Santa Monica Extends its Temporary Eviction Moratorium to June 30, 2020

April 30, 2020 1:00 PM

SANTA MONICA, Calif. – On April 30, 2020, the City of Santa Monica issued a revised supplemental emergency order that extends the City’s eviction moratorium to June 30, 2020.  The supplemental order also extends from six to twelve months the time for tenants to pay rent they were unable to pay because of financial impacts related to COVID-19. This action comes in response to lingering uncertainties in public health projections that require people to remain at home; an increasing number of workers who have suddenly lost their jobs and are seeking unemployment benefits; and instabilities in housing and general economic forecasts due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The revised order updates the eviction moratorium in several ways, including:

“The City is constantly monitoring the emergency situation and updating our local orders to provide the most sensible and meaningful response,” said Interim City Manager Lane Dilg, the City’s Director of Emergency Services. “The extensions of the moratorium period and the time to pay the unpaid rents, are intended to provide some relief to our residents and small businesses, restaurants, stores and offices, in light of the uncertainties we face as to when the safe-at-home orders will be lifted, and when we can all go back to work.” 

The basic framework of the eviction moratorium remains unchanged:  residential and commercial tenants are protected from evictions based on nonpayment of rent due to financial impacts related to COVID-19.  However, tenants must notify their landlords in writing, of their inability to pay rent due to COVID-19 and its impacts and provide supporting documentation. 

A form that can be used by tenants to provide the required notice of their inability to pay rent due to COVID-19 is available here. The tenant must provide this notice and supporting documentation as soon as possible, preferably before rent is due, but no later than 30 days after rent is due.  A tenant is still obligated to pay a landlord back rent for all rent that is owed during the moratorium period.  A tenant may not be evicted for nonpayment of rent (due to impacts of COVID-19) unless the tenant fails to pay the unpaid rents within twelve months of the expiration of the City’s moratorium order.  

For questions about the City’s eviction moratorium, please visit santamonica.gov/coronavirus, or call the City’s Coronavirus Hotline at (310) 458-8400. For help in completing the tenant notice form or if you would like to file a complaint regarding eviction activity in violation of the order, please contact the Public Rights Division of the City Attorney’s Office at (310) 458-8336, or Consumer.Mailbox@smgov.net.

Revised supplemental order 

Media Contact

Constance Farrell
Communications & Public Information Manager
Constance.Farrell@santamonica.gov

Departments

City Attorney's Office