What to do
1. Check if your business is eligible
The temporary moratorium on evictions applies to commercial tenants, subtenants, and month-to-month or holdover tenants who:
- Are registered to do business in San Francisco
- Have gross receipts at or below $25 million
- Missed a rent payment from March 16, 2020 to September 30, 2021
Your landlord cannot evict you before giving you:
- A written notice
- An opportunity to catch up on your payments
2. Provide documentation for your landlord
If you cannot pay your rent, you must provide documentation that the coronavirus outbreak has had a financial impact on your business.
3. Discuss payment terms with your landlord every month
You should continue to try to pay your rent. Work with your landlord on a payment plan.
If you still cannot pay your rent after a month, you need to provide more proof that the outbreak is still affecting your business.
Your landlord cannot evict you for missing payments while you are working with them.
You have additional time to pay all outstanding rent
Note: September 30, 2023 is the repayment deadline for businesses with fewer than 10 employees
Continue working with your landlord every month.
If you still have not paid all outstanding rent after the agreed-upon repayment period or after the moratorium expires, your landlord can then evict you for non-payment.
The moratorium will prevent any small to medium-sized business from being evicted due to a loss of income related to lost revenue or other economic impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This alleviates a significant financial pressure that many small businesses are facing.
Get help
Office of Small Business
Legal Services for Entrepreneurs
SF Bar Association
Last updated August 1, 2023