Washington, DC Short-Term Rentals: Repeat Violator Strikes (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- D.C. Code § 30-201.10(a)
- First violation
- $500 civil penalty
- Second violation
- $2,000 civil penalty
- Third violation
- $6,000 plus license endorsement revocation
- Enforcing agency
- Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection
Summary
DC hits a short-term rental host with escalating fines for repeat violations of the licensing and operating rules: $500 for a first offense, $2,000 for a second, and $6,000 plus revocation of the license endorsement for a third. D.C. Code § 30-201.10(a) applies this schedule to violations of §§ 30-201.02 and 30-201.06.
A host found to have violated § 30-201.02 or § 30-201.06 shall be liable for a civil penalty of: (1) $500 for the first violation; (2) $2,000 for a second violation; and (3) $6,000 for a third violation and a revocation of the related short-term rental license endorsement.
Full Breakdown
06 (posted license, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, unobstructed egress, cleaning between guests, recordkeeping, tax payment, and the 90-night vacation-rental cap). The first violation of either section draws a $500 civil penalty. A second violation increases the penalty to $2,000. A third violation carries a $6,000 penalty and, unlike the first two strikes, also triggers revocation of the host's short-term rental license endorsement under the same subsection, ending the host's ability to operate legally at that property. 08, so a host's strike count and a platform's per-transaction liability run on independent tracks.
Subsection (c) gives the Mayor rulemaking authority to adjust these dollar amounts, meaning DLCP can revise the schedule through regulation rather than a new Council act. 09(a)(4)-(5).
Violations & Fines
A first violation of § 30-201.02 or § 30-201.06 costs a host $500; a second costs $2,000; a third costs $6,000 and comes with automatic revocation of the short-term rental license endorsement under § 30-201.10(a). DLCP investigates suspected violations under § 30-201.09(a)(4) and can refer cases to the Office of the Attorney General under § 30-201.09(b).
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the penalty for a first short-term rental violation in DC?
Can DC actually take away my short-term rental license?
Does the three-strike penalty apply to Airbnb or just the host?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Washington
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