Rental Property Rules in Washington, DC (2026)
9 verified rental property rules for Washington, District of Columbia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Rent Control
DC has one of the strongest rent control programs in the United States under the Rental Housing Act of 1985 (DC Code Section 42-3501.01 et seq.). Rent increases for covered units are capped at CPI + 2% annually (or CPI + 5% for units where the tenant is not elderly or disabled). The 2024 RENTAL Act modified some provisions.
Washington DC Rent Control (Rental Housing Act)
Heavy RestrictionsJust Cause Eviction
DC provides strong just-cause eviction protections under the Rental Housing Act (DC Code Section 42-3505.01). Landlords may only evict tenants for specific enumerated reasons, and tenants have the right to cure most violations before eviction proceedings can begin.
Washington DC Just-Cause Eviction Protections
Heavy RestrictionsDC Code § 42-3505.01 (Evictions)
(a)(1) Except as provided in this section, no tenant shall be evicted from a rental unit, notwithstanding the expiration of the tenant's lease or rental agreement, so long as the tenant continues to pay the rent to which the housing provider is entitled for the rental unit; provided, that the nonpayment of a late fee shall not be the basis for an eviction. No tenant shall be evicted from a rent...
Rental Registration
All rental properties in DC must be registered with the Department of Buildings (formerly DCRA) and comply with the Housing Code (14 DCMR). Landlords must obtain a Basic Business License with a Rental Housing endorsement and register rent-controlled units with the Rent Administrator.
Washington DC Rental Property Registration Requirements
Heavy RestrictionsRelocation Assistance
When a DC landlord displaces tenants for substantial rehab, demolition, condo conversion, or owner-occupancy, the Rental Housing Act requires statutory relocation payments based on bedroom count and household status.
Displaced DC Tenants Owed Relocation Payments
Heavy RestrictionsSecurity Deposit Rules
DC limits residential security deposits to one month's rent, requires interest-bearing escrow, and obligates landlords to itemize deductions and return the balance within 45 days of move-out.
DC Caps Deposits at One Month's Rent
Heavy RestrictionsNo-Fault Evictions
Under DC's just-cause regime, no-fault evictions are permitted only for narrowly defined reasons such as owner-occupancy, substantial rehab, demolition, change of use, or sale to a buyer who will occupy.
DC Limits No-Fault Evictions to Listed Causes
Heavy RestrictionsTenant Anti-Harassment
DC's Rental Housing Act prohibits landlords from threatening, intimidating, or constructively evicting tenants through utility shutoffs, false eviction notices, or sustained pressure aimed at forcing tenants out.
DC Bars Landlord Harassment of Tenants
Heavy RestrictionsSource-of-Income Discrimination
DC's Human Rights Act bans housing providers from discriminating against renters based on lawful source of income, including Housing Choice Vouchers, SSI, child support, veterans' benefits, and other lawful payment sources.
Landlords Cannot Reject Voucher Holders
Heavy RestrictionsSection 8 Voucher Acceptance
The DC Housing Authority administers Housing Choice Vouchers and Local Rent Supplement Program subsidies; landlords accepting vouchers must pass DCHA inspection and use the agency's HAP contract for rent payments.
DCHA Administers Housing Choice Vouchers Citywide
Some RestrictionsLooking for District of Columbia county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Washington city rules.
Rental Property Rules in District of Columbia →