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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

The Santa Clara City Council has approved an emergency ordinance issuing a temporary moratorium on residential evictions. During the term of the ordinance, no landlord may evict a residential tenant for nonpayment or delayed payment of rent, or initiate a no-fault eviction, unless necessary for the health and safety of other tenants, neighbors, or the landlord, if the tenant’s employment status and income have been affected by COVID-19. The eviction moratorium does not relieve eligible tenants of their liability for the unpaid rent.

Government or Lead Agency

Santa Clara City Council

Dates Available

Effective through May 8, 2020

Eligibility Requirements/Restrictions

Residential tenants are eligible for the moratorium if they have suffered a substantial loss in income as a result of (1) job loss, (2) reduction in compensated hours of work, (3) the closure of their employer’s business, (4) missing work due to a minor child’s school closure, or (5) any other similarly-caused reason related to COVID-19 that resulted in a loss of income.

Eligible tenants must provide their landlord with written notice of their lost income and inability to pay rent. Notice may be provided over email or text message to a landlord or a landlord’s representative with whom the tenant has previously corresponded by email or text.

The eviction moratorium does not relieve eligible tenants of their liability for the unpaid rent. Landlords may not take legal action to recover unpaid rent until 90 days after the expiration of the ordinance imposing the moratorium on evictions.

Santa Clara County has also issued a moratorium on all residential and commercial evictions through May 31, 2020 for tenants who can demonstrate their employment status and income have been affected by COVID-19. Tenants are encouraged to contact 211 to determine whether the Santa Clara County moratorium supersedes the City of Santa Clara moratorium.

Application Deadlines (If Applicable)

N/A

Contact for More Information

For more information, individuals may visit this website for updates on COVID-19 from the City of Santa Clara.

List of Additional Information

For more information on the City of Santa Clara eviction moratorium, click here.

Information about the Santa Clara County eviction moratorium is located here.


© 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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