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California

These resources – like the public health crisis itself – are constantly evolving and are only current as to the date of publication. This page was last updated on September 25, 2020.

For more up-to-date information on the relief programs available in California, we recommend that you visit the Secretary of State's website or the California COVID-19 portal.

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Description of Program and Relief

Moratorium on Residential Evictions

San Francisco has implemented a moratorium on residential evictions for nonpayment of rent due between March 13, 2020 and July 31, 2020 due to a loss of income related to a business closure caused by COVID-19, loss of working hours or wages caused by COVID-19, layoffs caused by COVID-19, or out-of-pocket medical expenses caused by COVID-19. Any tenants who do not pay rent during that period for those reasons shall have until December 30, 2020 to pay any past rent due.

The moratorium does not relieve renters of their obligations to pay rent or otherwise comply with the terms of their leases.

Government or Lead Agency

City of San Francisco, Office of the Mayor

Dates Available

March 13, 2020 to July 31, 2020 (or until the Proclamation of Local Emergency is terminated, or upon an executive order from the Mayor). The Mayor may extend this moratorium by an additional period of one month through executive order if conditions at that time warrant extension.

Eligibility Requirements/Restrictions

Residential tenants who cannot pay rent because of financial impacts caused by COVID-19 (e.g., substantial loss of household income due to COVID-19 business closures, loss of compensable hours of work or wages, layoffs, or extraordinary out-of-pocket medical expenses because of COVID-19).

Tenants who are unable to pay rent that was due between March 13, 2020 and July 31, 2020 because of COVID-19 should (1) provide notice to their landlords within 30 days of the past due date each time the tenant misses a rent payment, and (2) provide verifiable proof (e.g., documentation) within one week of the notice that the nonpayment of rent was because of COVID-19. Thereafter, the tenant will automatically receive an additional month after the date the tenant provided the proof to pay the missed rent.

No landlord may impose late fees or interest on rent not paid between March 13, 2020 and July 31, 2020 for the reasons stated above.

Application Deadlines (If Applicable)

N/A

Contact for More Information

Email the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development: eviction.moratorium@sfgov.org

List of Additional Information

The announcement of the moratorium can be found here.

The Mayor’s declaration of the moratorium can be found here.

For additional tenant assistance, please contact Housing Rights Committee of San Francisco at (415) 703- 8644, Chinatown Community Development Center at (415) 984-2728, or the San Francisco Tenants Union at (415) 282-6622, or visit San Francisco's Anti-Displacement Coalition's website: www.sfadc.org.

For additional landlord assistance, please contact the San Francisco Apartment Association at (415) 255- 2288.


© 2021 Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. This does not constitute legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. In some jurisdictions, this publication may be considered attorney advertising. Past representations are no guarantee of future outcomes.

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