COVID–19 Eviction Protections

UPDATED MARCH 24, 2023

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Please consider this information to be a general outline of existing protections and seek legal advice to understand your rights given your specific city and circumstances.

If you have additional questions or see information that looks out-of-date, please email staff@ebho.org.

Alameda County

Residents of Alameda County are protected by the County’s eviction moratorium until 60 days after the expiration of the local health emergency. The County’s health emergency expired March 1st, meaning the eviction moratorium will end on April 29, 2023. This applies to renters and homeowners living in the cities of Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Dublin, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, Newark, Oakland, Piedmont, Pleasanton, San Leandro, and Union City as well as the unincorporated areas of Ashland, Castro Valley, Cherryland, Fairview, San Lorenzo, and Sunol.

While the eviction moratorium is in place, you’re protected from ALL evictions except for those based on an imminent threat to public health or safety, a government order to vacate the building, or the Ellis Act, a law allowing your landlord to go out of business. You’re not required to show proof of economic hardship in order to qualify for eviction protections, but if your landlord requests it, it’s a good idea to provide some documentation or a self-declaration about your financial situation within 45 days of receiving that request to ensure that you’re as protected as possible.

Repayment of Rent

Even after the end of the moratorium, you cannot be evicted for rent that was due while it was in effect, between March 24, 2020 and April 29, 2023.

While you cannot lose your home due to nonpayment of rent during the COVID-19 eviction moratorium, your landlord can still take you to civil court to retrieve the rent. You have 12 months from the date rent was due to repay before your landlord can pursue the rent in small claims court.

You may be entitled to additional protections if you live in one of the following cities:

Berkeley: Berkeley is ending its eviction moratorium in stages. From May 1st until August 31st , 2023, some evictions will be allowed including those necessary for health and safety, owner move-ins for owners of only one rental property in the City, and evictions for non-payment of rent where the tenant has not provided documentation establishing a covered reason for delayed payment. After September 1, 2023, the moratorium will fully expire. 

Oakland: Oakland’s eviction moratorium is still in effect, however the Council has indicated that they will be considering changes for how and when it will be lifted. 

San Leandro: San Leandro has extended their eviction moratorium until February 28, 2024. The intent of this extension is to allow the City Council time to draft long-term tenant protections that will alleviate possible eviction pressures. The moratorium bans any eviction for nonpayment of rent due to a decrease in household income or substantial out of pocket medical expenses that results from the pandemic. Tenants are required to pay past due rent within 120 days of the expiration of the ordinance.

Alameda County Legal Resources

If you’re facing eviction or another issue with your landlord, you may be entitled to free help from one of these organizations:

  • Bay Area Legal Aid – 1-800-551-5554
  • Centro Legal de la Raza – 510-437-1554
  • East Bay Community Law Center – 510-548-4040
  • Eviction Defense Center – 510-452-454

Contra Costa County

Most residents of Contra Costa County are no longer protected by an eviction moratorium. This applies to renters living in the cities of Antioch, Brentwood, Clayton, Concord, Danville, El Cerrito (see below for more info), Hercules, Lafayette, Martinez, Moraga, Oakley, Orinda, Pinole, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Richmond, San Pablo, San Ramon, and Walnut Creek as well as all of the unincorporated areas (e.g. Bay Point, El Sobrante, etc.). Renters living in Richmond may be protected under their own local ordinances outlined below.

Repayment of Rent

State law protects you from losing your home from falling behind on rent due between:

You may be entitled to additional protections if you live in one of the following cities:

El Cerrito: El Cerrito’s eviction moratorium expired more recently than the County moratorium, on February 28, 2023. Tenants have six months to repay unpaid rent accrued between August 1, 2022 and February 28, 2023 before facing eviction for missed payments. 

Richmond: Richmond’s eviction moratorium is still in effect, and has no set end date. The protections will expire 60 days after the City’s Local State of Emergency is lifted, which there have been no indications they are considering. While an eviction moratorium is in effect, you are protected from all evictions except for those based on an imminent threat to public health or safety, a government order to vacate the building, or the Ellis Act, a law allowing your landlord to go out of business.

Contra Costa Legal Resources

If you’re facing eviction or another issue with your landlord, you may be entitled to free help from one of these organizations:

  • Bay Area Legal Aid – 510-250-5270
  • Centro Legal de la Raza – 510-437-1554
  • Eviction Defense Center (for residents of West County) – 510-452-4541
  • Contra Costa Senior Legal Services (for residents aged 60+) – 925-609-7900

Get Support

If you receive an eviction notice or are facing another issue with your landlord, we strongly recommend you reach out to legal aid.

Do not self evict. You may be able to fight your eviction, but it’s important that you respond quickly. Tenants rights and legal aid services often have wait times, so reach out as quickly as possible.

Legal Aid

The following organizations offer free or low cost legal aid, including legal information, consultations, and sometimes representation:

Tenants Rights Counseling

These organizations provide tenants rights counseling services and legal references as needed:

For a complete list of resources, including legal aid, tenants rights counseling, emergency shelter information, and more please visit EBHO’s resource guide.

Tenant Power Toolkit

While you wait for a legal consult or counseling session, you can use this trusted resource from Debt Collective and the Los Angeles Tenants Union to learn more about your rights.

Fill out a short questionnaire in English or Spanish about your situation and the Tenant Power Toolkit will walk you through how to respond to an eviction notice.