Washington, DC

Anyone operating a child development facility, including a home-based daycare, in Washington, D.C. must obtain a Mayor-issued license before operating: occasional babysitting and…

DC lets residents sell non-potentially-hazardous food made in a home kitchen, but only after registering with the Cottage Food Business Registry (CFBR) inside the Department of Health…

Home occupations operating in the District can't turn a residential block into a business corridor. 11 DCMR-U § 251.3 caps vehicle trips generated by clients, customers and deliveries…

A home-based business in the District can post exactly one sign, and it has to be small, flat, and unlit. 11 DCMR-U § 251.4 caps a home occupation sign at 144 square inches, requires…

Washington's zoning code lets residents run a home occupation by right in any residential zone, but 11 DCMR-U § 251 requires a Home Occupation Permit (HOP) before the business opens…

The District does license home cooks to sell full meals, not just shelf-stable goods. Subchapter III-A of Title 7, Chapter 7A, added by the Street Vendor Advancement Amendment Act of…

In Washington, D.C., property owners must cut weeds down once they reach 4 inches after a Department notice, or face a $10 daily fine until compliance.

Backyard composting is explicitly protected in Washington, D.C.: a 'properly maintained compost pile' is carved out of the rodent-control definition of prohibited yard-waste debris…

Under D.C.'s Green Area Ratio (GAR) rules, developers get landscape credit for native plants only if the species is listed in a federal native-plant guide or backed by two published…

DC's zoning code expressly excludes artificial turf from counting as a "pervious surface," so it earns no landscaping credit toward the Green Area Ratio a property must meet in most…

DC's Green Area Ratio zoning rules let builders count rainwater harvesting toward the required landscaping score, but only if the system meets exact conditions: water features must run…

In Washington, D.C., cutting down, topping, girdling, or otherwise destroying any Special Tree, one with a trunk circumference of 55 inches or more, without a Mayor-issued removal…

Every DC short-term rental host must carry at least $500,000 in current liability insurance before renting to a transient guest. D.C. Code § 30-201.02(b) lets the booking service…

A Washington, D.C. host running more than one short-term rental at the same address, say a spare bedroom plus an in-law suite, doesn't get a pass on occupancy caps. D.C. Code §…

Airbnb, Vrbo, and other booking services operating in the District carry direct legal duties under D.C. Code § 30-201.08, not just the host. A booking service must verify a listing's…

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…

A DC vacation rental, one where the host is not present and the guest gets the whole place, is capped at 90 cumulative nights per calendar year under D.C. Code § 30-201.06(e). Hosts…

A DC short-term rental can only operate at the host's primary residence. D.C. Code § 30-201.02(d) ties eligibility to the property that already qualifies for the homestead deduction…

DC requires a license to operate any short-term rental under the Short-Term Rental Regulation Act of 2018 (D.C. Law 22-307, DC Code 30-201.01 et seq.). Two license types exist…

Guests of a DC vacation rental do not count as a 'resident's guest' for the Advisory Neighborhood Commission's annual visitor parking permit. D.C. Code § 30-201.02(f) blocks…

DC imposes a 15.95% transient accommodations tax on all short-term rental stays, effective through March 30, 2027. Hosts must collect and remit this tax. The two-year STR license costs…

In Washington, D.C., bars, restaurants, and other on-premises retail licensees may not let amplified sound, bells, or musical instruments be heard outside the establishment unless it…

In Washington, D.C. it is unlawful to make an unreasonably loud noise between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. that is likely to annoy or disturb another person in their residence. The…

DC bars construction noise in residential zones after 7 p.m. and before 7 a.m. on weekdays, and entirely on Sundays and legal holidays, under 20 DCMR section 2803. After-hours work…

Washington, D.C. does not allow chickens, ducks, goats, or other livestock to be kept as household pets. D.C. Code § 8-1808(h)(1) bars possessing any animal as a household pet except a…

In Washington, D.C., anyone who owns or keeps 7 or more mammals larger than a guinea pig and over 4 months old must obtain an animal hobby permit from the Mayor, applied for annually…

The District bars the Mayor from releasing any animal for adoption unless it's sterilized: females must be spayed by 6 months and males neutered by 10 months, with the adopter covering…

In Washington, D.C., wildlife control operators are prohibited from using any toxicant to kill pigeons, European starlings, or house sparrows; the Department of Energy and Environment…

In Washington, D.C., the Animal Care and Control Agency, run under contract with a licensed humane organization per D.C. Code § 8-1802(a), must promote trap-spay-or-neuter-and-return…

Washington, D.C. does not require microchips for ordinary pets, but a dog ruled potentially dangerous must be implanted with one before the Mayor issues its registration certificate.

Pet groomers and similar pet care businesses in Washington, D.C. must hold a basic business license with an Inspected Sales and Services endorsement before opening, under D.C. Code §…

In Washington, D.C., anyone who runs a business trapping, removing, or relocating nuisance wildlife must hold a wildlife control operator license from the Department of Energy and…

DC regulates exotic pet ownership under DC Code 8-1801 through 8-1814 and the DC Health Department. Certain wild and dangerous animals are prohibited. The Animal Care and Control…

DC requires all dogs to be on a leash in public areas under DC Code 8-1808, with designated off-leash dog parks as the exception. All dogs over 4 months must be licensed annually with…

In the District's Neighborhood Mixed-Use (NMU/NC) zones, a veterinary practice is a matter-of-right use only if it meets specific siting standards under 11 DCMR § 6001.4(g). No more…

Washington DC has no breed-specific legislation. DC Code Chapter 19 (8-1901 et seq.) uses a behavior-based approach to dangerous dogs, focusing on individual animal conduct rather than…

Washington, D.C. requires every honeybee colony to be registered annually with the Department of Energy and Environment under D.C. Code § 8-1825.04(a). A beekeeper needs the property…

D.C. defines an abandoned vehicle by time parked plus damage, and bars leaving one on public space past 48 hours or private property past 30 days.

In Washington, D.C. the Ward 1 Enhanced Residential Parking Program lets any Ward 1 Advisory Neighborhood Commission vote to enroll its blocks, requiring at least half of legal…

The District runs a curb loading zone management program that sets meter fees, minimum loading-zone space requirements, eligibility rules, and enforcement standards for curbside…

DDOT runs the District's Electric Vehicle Charging Station Pilot Program, and by January 1, 2019 it had to install at least 15 public charging stations with at least one in every ward…

Blocking a driveway, crosswalk, sidewalk, alley or intersection with a parked car is codified in Washington, D.C. as a "safety-sensitive parking violation," a category the Department…

D.C.'s zoning code requires every driveway and parking area on private property to be built and kept in an all-weather surface such as concrete or asphalt. Gravel and unreinforced…

The District fixes impound charges by statute rather than leaving them to a tow operator: D.C. Official Code § 50-2457(a)(3) sets a towing fee of $100 and storage of $20 per day…

In Washington, D.C., owners of every dwelling unit, hotel, motel, hospital, nursing home, and residential-custodial care facility must install smoke detectors meeting NFPA 72-E and 74…

Anyone who stores or sells fireworks in Washington, D.C. must hold a business license, with retail dealers paying $100 and wholesalers $760, and the Fire Marshal must approve every…

The District bans kindling any bonfire or combustible pile in streets, alleys, open ground, or lots between sunset and sunrise, with no permit path around the nighttime ban.

The DC Fire Code requires an LP-gas permit for every permanent propane installation regardless of tank size, and for storing portable cylinders totaling 60 pounds or more, any…

Before an owner can rent out an accessory apartment anywhere in the District, 11 DCMR-U § 253.13 requires a Residential Rental Business License from the Department of Consumer and…

An accessory apartment in the District only stays legal as long as an owner lives on the property. 11 DCMR-U § 253.5 requires either the principal dwelling or the accessory apartment…

DC zoning caps a shed at 50 square feet and 10 feet in height under its own definition, and gives sheds a setback exemption other accessory buildings don't get: a shed can sit inside a…

The District allows one accessory apartment per lot in residential zones under 11 DCMR-U § 253, capped at 35% of the house's gross floor area and three occupants (six if it's in the…

The District allows one accessory apartment (ADU) per single-family lot as a matter of right in most Residential House zones, subject to owner-occupancy, a 35% size cap, and a…

D.C. law bans barbed-wire fences, barriers, or obstructions along any street, alley, road, or public or private parking within the city's fire limits, and requires a Mayor-issued…

In DC's R and RF residential zones, a retaining wall is capped at 6 feet, dropping to 4 feet along a street frontage, property line or side setback. Taller walls need a Board of Zoning…

In the District of Columbia, a fence within 10 feet of a party line is capped at 7 feet unless the adjoining owners give written consent. Any party-line fence above 7 feet needs a…

Every outdoor swimming pool and spa pool in the District must be enclosed by a fence or substantial barrier at least 72 inches (6 feet) high. Access gates must be self-closing…

Owners of pre-1978 dwelling units in Washington, D.C. must disclose known lead-based paint hazards to tenants and buyers before any lease or sale contract is signed.

The District's Construction Codes control all plumbing design, installation, and repair work, requiring a permit reviewed by DCRA before fixtures, water supply lines, or drainage…

Any electrical wiring or equipment work in the District requires a permit and inspection, with fees the Mayor sets and updates by rule.

In Washington, D.C., anyone operating a child care center, home, or similar facility must first obtain a license from the Office of the State Superintendent of Education, with criminal…

In Washington, D.C., elevator contractors, mechanics, and inspectors must hold a Board of Industrial Trades license before erecting, servicing, repairing, testing, or inspecting…

Washington, D.C. requires new construction and major renovations of privately-owned buildings over 50,000 square feet to achieve LEED certification and submit a green building…

In Washington, D.C., property owners building under a permit may hire a Mayor-approved third party inspector, rather than wait on a District inspector, to certify permitted work. D.C…

In Washington, D.C., altering, converting, or reconstructing any building or part of one requires a building permit from the Department of Buildings before work starts, and plans must…

The District of Columbia enforces condominium declarations and bylaws through private civil lawsuits, not municipal code enforcement: associations and owners sue in court for damages…

In Washington, D.C., condo associations resolve disputes through internal enforcement: the board can fine owners for bylaw violations only after notice and a hearing, and can sue or…

In Washington, D.C., a condominium unit owners' association may impose a charge for late payment of an assessment and, after notice and an opportunity to be heard, levy a reasonable…

D.C.'s Condominium Act sets how unit owners' associations must allocate and levy common-expense assessments, made at least annually under the bylaws' proportionate formula.

In Washington, D.C., condominium association boards must hold at least one open annual meeting, give unit owners 21 days' written notice for regular meetings and 7 days' for others…

Under the Condominium Act, a D.C. unit owners' association can fine an owner for violating condo instruments or rules only after notice and a chance to be heard, and it can sue or be…

In Washington, D.C., every condominium must record bylaws with its declaration establishing self-government by the unit owners' association, specifying whether an executive board…

The District has a written right-to-charge law for condominium and community associations, D.C. Official Code § 6-1451.03c, but it is codified with the header "[Not Funded]" and its…

A District of Columbia condominium association may foreclose on a unit without going to court, but D.C. Code § 42-1903.13(c) hedges that power with several hard limits. No sale may be…

The District sets no cap percentage, no minimum lease term and no grandfathering clause for condominium leasing restrictions. What it does regulate is how the restriction gets adopted…

Washington, D.C. bars drinking an alcoholic beverage or carrying one in an open container on any street, alley, park, sidewalk, parking area, or in a vehicle on those public ways. D.C…

D.C. Code bans smoking or otherwise consuming marijuana in any public space in the District, including streets, sidewalks, parks, parking areas, and vehicles parked in them, or…

In Washington, D.C., smoking or otherwise consuming marijuana in any public space is a criminal misdemeanor. D.C. Code § 48-911.01 bars use on streets, alleys, parks, sidewalks…

Washington, D.C.'s panhandling chapter bars soliciting alms in an aggressive manner in public, at transit stops, near ATMs, from vehicles in traffic, and on private property without…

In Washington, D.C. it is unlawful to urinate or defecate anywhere in public other than in a urinal or toilet. The Metropolitan Police Department enforces the ban as disorderly conduct…

In Washington, D.C. anyone under 16 must wear a fastened protective helmet while riding a skateboard, roller skates, sled, coaster, sidewalk bicycle, or scooter. Parents or guardians…

District law treats used needles and syringes as medical waste: dumping them anywhere but a Mayor-authorized disposal site is a felony under D.C. Code § 8-902, punishable by up to…

District law bans letting debris pile up or grass grow past 8 inches on property you own, and requires sealing rodent entryways once harborage is found, with a 14-day abatement…

An operator seeking a DC microenterprise home kitchen permit must pass a nationally accredited Certified Food Protection Manager Course and hold a District-issued Certified Food…

The Mayor can enter and inspect any D.C. rental unit for housing-code compliance, but needs a warrant if the tenant refuses access to their own space.

In Washington, D.C., the Mayor can enter and inspect any rental housing accommodation during reasonable hours to check compliance with housing and construction code rules, using a…

In Washington, D.C., the sales tax on gross receipts from parking or storing motor vehicles and trailers is 22%, far above the District's general 5.75% sales tax rate, with an…

The District taxes unincorporated businesses separately from corporations, but exempts firms earning over 80% of income from personal services with capital not a material factor.

The District taxes vacant and blighted real property at steep surtax rates: $5.00 per $100 of assessed value for Class 3 vacant property and $10.00 per $100 for Class 4 blighted…

Washington, D.C. requires anyone selling vapor products to hold a Mayor-issued retailer's tobacco license, since the D.C. Code classifies e-cigarettes and vape liquid as "other tobacco…

In Washington, D.C., no one may offer or administer a massage for commercial purposes without a license issued under D.C. Code § 47-2811(a), which requires licensing under Chapter 12…

In Washington, D.C., only businesses that already offered nude dancing before December 15, 1993 may hold a nude-dancing license today, and those grandfathered licenses cannot be…

Tow truck operators in Washington, D.C. no longer get a standalone license; they must carry a Basic Business License with a Motor Vehicle Sales, Service, and Repair endorsement to…

In Washington, D.C., no one may operate as a pawnbroker without first getting a license from the Mayor under D.C. Code § 47-2884.02(a). Licensees must post at least $20,000 in cash…

In Washington, D.C., anyone buying, selling, or trading secondhand personal property must obtain a dealer license from the Mayor before operating, with fees set by dealer…

Body art establishments in D.C. must hold a Mayor-issued license, and every artist performing tattoos or piercings must be individually licensed too.

DC zoning caps a residential private garage at 900 square feet and bars any repair or service facilities beyond battery or EV charging. A structure with equipment to repair motor…

Washington's Green Area Ratio (GAR) rule, mandatory for building permits in every zone except the R and RF residential zones since October 1, 2013, exists specifically to mitigate the…

Any new building or substantial improvement sited in a D.C. flood hazard area must be reviewed by the Mayor before a permit issues, then anchored against flotation and collapse, built…

District facilities and agencies must maximize purchases of Environmentally Preferable Products or Services under D.C. Code § 8-1031.04a(d). The mandate sits inside the District's…

D.C. law commits the Mayor to cut District-wide greenhouse gas emissions 45% below 2006 levels by 2025, 60% by 2030, 70% by 2035, 85% by 2040, and to carbon neutrality by 2045…

In Washington, D.C., every lot on a street with a public sewer must have all of its drainage connect into that sewer, and into the water main too where one runs along the same street.

Any building or structure fronting the Potomac River, Anacostia River or Washington Channel in the District must sit at least 75 feet back from the water. The Zoning Regulations…

In Washington, D.C., the Mayor reviews every building permit application for new construction or a substantial improvement sited in a flood hazard area before issuing it. Under D.C…

In Washington, D.C., every permit application for excavation, grading, fill, or construction gets a mudslide-hazard review, and subdivision proposals must provide adequate drainage…

DC Code Chapter 17A directs the Mayor to issue rules requiring shoreline protection measures along District waters, and those rules must favor living shorelines, non-structural…

D.C. Code § 8-651.09 creates a 12-member Urban Forestry Advisory Council charged with coordinating the District's tree canopy goals across agencies. The Mayor must fill three of its…

In Washington, D.C., any tree with a trunk circumference of 55 inches or more is a protected 'Special Tree,' and topping, cutting down, or removing one without a Mayor-issued permit is…

The District classifies any tree with a 55-inch or greater trunk circumference as a Special Tree, and bars removal without a Mayor-issued permit unless the tree's species has been…

When a hotel or building-service contract changes hands in D.C., the incoming contractor must keep qualifying food-service, janitorial, health-care-support and security workers on the…

Washington, D.C. imposes a 10.05% sales tax on hotel and lodging charges paid by transient guests, plus a separate 4.45% tax that funds the convention center, for a combined 14.5% rate.

In Washington, D.C., anyone permitted to occupy public space, public rights of way, or public structures must provide a safe accommodation for pedestrians and bicyclists if their work…

In Washington, D.C. the Mayor is authorized to run automated traffic enforcement, covering red-light and speed cameras, and a camera-recorded photo is prima facie evidence of a moving…

D.C.'s Department of Transportation runs a dedicated Passenger Loading Zone Program for rideshare and taxi pickups and drop-offs, starting with a mandatory zone in the Golden Triangle…

DDOT requires every dockless scooter operator, such as Lime or Spin, to hold an SFD permit before deploying devices in the District. Riders must be 16 or older, can't ride on Central…

The District of Columbia has no golf-cart statute, no local-designation scheme, and no permit that would put a cart on a city street. What it does have is a low-speed vehicle rule, 18…

In Washington, D.C., landlords must give tenants at least 30 days' written notice before a rent increase takes effect, or the increase is not valid.

The Mayor can inspect any District building for habitability and sanitary condition, condemning those found unsafe or filthy until they are repaired, demolished, or made habitable and…

D.C. Code § 42-3505.02 bars landlords from taking retaliatory action against a tenant who exercises any legal right, and explicitly lists harassment among the prohibited retaliatory…

A DC housing provider that substantially rehabilitates, demolishes, or discontinues a rental building must pay displaced tenants relocation assistance: $300 per qualifying room plus…

Housing providers must file a registration statement with the Rent Administrator for every non-exempt rental unit in the District.

DC provides strong just-cause eviction protections under the Rental Housing Act (DC Code Section 42-3505.01). Landlords may only evict tenants for specific enumerated reasons, and…

Washington, D.C. runs a citywide rent stabilization program that caps most landlords' annual rent increases to the change in the CPI-W, with a hard 10% ceiling, though small buildings…

D.C. requires just cause to evict and gives strong tenant protections. For nonpayment, a landlord must serve written notice and may file only if at least $600 in rent is owed. A tenant…

D.C. has an express statutory entry rule. Under D.C. Code § 42-3505.51 a housing provider must give at least 48 hours' written notice and may enter only for a reasonable purpose, at a…

Under D.C. Code § 42-3505.31, a residential late fee may not exceed 5% of the full monthly rent and may be charged only after rent is at least 5 days late. The fee must be disclosed in…

D.C. Code § 42-3505.01 forbids ending a tenancy merely because a lease expires: a tenant who keeps paying rent may stay unless the landlord proves one of the statute's just causes…

In Washington, D.C., a landlord may charge no more than one month's rent as a security deposit. Within 45 days after a tenancy ends, the landlord must either return the deposit plus…

In D.C., adverse possession requires 15 years of open, continuous, hostile possession, matching the 15-year limitations period to recover land under D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(1). Section…

Dumping solid, hazardous, or medical waste on any street, lot, park, or private area without Mayoral authorization is a crime in D.C., with felony-level fines for hazardous waste or…

Washington, D.C. treats loose yard waste and branches as prohibited 'debris' unless they're bundled and set out for collection or piled in a properly maintained compost heap, under…

D.C. law requires private collection properties, meaning apartment buildings, condos, and commercial sites that arrange their own hauling, to contract for waste pickup at least twice a…

District law requires every household and business to separate solid waste into three streams at the point of discard: recyclable materials, compostable materials once the Mayor…

Large District food generators, retail stores of 10,000-plus square feet, colleges with 2,000-plus residential students, arenas seating 15,000 or more, hospitals with 300-plus beds…

Every private property in the District must give residents equal capacity to recycle as to throw away trash: D.C. Code § 8-1031.04(a)(1) requires recycling containers sized to match…

Private property owners in the District must secure trash and recycling containers against theft when they aren't set out for collection, and use dumpsters instead of 32- or 64-gallon…

In Washington, D.C., buildings on a residential street are capped at 90 feet, with the actual limit tied to the street's width under the century-old Height of Buildings Act.

Title 11 DCMR Subtitle D sets the District's residential yard minimums: a rear yard of 25 feet in R-1 and 20 feet in R-2 and R-3, two 8-foot side yards for detached houses, and a front…

The District calls it lot occupancy, not lot coverage. Title 11 DCMR Subtitle D Section 210.1 caps how much of a residential lot a building can cover: 40% for a typical house in the…

In Washington, D.C., anyone who wants to occupy or use public space, public rights of way, or public structures, such as sidewalk vaults, conduits, or manholes, needs a permit from the…

In Washington, D.C., it is unlawful to crowd, obstruct, or incommode a sidewalk, street, or building entrance and then refuse a police officer's order to move along. The Metropolitan…

The District repairs damaged public sidewalks, not the abutting owner directly, but D.C. Code § 9-401.06 splits the bill: the Mayor (through DDOT) assesses half the cost against the…

The Department of Parks and Recreation issues public use permits for events in District parks, requiring an application letter at least 30 days before the event describing its date…

Restaurants and cafes must rent public space from the District to operate a sidewalk café, with fixed annual rates set by D.C. Code: there is no flat 'outdoor dining permit' outside…

Washington, D.C. lets the lessee of a building fronting a closed street rent the adjoining public space for a street festival, capped at $1.00 per square foot, or $2.00 for certain…

Anyone planning a parade, march, or rally on a D.C. street, sidewalk, or park must give notice and get an assembly plan approved by the Chief of Police before the event, unless a…

DDOT issues free block party permits under D.C. Code § 9-632: at least 51% of abutting residents, owners, or businesses must consent (or every abutting ANC must approve), and the…

In Washington, D.C., anyone operating a vending cart, stand, or vehicle on public space needs a vending site permit and business license, and the Mayor sets rules on cart location…

Food trucks in D.C. must hold a basic business license with a Food Establishments: Retail endorsement plus a Mayor-issued vending site permit before selling from any sidewalk, roadway…

In Washington, D.C., mobile vendors, including food trucks, may only sell from vending locations the Mayor specifically designates on sidewalks, roadways, and other public space…

D.C. bars and clubs cannot let amplified sound, noise-making devices, or live music carry beyond their own walls, and ABRA runs a dedicated noise-complaint line to enforce it.

In Washington, D.C., no one may demolish a designated historic landmark or a building in a historic district without a Mayor-issued permit, granted only when the project serves the…

The District's Inclusionary Zoning program lets qualifying residential projects build up to 20% more gross floor area than allowed by right in exchange for setting aside affordable…

New buildings and additions with frontage on designated street segments in the M and South Capitol Streets, Independence Avenue, or North Capitol Street sub-areas of the Downtown (D)…

DC's Zoning Commission cannot write or amend the Zoning Regulations or Zoning Map in a way that conflicts with the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital. Under 11 DCMR Subtitle A…

Washington's NMU-4/GA and NMU-7B/GA zones along Georgia Avenue implement the Georgia Avenue-Petworth Metro Station Area and Corridor Plan, encouraging vertically mixed-use buildings…

D.C. bans the sale, offer for sale, or distribution of flavored tobacco products citywide, plus electronic smoking devices within a quarter mile of any middle or high school. Violators…

In the District of Columbia, no one may sell, give, or furnish any tobacco product to a person under 21, or buy tobacco on their behalf. Retailers must card anyone appearing under 30.

D.C. bars medical cannabis retailers and internet retailers from locating in a residential district or within 400 feet of a preschool, primary or secondary school, or recreation…

Under Initiative 71 (effective February 2015) and DC Code Section 48-904.01, DC residents 21 and older may grow up to 6 cannabis plants at home, with no more than 3 being mature at any…

In Washington, D.C., a licensed dispensary or cultivation center cannot locate in a residential district, and must stay at least 300 feet from any preschool, school, or recreation…

Washington, D.C.'s license plate recognition systems, the cameras that log every plate they scan and check it against enforcement databases, are cabined by a single statute: the Mayor…

In Washington, D.C., homeowners may run security cameras on their own property without a permit or police registry. The District's voyeurism statute, D.C. Code § 22-3531, carves out…

The Department of Parks and Recreation's Director sets each park's operating hours under D.C. Code § 10-137.01, and being in a park after posted hours is a violation the Metropolitan…

DC's curfew currently covers minors under 18: 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, 12:01 a.m. to 6 a.m. at weekends and during July and August, with extended hours in specially…

Washington, D.C. requires a dedicated film permit before any motion picture, television or media production occupies public space or a public right-of-way. Issued by the Mayor under…

DC residents can prohibit unwanted solicitors by posting 'No Soliciting' signs, which solicitors are legally required to respect. Violating a posted no-soliciting notice can result in…

Door-to-door solicitors in Washington, D.C. must obtain a biennial solicitor's license, post a $500 bond, and pay a $316 license fee before taking any order.

D.C. Code § 9-601 gives owners just 8 daylight hours after snow or sleet stops falling to clear a path the full width of their abutting sidewalk, up to 36 inches wide. Miss it, and §…

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

In Washington, D.C., owners must cut weeds over 4 inches tall within 7 days of a Health Department notice, or the District can remove them and bill the property, plus a fine of up to…

The District treats a yard sale, garage sale, or home sales party as a home occupation activity capped by zoning, not an open-ended right. 11 DCMR-U § 251.1(l) allows five such sales…

D.C. law bars homeowners, condo and co-op associations from banning solar panels on an owner's own unit or on a roof serving only that unit. Associations may still restrict panels on…

DC's zoning code exempts rooftop solar panels from the standard penthouse setback rule, but only within strict height caps. On a one-family dwelling, flat, or accessory building…

In DC's Production, Distribution, and Repair (PDR) zones, no direct or reflected glare or heat from any light source or equipment may be detectable in objectionable amounts beyond the…

In Washington, D.C., anyone can start a nuisance investigation under D.C. Code § 8-803 by telling the Mayor about a solid-waste, litter, or sanitation violation. The Mayor can act on…

DC adjusts its housing and building code infraction fines every year using the D.C.-area Consumer Price Index. Base amounts come from 16 DCMR § 3201.1, and the adjusted schedule for…

D.C. law bars anyone from knowingly importing, selling, planting, or spreading a plant the Mayor has listed as invasive. The Department of Energy and Environment enforces it with civil…

The District sets a citywide minimum wage of $18.40 per hour as of July 1, 2026, applying to all workers regardless of employer size. DC Official Code § 32-1003 fixed a $15.00 floor in…

The District of Columbia runs a universal, employer-funded paid-leave insurance program giving eligible workers up to 12 weeks of parental, family, or medical leave and 2 weeks of…

The District has no fair-workweek or predictive-scheduling law, but employers must pay one extra hour at minimum wage for any split shift and guarantee at least four hours of…

The District of Columbia requires a concealed pistol license from the Metropolitan Police Department under DC Official Code § 22-4506, valid up to two years. After Wrenn v. District of…

Every firearm possessed in the District of Columbia must have a valid registration certificate. DC Official Code § 7-2502.01 bans possessing or controlling any firearm without one, and…

Washington, D.C. prohibits openly carrying a pistol anywhere in the District. Even residents holding a concealed-carry license may never carry openly: every licensed pistol must stay…

In the District of Columbia, a firearm transported by vehicle must be unloaded and kept inaccessible from the passenger compartment; if the vehicle has no separate compartment, the…

District of Columbia law bars any bingo game, raffle, or Monte Carlo night party without a license from the Office of Lottery and Gaming under D.C. Code § 36-601.23. Only nonprofits…

District of Columbia law sets no dollar threshold or family/friends carve-out for private betting games. D.C. Code § 22-1704 bans any "gaming table or gambling device" used to play for…

Sports wagering has been legal in the District since May 3, 2019, but only for licensed operators. D.C. Code § 36-621.05 makes it illegal to take a sports bet without an Operator…

The District of Columbia has never legislated sobriety checkpoints. The word checkpoint does not appear in the impaired-driving chapter at D.C. Code § 50-1901 et seq., in the traffic…

The District has no statute creating a right to record police, and it does not need an all-party consent workaround either. Two things do the work. D.C. Code § 23-542(b)(3) makes the…

The District has no statute that makes it an offence for a person on foot to refuse to give a name to police. The duty that does exist is tied to driving: D.C. Code § 50-1401.01(c)…

The District is one of the few places with a statutory script for consent searches. D.C. Code § 23-526 requires a sworn officer, before searching a person, vehicle, home or property on…

The District lets political posters go up on public lampposts without a permit, but 24 DCMR 108 dates each poster, caps display at 180 days, limits three copies per block side, and…

Washington, DC charges consumers 5 cents for every disposable paper or plastic carryout bag at retail establishments that sell food or alcohol, with proceeds funding Anacostia River…

Washington DC bans expanded polystyrene (foam) food service products outright. No restaurant, cafe, or food vendor may sell or provide food in foam containers, and since 2021 retailers…

Since January 1, 2019, DC food service entities cannot serve drinks with single-use plastic straws or stirrers, which are neither compostable nor recyclable. Only compostable or…

The District allows extra lamps only in the specific categories 18 DCMR § 711 names, and it caps each at two. A vehicle may carry not more than two spot lamps, two fog lamps mounted 12…

The District has no statute or regulation that names dash cameras, and its windshield rule is written the other way round. 18 DCMR § 731.1 bars driving with any sign, poster or other…

The District of Columbia has no lane-splitting statute and no lane-filtering rule for motorcycles, in either direction. A motorcycle is a vehicle under the traffic regulations, so it…

The District of Columbia bans license plate covers outright and prices the offence far above the ordinary tag infraction. Under 18 DCMR § 422.8 no person may operate a vehicle where…

The District bans radar detectors outright. 18 DCMR § 736 makes it an offence both to sell or offer one for sale in the District and to use or have one in your possession in an…

Studded snow tires are legal in the District of Columbia, but only between October 15 and April 15 of each year, and only if the studs are small enough to satisfy two dimensional…

The District sets some of the tightest window tint limits in the country. Under D.C. Code § 50-2207.02, a car that is not a mini-van must let at least 70% of light through the front…