In a recent post discussing strategies for commercial landlords to manage requests for rent relief during the COVID-19 pandemic, we highlighted the Seattle City Council’s resolution urging state and federal legislators to impose an immediate moratorium on commercial rent and mortgage payments. The Seattle City Council’s resolution came at the heels of state and municipal governments across the country issuing similar orders. Just yesterday, the State of Oregon fell in line when Governor Kate Brown issued Executive Order 20-13, which implements a 90-day moratorium on commercial evictions for non-payment.

Under Governor Brown’s order, landlords of non-residential properties in Oregon are prohibited from terminating any tenant’s lease or otherwise interfere with the tenant’s right to possession for reason of non-payment of rent, late charges, utility charges, or any other service charge or fee. To qualify, Tenants must, within 30 calendar days of unpaid rent being due, provide their landlord with evidence that such tenant’s inability to pay rent is “caused by, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the COVID-19 pandemic.”