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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

Residential Evictions Moratorium

On March 15, 2020, Mayor Garcetti ordered a moratorium on residential evictions during the local emergency for residential tenants who show an inability to pay rent due to circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tenants are still obligated to eventually pay for lawfully charged rent. Tenants will have up to twelve months following the expiration of the local emergency period to repay any back due rent.

Mayor Garcetti has also banned all residential “no-fault evictions” under any circumstances. The Mayor’s order also provides tenant protections against evictions based on the landlord going out of business (also known as “Ellis Act” evictions).

Additionally, on May 12, 2020, the Mayor ordered that landlords must give the COVID-19 Renter Protections Fact Sheet (Protections Notice) to each residential tenant by May 27, 2020. A landlord must also now include the Protections Notice when serving a tenant a notice to pay rent or quit, a notice to terminate a residential tenancy, a notice to perform covenant or quit, or any eviction notice served during the local emergency period and for 12 months after the expiration of the local emergency period. The Protections Notice must be in the language predominately used by the tenant. Landlords that violate this ordinance can be sued by the tenant in a civil proceeding, but only after the tenant provides a written notice to the landlord of the violation and allows the landlord 15 days to comply.

A tenant who receives a Notice to Pay Rent or Quit may file a complaint with the Los Angeles Housing + Community Investment Department (HCIDLA) online at https://hcidla2.lacity.org/File-a-Complaint or by calling (866) 557-7368. The tenant is required to provide to HCIDLA a copy of the “Notice to Pay Rent or Quit” and documentation that the renter or household have been financially impacted by COVID-19. The tenant’s complaint will then be assigned to a Housing Investigator, who will investigate the tenant’s claim and advise the landlord and tenant of their findings and the application of the Emergency Order.

Landlords and tenants may mutually agree to a payment schedule or arrangements for repayment of rent prior to the expiration of the local emergency period or within 90 days of the first missed payment, whichever occurs earlier.

Because formal eviction notices and “Unlawful Detainer” documents are court documents, tenants who receive one should immediately seek legal counsel and assistance in responding to the Unlawful Detainer. Legal referrals may be found here. Additional legal referrals may be found on the L.A. Represents website, which contains links to dozens of legal resources.

Government or Lead Agency

Los Angeles Housing + Community Investment Department (HCIDLA)

Dates Available

Evictions for inability to pay are prohibited, effective as of March 4, 2020 until twelve months after the expiration of the local emergency period.

No-fault evictions are prohibited, effective as of March 4 2020 until the end of the local emergency period.

Ellis Act evictions are prohibited, effective as of March 4, 2020 until 60 days after the end of the local emergency period.

Eligible tenants will have until 12 months after the end of the local emergency period to pay back rent.

Eligibility Requirements/Restrictions

All residents of the City of Los Angeles are eligible; however, the moratorium requires that the tenant is able to show an inability to pay rent due to circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic. These circumstances include loss of income due to a COVID-19 related workplace closure, child care expenditures due to school closures, healthcare expenses related to being ill with COVID-19 or caring for a member of the tenant’s household who is ill with COVID-19, or reasonable expenditures that stem from government-ordered emergency measures.

The moratorium on no-fault evictions has no eligibility requirements. The prohibition on Ellis Act evictions has no eligibility requirements.

Application Deadlines (If Applicable)

Any tenant of a residential property in the City of Los Angeles who receives a Notice to Pay Rent or Quit should inform their landlord that they are an affected tenant as a result of COVID-19 before the expiration of any Notice to Pay Rent or Quit. However, it is best to provide this notice before rent is due.

Contact for More Information

Tenants may seek information and assistance from HCIDLA by calling (866) 557-7368, Monday - Friday, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and weekends, Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., or by filing a complaint online at: https://hcidla2.lacity.org/File-a-Complaint.

List of Additional Information

For more information about the City of Los Angeles’ Renter Protections, click here.

COVID-19 Renter Protections Fact Sheet (Protections Notice)

Mayor Garcetti’s March 15 Order

Mayor’s Office Newsletter Discussing March 15 Order

Mayor Garcetti’s March 23 Order

Mayor’s Office Newsletter Discussing March 23 Order

City Ordinance No. 1866606

COVID-19 Related City and State Eviction Protections Information Sheet


© 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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