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District of Columbia Statewide Rule

DC Just-Cause Eviction Protections for Tenants

Significant RestrictionsApplies statewide across District of Columbia (2026)

Key Facts

Statute
DC Code 42-3505.01
Enumerated grounds
Ten (a)-(i) grounds
Late fee
Never an eviction basis
Forum
DC Superior Court
Cure period
30 days for lease breach
Last verified: July 31, 2026

Summary

In the District of Columbia, a landlord cannot evict a tenant who keeps paying rent unless the case fits one of ten grounds listed in DC Official Code section 42-3505.01, from lease violations to owner move-in or demolition.

(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.

View official code

Full Breakdown

The Rental Housing Act shields DC tenants even after a lease expires: so long as rent is paid, eviction is barred unless the housing provider proves a statutory ground. The enumerated grounds include an uncured 30-day lease violation, court-found illegal activity, a good-faith owner or purchaser move-in, substantial renovation, demolition, or discontinuing rental use. Nonpayment of a late fee can never be the basis for eviction. Cases run through DC Superior Court's Landlord-Tenant Branch, which can dismiss a filing for defective notice, premature filing, or missing proof of posted service.

Violations & Penalties

A landlord who evicts or files without a statutory ground and proper notice faces dismissal of the possession action in DC Superior Court; retaliatory or self-help lockouts expose the housing provider to tenant damages under the Rental Housing Act.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my DC landlord evict me just because my lease ended?
No. Under DC Code 42-3505.01, lease expiration alone is not a ground. If you keep paying rent, the landlord must prove one of the statute's enumerated grounds to recover the unit.
Is owner move-in a valid reason to evict in DC?
Yes. Subsection (d) allows recovery when the owner seeks the unit in good faith for personal use as a dwelling, subject to the Act's notice requirements and relocation protections.
Can I be evicted for not paying a late fee?
No. The statute states plainly that nonpayment of a late fee shall not be the basis for an eviction in the District of Columbia.

Sources

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