Today, the City of Ojai enacted an Executive Order that puts in place a residential eviction moratorium for the City. The order states that no landlord shall evict a residential tenant in Ojai during this local emergency period if the tenant is able to show an inability to pay rent due to circumstances related to the COVID 19 pandemic. Tenants will have up to 6 months following the expiration of the local emergency period to repay any back due rent, and may use the order as an affirmative defense in an unlawful detainer action.

This is a critical step in order to help protect residents, but also to help prevent potential spread of the Coronavirus, by allowing residents to stay in their homes during these challenging times.

The order also lifts rules and regulations that limit the hours for delivery of grocery items to grocery stores, and lifts any rules and regulations that limit the hours for delivery of food from restaurants, since many restaurants will be shifting to that practice. The City is working with stores and restaurants to help ensure that residents have access to necessary supplies and food.