In efforts to protect tenants who have been affected by the wave of layoffs caused by coronavirus, San Marcos City Council members adopted an ordinance at an April 7 meeting that will grant renters additional time to pay their rent.

The emergency ordinance gives renters 90 days to pay their delinquent balance before landlords can begin eviction proceedings.

In addition, landlords will be required to provide tenants with a notice of proposed eviction along with a statement notifying renters of their right to a 90-day period to cure the rent owed.

The new law follows the fourth emergency order issued by the Texas Supreme Court requiring the suspension of evictions for residential properties in light of the coronavirus outbreak.

Those who fail to provide a notice of a proposed eviction or any other requirements of the ordinance will be cited with a fine of no more than $500, according to city documents.

The ordinance will remain in effect until the city is no longer under a declaration of local disaster caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

San Marcos City Council members approved the ordinance unanimously.