California Won't Extend Eviction Moratorium

State lawmakers did not extend the state's eviction ban, which ends on September 30, putting the future of hundreds of thousands of households in jeopardy.

2 minute read

September 16, 2021, 11:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


San Francisco Apartments

Francesca Cappa / Flickr

According to California's state Assembly Housing chairperson, the state's "eviction protections will almost certainly not be extended once they expire after Sept. 30," reports Manuela Tobias.

While some lawmakers believe tenant protections should be extended, "the political appetite just isn’t there to act" before the end of the legislative session. "The current round of eviction protections were extended on June 25, just days before they were set to expire. At that point, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon said he hoped the economy would be in full swing so that another moratorium would not be necessary."

Although unlikely, Governor Newsom "could still call a special legislative session to extend protections before the end of the month, or issue an executive order as he did at the beginning of the pandemic to pause court proceedings relating to evictions."

Landlord groups support the decision. According to Sid Lakireddy, a board member of the California Rental Housing Association, said "I think the legislators are starting to get it as well. This can’t go on at infinity."

Meanwhile, distribution of rental assistance funds still lags, and California families owe a cumulative $2.8 billion in back rent. "Existing law has some stopgaps that, in theory, should prevent the tsunami of evictions tenant advocates and researchers have predicted," but "tenant advocates are leery" of a stopgap that relies on courts. Francisco Dueñas, executive director of Housing Now!, a tenant advocacy group, says "a lot of people don’t respond to a court notice. They just move."

Thursday, September 9, 2021 in CALmatters

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

July 11 - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

July 11 - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

July 11 - Cities Today