There is much confusion over the Seattle eviction moratorium. The confusion stems from the history of the Seattle moratorium and changes made to them, and additional separate laws passed by the City creating a new inability-to-pay defense and imposing payment plans. Confusion may be in part also due to the fact there are various federal, state, and local moratoria, and sometimes people confuse and conflate their various terms.
On March 14 the Mayor issued a residential eviction moratorium that prohibited eviction for non-payment of rent. She later issues a broad small business and non-profit eviction moratorium that prohibited almost all evictions.
Under the Seattle Municipal Code the City Council has the power to modify emergency decrees from the Mayor, such as the eviction moratoriums. On March 16 the Council exercised that power and modified the mayor's moratorium. Under the modified terms, a landlord may evict a tenant only if the tenant's actions pose "an imminent threat to the health or safety of neighbors, the landlord, or the tenant's or landlord's household members." The modifications apply to both residential and commercial tenancies.
As amended by the Council, the Seattle eviction moratorium does not allow eviction based on an intent to sell, or an intent to live in the property (in contrast to the state moratorium which does allow these eviction grounds).
Always consult with an attorney before acting, but especially in the current legal environment.
