COVID-19 Renters rights
Eviction moratorium status
Everyone’s life has been affected in some way by the COVID-19 pandemic, and renters are near the top of that list. To help with housing and public health, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) enacted an eviction ban last September, which provided renters with an Eviction Protection Declaration that they could fill out and provide to their landlords.
The United States Supreme Court struck down the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) eviction moratorium on August 26, 2021. Landlords may now move forward with eviction proceedings for nonpayment of rent from July 2021 onward.
Many states and counties have taken matters into their own hands by placing their own moratoriums on evictions, late fees, and shutting off utilities. The table below attempts to capture the latest information for renter protections state-by-state. This information changes often, so please also click on the link for rent relief by your state, and/or contact the legal aid organization in your area.
In addition, the National Apartment Association (NAA) advises that any tenants who have suffered hardships related to COVID-19 should reach out to their landlords to discuss their situation. Your landlord may have additional policies in place or be willing to reduce/forgive/delay rent beyond federal, state, and local regulations.
Rent relief by state for all 50 states
| Alabama | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes Emergency Rental Assistance Alabama AlabamaLegalHelp.org Alabama’s Corona Virus Relief Fund Public Service Commission states that there will be no utility shut-offs during the pandemic and that it will help customers with past due accounts after the crisis. |
| Alaska | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes Check out Alaska’s COVID-19 page for the latest information. Alaska’s Covid-19 Utility Information page 2021 Rent relief programs |
| Arizona | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes Resources for Arizona residents Arizona’s utility assistance and rental assistance The ban on utility disconnects has ended. Some individual providers are holding off on disconnects and offering assistance to customers. Check with your provider. |
| Arkansas | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No. Other Tenant Protections/Notes Arkansas rental assistance |
| California | Hold on evictions: Yes, through 9/30/21 Hold on utility shutoffs: Yes, through 9/30/21 Local ban information by county or city Other Tenant Protections/Notes California’s Eviction ban extension and utility shut-off moratorium through 9/30/2021 California’s rental assistance California COVID-19 Housing California Public Utilities Commission |
| Colorado | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes Colorado’s utility information by county or city Colorado’s Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP) Covid-19 information and updates By order of the governor: Tenants who have applied for rental assistance must be given 30 days’ notice of nonpayment prior to filing for an eviction suit. |
| Connecticut | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes Governor order for new steps that landlords must take before delivering an eviction notice as well as other protections. Connecticut’s rent assistance and Covid-19 information page |
| Delaware | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes Delaware rental assistance Delaware State Housing Authority |
| District of Columbia | Hold on evictions: Yes Hold on utility shutoffs: Yes Other Tenant Protections/Notes The mayor has signed an act phasing out the eviction ban and utility shutoff moratorium See the DC Public Service Commission for Covid-19 updates D.C.’s rent and utility assistance |
| Florida | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes Florida’s Covid-19 housing information site Florida state website You can contact your local SHIP office for funding assistance. |
| Georgia | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes Georgia’s rental assistance program and utility assistance Check the State of Georgia Public Service Commission’s website for a list of GA services that have been suspended disconnections due to COVID. |
| Hawaii | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes COVID-19 rent relief status: Governor’s order Learn more about Hawaii’s response to the pandemic on the state’s website. Answers to FAQs and additional resources can be found here. |
| Idaho | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes Idaho’s rental assistance and utility assistance Ada county landlords and tenants involved in eviction proceedings can negotiate an agreement through their online portal. |
| Illinois | Hold on evictions: Yes, until 10/3/2021 Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes Illinois’ rental assistance and utility assistance More Covid-19 information at Illinois Housing Development Authority By order of the governor, starting August 1, 2021, landlords can file eviction lawsuits for nonpayment of rent. Law enforcement cannot enforce evictions, though, until September 18, 2021. (Also see Executive Orders 2021-13 and 2021-14 for details.) |
| Indiana | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes For assistance, see Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority and their COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program. |
| Iowa | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes Iowa’s rent and utility assistance Resource guide Rent and utility assistance for residents of Polk County and the City of Des Moines |
| Kansas | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes Kansas’ rent assistance and utility assistance Kansas Eviction Prevention Program, (KEPP). |
| Kentucky | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes Kentucky’s rent assistance program and utility assistance program Many utilities have agreed to not shut off for nonpayment. Contact your utility provider for options. |
| Louisiana | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes Louisiana’s COVID-19 rent assistance information and utility assistance program here. Covid information and updates here. |
| Maine | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes Utilities may not shut off service, and Maine has created a rent relief program. |
| Maryland | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes For assistance, visit here. For more information visit Maryland Attorney General’s consumer alert. |
| Massachusetts | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes Massachusetts’ rent assistance and utility assistance See here for info on the Boston Relief fund. |
| Michigan | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes Michigan’s rent assistance program and utility assistance Michigan Legal Help here. |
| Minnesota | Hold on evictions: Yes, through 9/12/2021 Hold on utility shutoffs: Maybe – visit the utility protections site listed below for more information Other Tenant Protections/Notes As of 8/13/2021 MN legislation passed an “eviction off ramp” law stating that landlords can terminate the lease of renters who are behind on their rent and not eligible for Covid relief help. As of 9/12/2021, they can also file for evictions. See Housing Support in the state of Minnesota for more information. For consumer utility protections during the COVID-19 emergency, visit here. |
| Mississippi | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes Mississippi’s rent assistance and utility assistance programs For additional resources including Mississpi’s Coronavirus Hotline, visit here. |
| Missouri | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes Missouri’s rent assistance program and here as well. |
| Montana | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes For rent relief assistance, see Montana Coronavirus Relief Program. Visit Montana Public Service Commission’s website for information on your utility status. |
| Nebraska | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes Nebraska’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program For additional information and help contact Legal Aid of Nebraska. For information on your utility company, visit here. |
| Nevada | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes Nevada’s rent assistance and utility assistance For additional resources regarding how Nevada is handling the current pandemic with respect to housing, learn more. |
| New Hampshire | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes For rent relief support, see New Hampshire’s Housing Relief Program. For additional resources regarding how New Hampshire is handling the current pandemic with respect to housing, learn more. |
| New Jersey | Hold on evictions: Yes, until end of emergency + 2 months Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes New Jersey’s rent assistance and utility assistance programs COVID-19 rent relief status: Governor Executive Order No. 103 stops evictions until the order is no longer in effect. In addition, renters can use their security deposit toward rent due during or up to 60 days after the public health emergency. For additional resources regarding how New Jersey is handling the current pandemic with respect to housing, learn more. |
| New Mexico | Hold on evictions: Yes Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes New Mexico’s rent assistance and utility assistance programs Additional resources are here. Temporary moratorium on eviction. Provide evidence of current inability to pay rent at your court hearing regarding eviction petition. Eviction hearings by video or phone, unless otherwise requested. |
| New York | Hold on evictions: Yes, through 1/15/22 Hold on utility shutoffs: Yes, during the state of emergency + 180 days Other Tenant Protections/Notes New York’s rent assistance and utility assistance programs COVID-19 rent relief status: Governor order on moratorium evictions has been extended until 1/15/22. The security deposit may be used to cover unpaid rent, collecting late fees, and repaying unpaid rent. For additional resources and FAQs about your status as a renter in New York, read here. |
| North Carolina | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes For rent assistance resources, visit the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency, HOPE program, and for free legal support, visit here. |
| North Dakota | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes For rent relief support, click here, for general FAQ questions here, and for information on support for utilities see here. Financial assistance for phone or internet service. |
| Ohio | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes COVID-19 rent relief status: Ohio Supreme Court order eviction ban expired 9/4/2020. For Ohio state rent relief support information visit here. |
| Oklahoma | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes Oklahoma’s rent assistance program Go here to find out more: Oklahoma’s COVID-19 resources and assistance website. |
| Oregon | Hold on evictions: No (Multnomah County renters are protected from eviction due to non-payment of rent for 90 days if they have applied for rental assistance.) Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes Oregon’s rent assistance and utility assistance programs For other Multnomah County rent assistance, visit here. |
| Pennsylvania | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes Pennsylvania’s rent assistance and utility assistance programs |
| Rhode Island | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes For general support rent relief information, read here. Also visit RIhousing.org. |
| South Carolina | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes For the South Carolina COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program, visit here and South Carolina’s rent assistance. For utility assistance click here. |
| South Dakota | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes For South Dakota rental assistance visit here and here. Utility-related resources can be found at South Dakota PUC website. |
| Tennessee | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes Tennessee Office of the Courts’ list of eviction resources. Tennessee’s utility assistance For additional resources regarding how Tennessee is handling the current pandemic with respect to housing, learn more. |
| Texas | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes See Texas Home Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) program for support and here. Texas Rent Relief Click here to learn about assistance from TXU Energy. |
| Utah | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes Utah Rent Relief Utah utility assistance Click here if you are having trouble paying your rent due to Covid. Additional resources here. |
| Vermont | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes Vermont’s rent assistance Visit the Agency of Commerce and Community for useful information and resources in Vermont. For more details on eviction moratorium see here. |
| Virginia | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: Yes: until at least 60 days after the end of the state of emergency which was on 7/1/2021 Other Tenant Protections/Notes Virginia’s rent assistance and utility assistance Stay Home Virginia Virginia’s Legal Aid provides FAQs on renting during Covid and eviction information here and Virginia’s Rent and Mortgage Relief Program (RMRP). |
| Washington | Hold on evictions: Yes, expires Sept 30, 2021 Hold on utility shutoffs: Through Sept 30, 2021 Other Tenant Protections/Notes COVID-19 rent relief status: Governor extended moratorium through Sept 30, 2021. Beginning 8/2/2021, landlords can evict under certain circumstances. COVID-19 resources and information for renters can be found here. Washington’s utility assistance |
| West Virginia | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes West Virginia’s rent assistance program. |
| Wisconsin | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes Wisconsin’s rent assistance Wisconsin Emergency Rental Assistance Program For additional resources on tenant FAQs and Covid in Wisconsin click here, learn more. Wisconsin’s utility assistance |
| Wyoming | Hold on evictions: No Hold on utility shutoffs: No Other Tenant Protections/Notes Wyoming’s rent assistance For additional state, county, and city orders due to COVID-19, read here. |
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You probably already know that we’re not a law firm, but just to make sure we get this out of the way: We can’t provide any advice or opinions about possible legal rights, remedies, defenses, options, selection of forms, or strategies. And by hanging out with us here at Roost, you agree to our Legal disclaimer.
Last Updated: September 24th, 2021