San Diego

California has issues new emergency rules regarding tenant-landlord communication. The new rules effectively prohibit evictions by preventing the courts from issuing a summons on any unlawful detainer complaint. This applies to both commercial and residential properties.

"The California Judicial Council issued new Emergency Rules of Court in response to COVID-19.  Emergency Rule Number 1 prevents California courts from issuing a summons on any unlawful detainer complaint, unless necessary to protect public health and safety," Jamie Altman Buggy, an attorney at Crosbie Gliner Schiffman Southard & Swanson, tells GlobeSt.com. "Because a court-issued summons is necessary for valid service of an unlawful detainer complaint, the practical implication of this rule is that California has banned all evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. This rule will last until 90 days after California ends its state of emergency or until the Judicial Council amends or repeals the emergency rules."

In addition, the judicial council also stopped all pending and future judicial foreclosures. "Judicial foreclosures are not a commonly used remedy, and non-judicial foreclosures remain unaffected," adds Buggy.