District of Columbia Landlord Laws & Resources
Everything District of Columbia landlords need to operate legally and confidently: security deposit rules, notice periods, required lease clauses, broker fee disclosures, and statute citations.
List a Property in District of ColumbiaSecurity Deposit Rules
1.00 mo
Maximum Deposit (months of rent)
Required
Escrow Account
Statute: D.C. Code (Rental Housing Act) - security deposit provisions
Notice Requirements
| Notice Type | Required Period | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| 48-hour notice for entry (DC Tenant Bill of Rights) | 48 hours | D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 § 301 |
| DC Rental Housing Act — Just Cause for All Evictions | — | D.C. Code § 42-3505.01 |
| Just cause required (Rental Housing Act § 501) | — | D.C. Code § 42-3505.01 |
| 30-day notice (limited grounds under Rental Housing Act — just cause required) | 30 days | D.C. Code § 42-3505.01 |
| 30-day Notice to Quit for nonpayment (one of the longest in US — Rental Housing Act) | 30 days | D.C. Code § 42-3505.01 |
| DC Rent Control — Annual Cap on Most Pre-1976 Units | — | D.C. Code § 42-3502.06 |
| 30-day notice for rent increase (rent-controlled units have additional restrictions) | 30 days | D.C. Code § 42-3502.08 |
| 45-day return with itemized statement | 45 days | D.C. Code § 42-3502.17 |
Broker Fee Rules
DC — Broker disclosure required
Tenant owes broker fee: Yes
Written disclosure required: Yes
DC requires brokerage relationship disclosure; tenant-paid common in non-rent-controlled.
Effective: 2020-01-01
Required & Recommended Lease Clauses
State-specific lease clauses for District of Columbia are being updated.