Due to repeated pandemic shutdowns, many citizens across the United States continue to struggle financially. This has led to a large number of tenants being unable to pay their rental fees, thus putting them in danger of eviction.
To help minimize the impact of COVID-19 on tenants, the federal government, alongside various counties and states has enacted measures placing moratoriums on evictions and banning utility shutoffs.
Keep reading to learn about the specific tenant protections in your state, as well as how eviction protection regulations have changed over time.
What Is a Federal Eviction Moratorium?
A federal eviction moratorium is a ban on evictions put in place by the federal government.
This means, in most cases, landlords could not evict tenants for unpaid rent throughout the United States.
Normally, it is up to each state to decide its own eviction laws. However, due to the national emergency brought on by the pandemic, the federal government put this moratorium into effect.
On August 26, 2021, the Supreme Court ruled to end the federal eviction moratorium. All decisions regarding bans on evictions are now being decided at the state and local levels.
Eviction Moratorium Timeline
During the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., various eviction moratoriums were established in response to mass job loss and unemployment. The first of these was included in the CARES act, applying to federally-backed properties.
After its expiry on July 24, 2020, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an agency order known as “Temporary Halt in Residential Evictions to Prevent the Further Spread of Covid-19”.
This order was effective from September 4 until December 31 of 2020, during which evictions were banned in any jurisdiction where the order was applied and for all residential properties in which the tenant met certain criteria.
After the end of the moratorium on the night of January 1, 2021, it was immediately extended to January 31. Following President Biden’s inauguration, the order was again extended until March 31.
These federal eviction protections were then extended by the CDC through to June 30, 2021, and one additional extension was enacted until July 31, 2021. Although this was originally meant to be the final moratorium, due to significant political pressure, the CDC issued an additional extension for counties with considerable community levels of COVID-19 transmission.
This last federal ban on evictions ended on October 3, 2021.
As of March 2023, eviction moratoriums throughout the United States except for the ban in Washington D.C.
Who Does the Moratorium Protect?
The eviction agency order enacted on August 3, 2021 only prohibited landlords from evicting tenants that meet certain criteria.
A tenant had to meet the following criteria to qualify for eviction protection:
- Have earned less than $99,000 in 2020 or expected to earn less than this amount in 2021 ($198,000 if filing jointly with another person)
- Not have had to report any income to the IRS in 2020 or have received an Economic Impact Payment (stimulus check)
- Have used their best efforts to obtain government housing assistance
- Are not able to pay their rent due to significant income loss
- Have made their best efforts to make partial rent payments
- Would become homeless or have to move into shared living after eviction
Tenants wanting protection from eviction had to complete a declarationunder penalty of perjury that they meet the order’s criteria. Anyone violating the order could have faced criminal penalties such as jail time or fines.
It’s also important to note that certain states had additional tenant eviction bans that provided more protection than the current agency order.
Eviction Protection Status for All States
The overview below includes the latest information on COVID-19 eviction protections by state. Check your state’s government website regularly for up-to-date information on evictions.
| State | Ban On Evictions | Ban on Utility Shutoffs |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No | No |
| Alaska | No | No |
| Arizona | No | No |
| Arkansas | No | No |
| California | No | No |
| Colorado | No | No |
| Connecticut | No | No |
| Delaware | No | No |
| District of Columbia | Yes | No |
| Florida | No | No |
| Georgia | No | No |
| Hawaii | No | No |
| Idaho | No | No |
| Illinois | No | No |
| Indiana | No | No |
| Iowa | No | No |
| Kansas | No | No |
| Kentucky | No | No |
| Louisiana | No | No |
| Maine | No | No |
| Maryland | No | No |
| Massachusetts | No | No |
| Michigan | No | No |
| Minnesota | No | No |
| Mississippi | No | No |
| Missouri | No | No |
| Montana | No | No |
| Nebraska | No | No |
| Nevada | No | No |
| New Hampshire | No | No |
| New Jersey | No | No |
| New Mexico | No | No |
| New York | No | No |
| North Carolina | No | No |
| North Dakota | No | No |
| Ohio | No | No |
| Oklahoma | No | No |
| Oregon | No | No |
| Pennsylvania | No | No |
| Rhode Island | No | No |
| South Carolina | No | No |
| South Dakota | No | No |
| Tennessee | No | No |
| Texas | No | No |
| Utah | No | No |
| Vermont | No | No |
| Virginia | No | No |
| Washington | No | No |
| West Virginia | No | No |
| Wisconsin | No | No |
| Wyoming | No | No |
Updated March 31, 2023
California Eviction Moratorium
The eviction moratorium in California that applied to tenants earning less than 80% of the area median income with a rental relief application in progress has ended.
Los Angeles Country protections ended on March 31, 2023, after nearly 3 years of protection, ending all protections left in the state of California.
District of Columbia Eviction Moratorium
In March 2022, the D.C. Council decided to permanently ban evictions for renters who owe less than $600.
Massachusetts Eviction Moratorium
There is no eviction moratorium in place for the state of Massachusetts. However, local cities and towns may have their own eviction moratorium.
Minnesota Eviction Moratorium
The Minnesota eviction moratorium ended on June 1, 2022.
New Jersey Eviction Moratorium
Currently, New Jersey residents can be evicted for money owed during the pandemic.
However, you are permanently protected from eviction if you make less than 120% (and in certain cases 80%) of the area median income of your county.
Additionally, you must have debt for rent that was due between March 1, 2020, and August 31, 2021.
New Mexico Eviction Moratorium
All New Mexico eviction bans have now ended. There is an Eviction Prevention and Diversion Program that is in force throughout the state.
New York Eviction Moratorium
The eviction moratorium has expired in New York. However, any renter who has an application for rent relief pending in the state of New York cannot be evicted.
On January 15th, 2022, eviction protection for New York City residents ended, including for those who filed a Hardship Declaration. However, protections still apply to New York City residents if their Hardship Declaration is still processing.
Read more:New York Eviction Notice Filings Surge After Protections End
Washington Eviction Moratorium
The state of Washington no longer has an active eviction moratorium for COVID relief.
However, in Seattle, some protections remain in place for those who have children until June 17th. There are also protections for those who could not pay rent due to financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eviction Moratorium FAQs
If you’re still unsure of some of the details about the current eviction moratoriums in place right now, our FAQs below will explain more about what to expect.
-
How Do I Know if I Am Covered by the Moratorium?
Generally, you are protected by eviction moratoriums if you comply with a few set criteria. These depend on the state you are living in.
Under the previous CDC federal moratorium, renters were protected if:
- They did not expect to earn more than $99,000 this year ($198,000 for joint filing married couples), did not report income to the Federal government in 2019, or have received an economic impact payment this year.
- They experienced a “substantial” loss of income due to layoffs or reduced work hours.
- They used their “best efforts” to gain rental assistance from the government.
- They made their best efforts to pay partial rental payments as close to the due amount.
- The eviction will cause the individual to become homeless or move in with family.
-
Do I Have to Keep Paying Rent?
Yes, under an eviction moratorium, it is necessary to keep up rental payments, even if they only cover a partial amount of the whole sum due. This kind of moratorium does not cancel rent, late fees, or penalties.
The moratorium is only a pause on evictions for certain causes such as non-payment. However, if you are still sufficiently in arrears once the ban has ended, your landlord can legally evict you.
-
What Bills Should I Pay if I Can’t Afford All My Expenses?
If you’re in a situation where you can’t pay all your expenses, it’s important to prioritize essentials such as food, housing, and utilities; if you are obliged to cover these costs in your lease.
You should try to talk to the companies you owe payment to see if you can pause any of the costs due, at least temporarily, or set up a payment plan.
It is, however, important to try and show that you are making your best efforts to pay as much as possible despite your financial struggles.
-
What Are My Rights As a Renter?
Under an active eviction moratorium, you cannot be evicted from your home by your landlord for non-payment.
This is the case even if eviction proceedings were started against you but not completed when the moratorium came into effect.
It is also important to note that when these eviction bans end your rental rights return to what they were before the CDC federal eviction moratorium or any state eviction moratoriums were in place.
At the time that the moratoriums end, landlords can start or continue with eviction proceedings as normal in most cases.
Due to repeated pandemic shutdowns, many citizens across the United States continue to struggle financially. This has led to a large number of tenants being unable to pay their rental fees, thus putting them in danger of eviction.
To help minimize the impact of COVID-19 on tenants, the federal government, alongside various counties and states has enacted measures placing moratoriums on evictions and banning utility shutoffs.
Keep reading to learn about the specific tenant protections in your state, as well as how eviction protection regulations have changed over time.
What Is a Federal Eviction Moratorium?
A federal eviction moratorium is a ban on evictions put in place by the federal government.
This means, in most cases, landlords could not evict tenants for unpaid rent throughout the United States.
Normally, it is up to each state to decide its own eviction laws. However, due to the national emergency brought on by the pandemic, the federal government put this moratorium into effect.
On August 26, 2021, the Supreme Court ruled to end the federal eviction moratorium. All decisions regarding bans on evictions are now being decided at the state and local levels.
Eviction Moratorium Timeline
During the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., various eviction moratoriums were established in response to mass job loss and unemployment. The first of these was included in the CARES act, applying to federally-backed properties.
After its expiry on July 24, 2020, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an agency order known as “Temporary Halt in Residential Evictions to Prevent the Further Spread of Covid-19”.
This order was effective from September 4 until December 31 of 2020, during which evictions were banned in any jurisdiction where the order was applied and for all residential properties in which the tenant met certain criteria.
After the end of the moratorium on the night of January 1, 2021, it was immediately extended to January 31. Following President Biden’s inauguration, the order was again extended until March 31.
These federal eviction protections were then extended by the CDC through to June 30, 2021, and one additional extension was enacted until July 31, 2021. Although this was originally meant to be the final moratorium, due to significant political pressure, the CDC issued an additional extension for counties with considerable community levels of COVID-19 transmission.
This last federal ban on evictions ended on October 3, 2021.
As of March 2023, eviction moratoriums throughout the United States except for the ban in Washington D.C.
Who Does the Moratorium Protect?
The eviction agency order enacted on August 3, 2021 only prohibited landlords from evicting tenants that meet certain criteria.
A tenant had to meet the following criteria to qualify for eviction protection:
- Have earned less than $99,000 in 2020 or expected to earn less than this amount in 2021 ($198,000 if filing jointly with another person)
- Not have had to report any income to the IRS in 2020 or have received an Economic Impact Payment (stimulus check)
- Have used their best efforts to obtain government housing assistance
- Are not able to pay their rent due to significant income loss
- Have made their best efforts to make partial rent payments
- Would become homeless or have to move into shared living after eviction
Tenants wanting protection from eviction had to complete a declarationunder penalty of perjury that they meet the order’s criteria. Anyone violating the order could have faced criminal penalties such as jail time or fines.
It’s also important to note that certain states had additional tenant eviction bans that provided more protection than the current agency order.
Eviction Protection Status for All States
The overview below includes the latest information on COVID-19 eviction protections by state. Check your state’s government website regularly for up-to-date information on evictions.
| State | Ban On Evictions | Ban on Utility Shutoffs |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No | No |
| Alaska | No | No |
| Arizona | No | No |
| Arkansas | No | No |
| California | No | No |
| Colorado | No | No |
| Connecticut | No | No |
| Delaware | No | No |
| District of Columbia | Yes | No |
| Florida | No | No |
| Georgia | No | No |
| Hawaii | No | No |
| Idaho | No | No |
| Illinois | No | No |
| Indiana | No | No |
| Iowa | No | No |
| Kansas | No | No |
| Kentucky | No | No |
| Louisiana | No | No |
| Maine | No | No |
| Maryland | No | No |
| Massachusetts | No | No |
| Michigan | No | No |
| Minnesota | No | No |
| Mississippi | No | No |
| Missouri | No | No |
| Montana | No | No |
| Nebraska | No | No |
| Nevada | No | No |
| New Hampshire | No | No |
| New Jersey | No | No |
| New Mexico | No | No |
| New York | No | No |
| North Carolina | No | No |
| North Dakota | No | No |
| Ohio | No | No |
| Oklahoma | No | No |
| Oregon | No | No |
| Pennsylvania | No | No |
| Rhode Island | No | No |
| South Carolina | No | No |
| South Dakota | No | No |
| Tennessee | No | No |
| Texas | No | No |
| Utah | No | No |
| Vermont | No | No |
| Virginia | No | No |
| Washington | No | No |
| West Virginia | No | No |
| Wisconsin | No | No |
| Wyoming | No | No |
Updated March 31, 2023
California Eviction Moratorium
The eviction moratorium in California that applied to tenants earning less than 80% of the area median income with a rental relief application in progress has ended.
Los Angeles Country protections ended on March 31, 2023, after nearly 3 years of protection, ending all protections left in the state of California.
District of Columbia Eviction Moratorium
In March 2022, the D.C. Council decided to permanently ban evictions for renters who owe less than $600.
Massachusetts Eviction Moratorium
There is no eviction moratorium in place for the state of Massachusetts. However, local cities and towns may have their own eviction moratorium.
Minnesota Eviction Moratorium
The Minnesota eviction moratorium ended on June 1, 2022.
New Jersey Eviction Moratorium
Currently, New Jersey residents can be evicted for money owed during the pandemic.
However, you are permanently protected from eviction if you make less than 120% (and in certain cases 80%) of the area median income of your county.
Additionally, you must have debt for rent that was due between March 1, 2020, and August 31, 2021.
New Mexico Eviction Moratorium
All New Mexico eviction bans have now ended. There is an Eviction Prevention and Diversion Program that is in force throughout the state.
New York Eviction Moratorium
The eviction moratorium has expired in New York. However, any renter who has an application for rent relief pending in the state of New York cannot be evicted.
On January 15th, 2022, eviction protection for New York City residents ended, including for those who filed a Hardship Declaration. However, protections still apply to New York City residents if their Hardship Declaration is still processing.
Read more:New York Eviction Notice Filings Surge After Protections End
Washington Eviction Moratorium
The state of Washington no longer has an active eviction moratorium for COVID relief.
However, in Seattle, some protections remain in place for those who have children until June 17th. There are also protections for those who could not pay rent due to financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eviction Moratorium FAQs
If you’re still unsure of some of the details about the current eviction moratoriums in place right now, our FAQs below will explain more about what to expect.
-
How Do I Know if I Am Covered by the Moratorium?
Generally, you are protected by eviction moratoriums if you comply with a few set criteria. These depend on the state you are living in.
Under the previous CDC federal moratorium, renters were protected if:
- They did not expect to earn more than $99,000 this year ($198,000 for joint filing married couples), did not report income to the Federal government in 2019, or have received an economic impact payment this year.
- They experienced a “substantial” loss of income due to layoffs or reduced work hours.
- They used their “best efforts” to gain rental assistance from the government.
- They made their best efforts to pay partial rental payments as close to the due amount.
- The eviction will cause the individual to become homeless or move in with family.
-
Do I Have to Keep Paying Rent?
Yes, under an eviction moratorium, it is necessary to keep up rental payments, even if they only cover a partial amount of the whole sum due. This kind of moratorium does not cancel rent, late fees, or penalties.
The moratorium is only a pause on evictions for certain causes such as non-payment. However, if you are still sufficiently in arrears once the ban has ended, your landlord can legally evict you.
-
What Bills Should I Pay if I Can’t Afford All My Expenses?
If you’re in a situation where you can’t pay all your expenses, it’s important to prioritize essentials such as food, housing, and utilities; if you are obliged to cover these costs in your lease.
You should try to talk to the companies you owe payment to see if you can pause any of the costs due, at least temporarily, or set up a payment plan.
It is, however, important to try and show that you are making your best efforts to pay as much as possible despite your financial struggles.
-
What Are My Rights As a Renter?
Under an active eviction moratorium, you cannot be evicted from your home by your landlord for non-payment.
This is the case even if eviction proceedings were started against you but not completed when the moratorium came into effect.
It is also important to note that when these eviction bans end your rental rights return to what they were before the CDC federal eviction moratorium or any state eviction moratoriums were in place.
At the time that the moratoriums end, landlords can start or continue with eviction proceedings as normal in most cases.
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