COVID-19 Update: Order Suspends Evictions for Rental Residences
COVID-19 Update for SLO County

County Issues Order Suspending Evictions for Rental Residences

Author: Public Health Department
Date: 3/18/2020 5:50 PM

No one should be forced out of their home because of the spread of COVID-19 in our county.

Disclaimer: This information may be outdated. For the most recent guidance and case details, visit SLOPublicHealth.org/covid19. 

In partnership with all seven incorporated cities in San Luis Obispo County, (Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Grover Beach, Morro Bay, El Paso de Robles, Pismo Beach, and San Luis Obispo), County Emergency Services Director Wade Horton issued an executive order today suspending evictions by landlords related to any rental property in San Luis Obispo County for failure to pay  rent, foreclosure or decrease in household or business income due to COVID-19.

These types of  evictions are suspended through May 31, 2020.

The local order is in line with California Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order suspending any provision of  state law  prohibiting a local government from exercising its police power to impose substantive limitations on residential or commercial evictions.

“No one should be forced out of their home because of the spread of COVID-19 in our county,” Horton said. “We are all making sacrifices during this crisis and I want to make sure we protect our neighbors, our friends, our colleagues and make sure they continue to have a place to live.”

Nothing is this order shall relieve a tenant of the obligation to pay rent, nor restrict a landlord’s ability to recover rent due. This order impacts only evictions on the basis of non-payment of rent or a foreclosure, arising out of a substantial decrease in household or business income or substantial out-of-pocket  medical expenses, due to COVID-19.

The Department of Business Oversight, in consultation with the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency, shall engage with financial institutions to identify tools to be used to afford Californians relief from the threat of residential foreclosure and displacement, and to otherwise promote housing security and stability during this state of emergency.

Visit SLOPublicHealth.org/covid19 to review the full order and get the latest public health updates and recommendations or call the Public Health Information Line at (805) 781-5500.