Walz signs executive order on evictions

Gov. Tim Walz on Tuesday signed an executive order regarding evictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Executive Order 20-79 updates previous orders to balance protecting housing stability and public health while acknowledging some evictions are necessary to protect public safety, Walz’s office said.

An eviction moratorium continues, but housing providers can evict a tenant if the tenant violates a lease by endangering others’ safety, engaging in certain illegal activities or damaging property. Evictions can also proceed if the homeowner or a family member must move into the premises or if a writ of recovery was issued prior to 5 p.m. on March 24.

The order also requires landlords to give residential tenants a seven-day notice of intent to file an eviction to help mitigate the impact on residential tenants.

The order was approved by the Minnesota Executive Council and will take effect on Aug. 4 and remain until the peacetime emergency ends.