READ AND PASSED

The enacted ordinance amended Philadelphia’s landlord-tenant rules to provide COVID-19 emergency protections for residential tenants and small businesses that experienced pandemic-related financial hardship. It authorized a residential eviction diversion program with housing counseling, mediation, and a conciliation conference before a landlord could generally pursue eviction, subject to exceptions; the related protection period ended on December 31, 2020, and the COVID-19 emergency period ended on August 31, 2020.

Amending various sections of The Philadelphia Code to address matters related to the landlord and tenant relationship during the novel coronavirus of 2019 pandemic and otherwise, including providing for an eviction diversion program, and making certain technical changes, all under certain terms and conditions.