3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in District of Columbia, District of Columbia.
Verified from official government sources
DC has one of the nation's oldest and strongest rent stabilization programs under the Rental Housing Act of 1985 (DC Code section 42-3501.01 et seq.). Buildings built before 1976 with 5 or more units are covered. 2024-2025 annual increase cap is CPI-W plus 2 percent (maximum 6 percent, or 4 percent for elderly/disabled tenants).
DC has full just-cause eviction protection for virtually all residential tenants under DC Code section 42-3505.01. A landlord may not terminate a tenancy or refuse to renew a lease except for 10 enumerated grounds, including nonpayment, lease violation, illegal activity, owner occupancy, substantial renovation, or demolition. Relocation assistance is required for no-fault terminations.
D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a), (a-1), (b), (k) — Evictions (Just Cause)
(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...
All DC rental housing providers must hold a Basic Business License in the Housing: Residential-Rental category before leasing a unit, per DC Code section 47-2828 and DCMR 14-200. The license requires a Certificate of Occupancy, Clean Hands certification, and registration with the Rental Accommodations Division. Inspections are required every two years for most buildings.
1 cities in District of Columbia have their own rental property rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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