DC short-term rental hosts are responsible for guest noise under the STR Act and DCMR Title 20 Chapter 27. Repeated complaints can trigger license revocation by the Office of Short-Term Rentals.
Under the DC STR Act, hosts must provide a 24-hour contact number to neighbors and respond to complaints within one hour. Guest noise that violates DC residential decibel limits (60 dBA day, 55 dBA night) is attributed to the host. The Office of Short-Term Rentals, MPD, and DOEE share a complaint tracking system, and three substantiated noise complaints within a 12-month period can trigger license review and suspension. Rowhouse STRs in U Street, H Street NE, and Shaw are under heightened scrutiny because party rentals have been a recurring neighborhood concern. Bachelor and bachelorette parties are not prohibited per se, but the host remains liable for any ordinance breach.
License suspension after three substantiated complaints; fines up to $6,000 per incident plus MPD noise citations directly to hosts.
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