District of Columbia Eviction Notice Law
District of Columbia's notice period for unpaid rent is 10 days (Notice of nonpayment of rent and possible eviction (RAD Form 10)). For a lease violation it is 30 days, and the tenant gets a chance to fix the problem.
Last verified: · Researched and cited by MakeLease · not yet attorney-reviewed
Not legal advice. A defective notice can restart an eviction case; ask a District of Columbia attorney or court self-help center before serving one. See our disclaimer.
District of Columbia eviction notice rules at a glance
| Notice for unpaid rent | 10 days (Notice of nonpayment of rent and possible eviction (RAD Form 10))D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a), (a-1), RENTAL Amendment Act of 2025, D.C. Law 26-80, § 101(b) |
|---|---|
| Notice for a lease violation | 30 days (chance to cure)D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a)(1), (b) |
| Ending a month-to-month tenancy (no-fault) | Landlord 90 days · tenant 30 daysD.C. Code § 42-3505.54(a), D.C. Code § 42-3202(b), D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a)-(k) |
Notice for unpaid rent
- In effect since .
- Before : The past-due-rent notice had to be given at least 30 days before filing (D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a-1)(1) before D.C. Law 26-80).
What District of Columbia law says
What notice must a District of Columbia landlord give before filing an eviction for unpaid rent?
To evict for unpaid rent of $600 or more, give the statutory past-due-rent notice with a ledger at least 10 days before filing, by certified mail plus hand delivery or posting; because the required notice wording still tells the tenant they have 30 days to pay, the safest course is to wait 30 days (D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a-1)) (D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a), (a-1)).
How much notice is required for a lease violation in District of Columbia?
To evict for a lease violation other than nonpayment, serve a written notice and give the tenant 30 days to correct it, serving the notice on both the tenant and the Rent Administrator (D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a)(1), (b)).
How much notice ends a month-to-month tenancy in District of Columbia?
A D.C. tenant may end a month-to-month tenancy with 30 days' written notice that expires on the first of a month, but a housing provider can end one only for a cause listed in the Rental Housing Act, such as 90 days' notice for an owner move-in (D.C. Code §§ 42-3505.54(a), 42-3202(b), 42-3505.01) (D.C. Code § 42-3505.54(a)).
How District of Columbia compares
30 of 49 verified jurisdictions use a shorter unpaid-rent notice.
None of District of Columbia's 2 neighbors follows the same rule.
Other District of Columbia rules
| Security deposit limit | 1 month's rent (with exceptions)14 DCMR § 308.2, 308.8, D.C. Code § 42-3502.17(a) |
|---|---|
| Deposit return deadline | 45 days after the lease ends14 DCMR §§ 309.1, 309.2, D.C. Code § 42-3502.17(e) (45-day notice of unpaid amounts, added by D.C. Law 26-156) |
| Late-fee cap | Up to 5% of the full rent due, once per late payment; the maximum must be disclosed in the written lease; no fee on a subsidy provider's shareD.C. Code § 42-3505.31 |
| Entry notice | 48 hours' noticeD.C. Code § 42-3505.51 |
| Rent-increase notice | 60 days (Increase takes effect only on the first regular rent day falling more than 60 calendar days after notice. Rent-stabilized units are also limited in amount and frequency)D.C. Code § 42-3509.04(b), D.C. Law 25-65, § 2(f) (30 → 60 days) |
Read the District of Columbia law
Put the rent due date and notice terms in writing
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