5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in District of Columbia, District of Columbia.
Verified from official government sources
DC regulates trash bin placement and storage under DCMR 21-700 (Department of Public Works) and the Property Maintenance Code (DCMR 14-805). Bins must be stored in the rear yard or alley between collection days. Supercans and recycling bins may be placed for collection after 6:30 PM the night before and must be retrieved by 8:00 PM on collection day.
DC combats vacant and blighted property through the Department of Buildings' Vacant Property Unit under DC Code section 42-3131.05 et seq. Vacant buildings pay 5 percent of assessed value in tax (Class 3), and blighted buildings pay 10 percent (Class 4). The Nuisance Abatement Task Force and OAG pursue chronic offenders. Registration and exterior maintenance are mandatory.
Vacant lots in DC must be maintained free of weeds over 10 inches, trash, and debris under DCMR 14-805 (Property Maintenance Code) and the Litter Control Act (DC Code section 8-801 et seq.). Weed lots trigger DPW mowing with billing to the owner. Vacant lot registration is not separately required but open lots are inspected through the 311 system.
D.C. Code § 8-801 — Litter Control Administration Purpose
The purpose of this chapter is to provide civil sanctions and to eliminate criminal liability for violating a variety of local laws and rules, to provide for civil enforcement of these violations, and to establish an expeditious administrative adjudicative system. (Mar. 25, 1986, D.C. Law 6-100, § 2, 33 DCR 781.) [...] This section is referenced in § 1-303.23, § 47-2829, and § 47-2862. [...] De...
The Winter Sidewalk Safety Amendment Act of 2015 requires DC property owners to clear snow and ice from adjacent sidewalks within 8 daylight hours of the end of a snowfall. Residential first offense is $25; commercial first offense is $150. DC also offers Resident Snow Team assistance for elderly and disabled homeowners through Serve DC.
DC property maintenance rules under DCMR Title 14 apply to yard sales to prevent accumulation and blight. Items must be stored behind the front building line between sale days, and unsold items cannot remain displayed at the curb or in the front yard after the sale ends. Signs must come down within 24 hours. Repeated blight conditions trigger DOB Property Maintenance citations.
1 cities in District of Columbia have their own property maintenance rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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