Austin News

Renters facing eviction in Austin and Travis County received another reprieve Tuesday when area leaders extended eviction moratoriums for an additional month.

The ban on evictions, which were set to expire April 1, protects both tenants who fail to pay rent due to the coronavirus pandemic and the public in general.

"We extended the eviction moratorium order in Travis County and the City of Austin until May 1,” Travis County Judge Andy Brown posted on Twitter. “These eviction protections ensure the health and safety of our community while we work to rapidly vaccinate our entire county."

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The Travis County order noted that as of March 25, the county had experienced 78,602 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 811 deaths as a result of the disease.

According to the order, “The county judge has determined that extraordinary measures must be taken to try and mitigate the effects of this public health emergency.”

The new orders follow a similar move by the federal government which extended the nationwide eviction moratorium through June 30. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that the daily incidence of COVID-19 between February 25 and March 25 was comparable to the summer peak transmission in July 2020. It also cited that new, more contagious variants of the virus have emerged globally.

“The current substantial levels of transmission and the emergence of variants highlight the persistent and dynamic nature of the pandemic and the need for continued protections,” the CDC wrote in the order.

The bans in Austin and Travis County shield tenants facing eviction for nonpayment if their rent is $2,475 or less per month. Landlords may, however, still issue a notice to vacate for other reasons such as criminal activity.

The order also provides protection for commercial tenants in industries hard-hit by the pandemic, including childcare, live music venues, arts venues, restaurants and bars.