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Washington, DC Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Enforcing authority
Mayor of the District of Columbia
Trigger
Owner fails to correct after notice
Cost recovery
Assessed as tax lien on property
Criminal exposure
Prosecution still available separately

Summary

The Mayor can order owners to fix unlawful property conditions and bill the cost as a property tax if they refuse.

...whenever the owner of any real property in the District of Columbia shall fail or refuse, after the service of reasonable notice... to correct any condition which exists on or has arisen from such property in violation of law... the Mayor of the District of Columbia is authorized to: Cause such condition to be corrected; assess the fair market value of the correction of the condition or the actual cost of the correction, whichever is higher... as a tax against the property...

Source: DC Code Section 42-3131.05 - Vacant PropertyView official code

Full Breakdown

When a District property owner fails to correct a condition that violates law or regulation after receiving notice, D.C. Code § 42-3131.01 lets the Mayor step in directly: correct the condition using District resources or contractors, then assess the fair market value or actual cost of the fix, whichever is higher, as a tax lien against the property. That assessment rides the regular real property tax rolls and is collected the same way as general taxes. Correction by the Mayor does not shield the owner from separate criminal prosecution for having caused or allowed the violation.

Violations & Fines

Fair market value or actual cost of correction, whichever is higher, assessed as a property tax lien; owner also remains subject to criminal prosecution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the District fix a violation itself and bill the owner?
Yes. Under § 42-3131.01, if the owner ignores notice, the Mayor may correct the condition and place the cost on the property tax rolls as a lien.
Does paying the assessed cost end the case?
No. The statute states correction by the Mayor does not relieve the owner from criminal prosecution for the underlying violation.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Washington

Noise Ordinances: Construction HoursSome RestrictionsSnow & Sidewalk ClearingSome RestrictionsVacant Lot MaintenanceSome RestrictionsCurfew Laws: Juvenile CurfewHeavy RestrictionsTree Protection: Urban Forest EquityLight RestrictionsEnvironmental Rules: Heat Island MitigationSome RestrictionsZoning Overlays & Bonuses: Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC)Some RestrictionsEnvironmental Rules: Shoreline ManagementSome Restrictions

All Washington rules

Compare Washington to another location·View the District of Columbia property maintenance overview

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