Santa Barbara County is extending its temporary prohibition on residential evictions in an effort to avoid mass evictions and homelessness due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Brought forward by 1st District Supervisor Das Williams and 2nd District Supervisor Gregg Hart, the board’s vote extends the county’s March 24 Urgency Ordinance that was initially set to expire on May 31. The ordinance is still contingent on Governor Gavin Newsom extending his Executive Order N-20-28, which allows cities and counties the power to set eviction protection ordinances. If Newsom does not extend his order, the county’s ordinance will expire with it.
The governor also passed a separate statewide eviction moratorium, Executive Order N-37-20, which if extended instead of N-20-28 would automatically protect Santa Barbara County residents from being evicted due to pandemic-related income loss or medical bills.