# § 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 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); or
**(ii)** the rural housing voucher program under section 1490r of title 42; 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; and
**(B)** includes houses and dwellings described in section 3603(b) of title 42.
**(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 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 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) until after the expiration of the period described in subsection (b).
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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title IV, § 4024, Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 492.)