bans) and Tenant Protections for the status of bans in various California cities and counties. -Utility shutoff moratorium for nonpayment until at least September 30, 2021 for most utilities. See the CPUC's website on consumer protections during the COVID-19 outbreak for details. |
|
| 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). |
||
| No |
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 September 30, 2021). -Connecticut's UniteCT (emergency rental assistance program). |
||
|
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. |
||
|
Yes: see notes |
Yes |
-The mayor has signed an act phasing out the eviction and utility shutoff moratoriums. More updates once mayor's office has posted the final signed version. -D.C.'s STAY program (rent and utility assistance). |
||
| No | No |
-Florida Housing's COVID-19 Information and Resources. |
||
| 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. |
||
| Yes: through 8/6/2021 | No |
-By order of governor, evictions for nonpayment of rent suspended through August 6, 2021. Governor has stated that the eviction ban will not be renewed after August 6, 2021. -Resources for emergency rental assistance in Hawaii. |
||
| 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. |
||
| See notes |
No |
-By order of governor, as of August 1, 2021, landlords can file eviction lawsuits for nonpayment of rent. Law enforcement can't carry out evictions, though, until August 21, 2021. (Also see Executive Orders 2021-13 and 2021-14 for details.) -Tenants and landlords might be able to get assistance through the Illinois Rental Payment Program (ILRPP). |
||
| 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 |
||
|
No |
No |
|||
|
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. |
||
| 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. |
||
| No | No |
-Maine's Emergency Rent Relief Program. |
||
|
Yes: through 8/15/2021 |
No |
-By governor's order, no evictions statewide during emergency. Emergency declaration lifted effective July 1, 2021, but there is a 45-day grace period (until August 15, 2021) during which the eviction ban remains in place. See the Maryland Attorney General's consumer alert for more information. -Maryland's Emergency Rental Assistance Program |
||
|
No |
No |
-Massachusetts state resources for renters. -For utility information, see the DPU list of utility assistance resources. |
||
| No | No |
-Michigan's COVID Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA). |
||
| Yes: See notes | Maybe (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. For detailed information visit Minnesota Housing's RentHelpMN website (see particularly it's FAQs and timeline for off ramp). -Information about utility assistance. |
||
| 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. |
||
| No | No |
-Nebraska emergency rental assistance program. -More information and resources available from Nebraska Legal Aid. |
||
| No | No | |||
| No | No | |||
| Yes: until end of emergency +2 months |
No |
-Governor's order prohibits removal of tenants from residential properties, and postpones enforcement of all judgments for possessions, warrants of removal, and writs of possession. 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. |
||
| Yes | 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. -New Mexico Emergency Rental Assistance Program -Many utilities have suspended shutoffs. Check with your provider for information. |
||
|
Yes: through 8/31/2021 |
Yes |
-The state legislature's COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2020 was extended through August 31, 2021. It prohibits evictions and puts various tenant protections in place. -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. |
||
|
No |
No |
-North Carolina's HOPE program. |
||
| No | No | |||
| No | No |
-Ohio Home Relief Grant (for landlords and tenants). -Ohio Public Utilities Commission's information on utility plans. |
||
| No | No | |||
| No | No |
-Oregon emergency rental assistance. -Information about utilities in Oregon. |
||
| No |
No |
-Pennsylvania emergency rental assistance. -Pennsylvania Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) |
||
| No | No | |||
| No | No |
-South Carolina SCStay program (COVID-19 housing assistance) -SC Housing's list of resources for rental assistance. |
||
| No | No |
-South Dakota CARES Housing Assistance Program -Check South Dakota PUC website for resources related to utilities. |
||
| No | No |
-Tennessee Housing Development's list of energy assistance programs for renters. -Tennessee Office of the Courts' list of eviction resources. |
||
| No | No |
-TXU Energy is offering customer support resources. |
||
| No | No | |||
| No | No |
-See Vermont Legal Aid's website for details about evictions in Vermont. |
||
|
No |
Yes: until at least 60 days after end of state of emergency |
-HB 5005 (regarding moratorium on utility disconnections). State of emergency ended effective July 1, 2021. See Virginia Utility Assistance Program. |
||
| See notes re: eviction moratorium "bridge" through 9/30/2021 | Yes: through 9/30/2021 |
-Governor has announced an eviction moratorium "bridge" that will extend the eviction moratorium through September 30, 2021. Landlords cannot evict for unpaid rent due from 2/29/2020 through 7/31/2021. Beginning 8/1/2021, landlords may evict under certain circumstances. -Utility shutoff moratorium extended through September 30, 2021. -Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission's information on COVID-19 utility assistance. -Washington mortgage relief and assistance information. |
||
| 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: August 2, 2021
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