Mayor Durkan extends eviction moratorium through Aug. 1

SEATTLE — Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan issued an executive order Thursday to extend the city of Seattle’s COVID-19 closure and relief policies.

The executive order extends the city’s moratoriums on nonprofit, residential, and small business evictions through Aug. 1. Gov. Inslee extended the statewide moratorium on residential evictions and statewide commercial tenant protections through Aug.1.

Tenants who receive an eviction notice during the moratorium should contact the Renting in Seattle hotline at 206‐684‐5700 or go online to submit a complaint.

“Right now, our city and country are facing the crises of a nationwide civil rights movement to reckon with police violence and systemic racism, a global COVID-19 pandemic, and job losses and economic devastation not seen since the Great Depression. In Seattle, even as communities protest, heal, and work to find a path forward together, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and job losses cannot be ignored,” said Durkan. “At the city, we’re extending our relief policies to make sure our communities have the support they need during this truly unprecedented moment in history for our city.”

The city also extended its rent relief policies for tenants through July 31.

According to a news release, for nonprofit organizations and renters with artist studio licenses the relief is in the form of rent forgiveness. The rent for businesses will be deferred.

The city also said the extension includes the city’s relief programs, which include:

• Temporary parking and/or loading zones for restaurants, health care and human services workers, and retail stores are extended until further notice.
• Flexible payment plans and shutoff policies with Seattle City Light and Seattle Public Utilities are extended until further notice.
• The City’s small business, arts and nonprofit, food access, and housing and homelessness COVID-19 relief programs are extended until further notice.
• The Utility Discount Program Self-Certification Pilot Program is extended until July 31.

The city also said the following COVID-19 policy suspensions are extended:

• The ban on permitted events, with the exception of farmers markets, is extended until June 30.
• Enforcement of paid parking requirements on city streets;, select hourly parking time limits outside of no-parking or special zones; and the 72-hour rule is suspended until further notice.
• Booting vehicles with unpaid parking tickets is suspended until further notice.

The following are closures that have been extended:

• All Seattle Public Library (SPL) locations are closed through June 30, however, restroom access and several SPL locations will remain open and the city is evaluating curbside library services.
• Seattle Public Utilities’ (SPU) Cedar River Watershed Education Center and Rattlesnake Ledge Trail will remain closed through June 30.
• In-person access to all city departments’ public-facing customer service counters will remain closed through June 30 with digital and telephonic access still available. The Seattle Animal Shelter in March launched a new appointment-based adoption system that enables animals to find forever homes even while the shelter’s counters are closed.
• Seattle Parks and Recreation facilities, such as community centers, pools, environmental learning centers and select parking lots serving the city’s largest parks are closed until further notice. 

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