San Diego Moving Forward With No-Fault Eviction Moratorium

Unlike the no-fault eviction protections being considered in other states and cities, San Diego's new eviction moratorium is timed to coincide with the ongoing economic and public health emergency presented by the Covid-19 pandemic.

1 minute read

April 6, 2022, 12:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Coronavirus

Allen J.M. Smith / Shutterstock

"The San Diego City Council voted 5-to-1 to back a so-called no-fault eviction moratorium" earlier this week, according to an article by Voice of San Diego. A second council vote will be required to approve the moratorium.

According to the article, the moratorium "will keep landlords in the city from forcing out a tenant to take the property off the market or making significant upgrades that haven’t been ordered by a government entity or agreed upon by the tenant."

The city's moratorium coincides with a decision by California to extend its statewide eviction moratorium through June 30. "That moratorium only applies to tenants who did not pay rent due to COVID-related challenges and applied for rental assistance by March 31," according to the article.

Backers of the San Diego moratorium, led by City Council President Sean Elo-Rivera, are hoping the new protections prevent vulnerable renters from being forced into homelessness.

As shared by Planetizen in February 2022, no fault or just cause eviction ordinances are gaining popularity around the country, as evidenced by a recently proposed law in the state of Maryland. The state of New York is also considering a "good cause" eviction law with the same goals, and a recent study documented the effect of just cause eviction laws in four California cities.

Tuesday, April 5, 2022 in Voice of San Diego

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