District of Columbia Landlord-Tenant Law

Maximum deposit

A security deposit may not exceed the first full month's rent and may be charged only once (14 DCMR § 308.2; D.C. Code § 42-3502.17(a)). (14 DCMR § 308.2, 308.8, D.C. Code § 42-3502.17(a))

Return deadline

Within 45 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the deposit with interest or notify the tenant in writing of an intent to withhold, then refund any balance with an itemized statement within 30 days after that notice (14 DCMR §§ 309.1-309.2). (14 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))

Itemized deductions

A landlord who withholds any of the deposit must give the tenant an itemized statement of each repair or other use and its cost when refunding the balance (14 DCMR § 309.2). (14 DCMR § 309.2, D.C. Code § 42-3502.17(e)(2))

Interest on deposits

Landlords must hold deposits in an interest-bearing D.C. escrow account and pay the tenant interest at no less than the statement savings rate when a tenancy of 12 months or more ends (14 DCMR §§ 308.3, 311.1-311.2). (14 DCMR §§ 308.3, 308.7, 14 DCMR §§ 311.1, 311.2)

Penalty for wrongful withholding

A landlord who fails to return a deposit owed is liable for the amount withheld, or treble damages if it acted in bad faith (14 DCMR § 309.5). (14 DCMR §§ 309.3, 309.5, 14 DCMR § 311.2, D.C. Code § 42-3502.17(b) (OAH may adjudicate deposit complaints))

Late-fee limit

A landlord may charge a late fee of no more than 5% of the rent due, only once per late payment and only if the written lease states the maximum fee (D.C. Code § 42-3505.31(a)-(c)). (D.C. Code § 42-3505.31)

• In effect since December 8, 2016.

Grace period

A late fee may be charged only if the full rent is still unpaid 5 days after the due date, or after any longer grace period in the lease (D.C. Code § 42-3505.31(b)(2)). (D.C. Code § 42-3505.31(b)(2))

• In effect since December 8, 2016.

A D.C. housing provider must give written notice at least 48 hours ahead and enter only for a legitimate purpose between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on a non-Sunday, non-holiday, unless the tenant agrees to something else or there is an emergency (D.C. Code § 42-3505.51). (D.C. Code § 42-3505.51)

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), D.C. Code § 42-3202(b), D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a)-(k))

In D.C. a rent increase cannot take effect until the first regular rent due date that falls more than 60 calendar days after the tenant gets notice (D.C. Code § 42-3509.04(b)). (D.C. Code § 42-3509.04(b), D.C. Law 25-65, § 2(f) (30 → 60 days))

• In effect since November 28, 2023.
• Before November 28, 2023: Increase effective on the first rent day more than 30 days after notice.

Most D.C. rental units built before 1976 are rent-stabilized: rent on an occupied unit may rise only once a year, by inflation (CPI-W) plus 2% and never more than 10%, unless the unit is registered as exempt (D.C. Code §§ 42-3502.05, 42-3502.06(b), 42-3502.08(g)-(h)). (D.C. Code § 42-3502.08(g)-(h), D.C. Code § 42-3502.06(b), D.C. Code § 42-3502.05(a), (d))

When a prospective tenant applies, give the Rent Administrator's disclosure form (rent, surcharges, rent-control or exempt status, housing-code violations, deposit terms, mold history, Tenant Bill of Rights and more), and before signing tell tenants of exempt units in writing that rent increases are not regulated (D.C. Code §§ 42-3502.22(b), 42-3502.05(d)). (D.C. Code § 42-3502.22, D.C. Code § 42-3502.05(d), 40 CFR 745.107)

• Lead-based paint disclosure, lead warning statement and EPA pamphlet (Housing built before 1978 (unless exempt under 40 CFR 745.101)) — 42 U.S.C. § 4852d; 40 CFR Part 745 Subpart F (§ 745.107)
• Housing provider's disclosure form (RAD Form 3) with applicable rent, pending petitions, surcharges, rent-control/exempt status and registration, housing-code violation reports, rent-increase pamphlet, application fee and security-deposit terms, condo/co-op conversion status, ownership information, indoor mold history and the Tenant Bill of Rights (When a prospective tenant files an application) — D.C. Code § 42-3502.22(b)
• Notice that rent increases are not regulated by the rent stabilization program (Before signing, for units exempt from rent stabilization) — D.C. Code § 42-3502.05(d)
• Notice to each tenant that the unit's disclosure forms and documents are available for inspection, and where (Ongoing; update the compilation within 30 days of any change) — D.C. Code § 42-3502.22(b)(2)

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), RENTAL Amendment Act of 2025, D.C. Law 26-80, § 101(b))

• In effect since December 31, 2025.
• Before December 31, 2025: 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).

Lease violations

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)). (D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a)(1), (b))