---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 9058"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "9058"
heading: "Temporary moratorium on eviction filings"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/9058"
units:
  - "Chapter 116 — Coronavirus Economic Stabilization (cares Act)"
  - "Subchapter III — Economic Stabilization and Assistance to Severely Distressed Sectors of the United States Economy"
  - "Part A — Coronavirus Economic Stabilization"
---

# §9058. Temporary moratorium on eviction filings

- (a) **Definitions—** In this section:
  - (1) **Covered dwelling—** The term “covered dwelling” means a dwelling that—
    - (A) is occupied by a tenant—
      - (i) pursuant to a residential lease; or
      - (ii) without a lease or with a lease terminable under [State](/usc/15/9041.md?p=10) law; and
    - (B) is on or in a covered property.
  - (2) **Covered property—** The term “covered property” means any property that—
    - (A) participates in—
      - (i) a covered housing program (as defined in [section 12491(a) of title 34](/usc/34/12491.md?p=a)); or
      - (ii) the rural housing voucher program under [section 1490r of title 42](/usc/42/1490r.md); or
    - (B) has a—
      - (i) Federally backed mortgage loan; or
      - (ii) Federally backed multifamily mortgage loan.
  - (3) **Dwelling—** The term “dwelling”—
    - (A) has the meaning given the term in [section 3602 of title 42](/usc/42/3602.md); and
    - (B) includes houses and dwellings described in [section 3603(b) of title 42](/usc/42/3603.md?p=b).
  - (4) **Federally backed mortgage loan—** The term “Federally backed mortgage loan” includes any loan (other than temporary financing such as a construction loan) that—
    - (A) is secured by a first or subordinate lien on residential real property (including individual units of condominiums and cooperatives) designed principally for the occupancy of from 1 to 4 families, including any such secured loan, the proceeds of which are used to prepay or pay off an existing loan secured by the same property; and
    - (B) is made in whole or in part, or insured, guaranteed, supplemented, or assisted in any way, by any officer or agency of the Federal Government or under or in connection with a housing or urban development program administered by the [Secretary](/usc/15/9041.md?p=9) of Housing and Urban Development or a housing or related program administered by any other such officer or agency, or is purchased or securitized by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation or the Federal National Mortgage Association.
  - (5) **Federally backed multifamily mortgage loan—** The term “Federally backed multifamily mortgage loan” includes any loan (other than temporary financing such as a construction loan) that—
    - (A) is secured by a first or subordinate lien on residential multifamily real property designed principally for the occupancy of 5 or more families, including any such secured loan, the proceeds of which are used to prepay or pay off an existing loan secured by the same property; and
    - (B) is made in whole or in part, or insured, guaranteed, supplemented, or assisted in any way, by any officer or agency of the Federal Government or under or in connection with a housing or urban development program administered by the [Secretary](/usc/15/9041.md?p=9) of Housing and Urban Development or a housing or related program administered by any other such officer or agency, or is purchased or securitized by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation or the Federal National Mortgage Association.
- (b) **Moratorium—** During the 120-day period beginning on March 27, 2020, the lessor of a covered dwelling may not—
  - (1) make, or cause to be made, any filing with the court of jurisdiction to initiate a legal action to recover possession of the covered dwelling from the tenant for nonpayment of rent or other fees or charges; or
  - (2) charge fees, penalties, or other charges to the tenant related to such nonpayment of rent.
- (c) **Notice—** The lessor of a covered dwelling unit—
  - (1) may not require the tenant to vacate the covered dwelling unit before the date that is 30 days after the date on which the lessor provides the tenant with a notice to vacate; and
  - (2) may not issue a notice to vacate under [paragraph (1)](#c-1) until after the expiration of the period described in [subsection (b)](#b).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title IV, § 4024, Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 492.)