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On Saturday, May 30, Governor Roy Cooper signed Executive Order No. 142 to extend the prohibition of utility shut-offs and implement a moratorium on evictions.

The order was effective Saturday.

The Council of State concurred on this Executive Order with no objections.

Dare County Board of Commissioners Chairman Robert L. Woodard brought this to the attention of the board.

Though the order allows for extended windows to pay rent and utility bills, all tenants and customers are still ultimately responsible for making their rent and utility payments.

The order’s evictions moratorium:

– Is effective immediately and lasts for 21 days from Saturday;

– Prevents landlords from initiating summary ejections or other eviction proceedings against a tenant for nonpayment or late payment of rent;

– Prevents landlords from assessing late fees or other penalties for late or nonpayment;

– Prevents the accumulation of additional interest, fees or other penalties for existing late fees while this order is in effect;

– Requires landlords to give tenants a minimum of six months to pay outstanding rent;

– Requires leases to be modified to disallow evicting tenants for reasons of late or non-payments; and

– Makes clear that evictions for reasons related to health and safety can take place.

The order’s utility shutoff moratorium:

– Continues effective immediately and lasts 60 days;

– Prohibits utility disconnections for all customers;

– Prohibits billing or collection of late fees, penalties and other charges for failure to pay; and

– Extends repayment plans at least six months and sets the default term for repayment to six months for cases when the utility and customer cannot agree on the terms of an extended repayment plan.

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