Desantis allows Florida’s eviction moratorium to expire

Tallahassee, Fl (treasurecoast.com)The governor’s office announced just after 5:30pm Wednesday that Governor Ron DeSantis would allow Florida’s eviction moratorium to expire at midnight.

“Executive Order 20-211 pertaining to the State’s mortgage foreclosure and eviction relief was permitted to expire to avoid any confusion over whether the CDC’s evictions Order should apply in a particular circumstance,” wrote Fredrick Piccolo Jr., director of communications for the governor, in a press release.

A federal moratorium on evictions for people impacted by the coronavirus pandemic took effect September 4. The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention passed the order, which lasts until the end of the year.

Protection under the CDC’s moratorium is not automatic, and legal interpretations of the order have varied across jurisdictions. Renters who wish to seek protection under the order must fill out a declaration form and submit it to their landlord.

DeSantis changed the language in Florida’s original eviction moratorium on July 29, opening the door for broader interpretation of the law.

Here it is:

Today, Governor DeSantis permitted Executive Order 20-211 to expire.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently enacted a nationwide residential evictions Order that provides federal eviction relief to persons who submit a valid Declaration to their landlord regarding their inability to pay rent. Executive Order 20-211 had provided a limited, one-month extension of state eviction relief to persons affected by the COVID-19 emergency. Executive Order 20-211 pertaining to the State’s mortgage foreclosure and eviction relief was permitted to expire to avoid any confusion over whether the CDC’s evictions Order should apply in a particular circumstance. The CDC’s evictions Order expires on December 31, 2020, unless extended.

A copy of the CDC’s evictions Order is available HERE.

A copy of the CDC’s evictions Declaration is available HERE.