DC Landlord Compliance Checklist: 6 Requirements Before You Collect Rent

The most expensive mistake DC landlords make has nothing to do with choosing the wrong tenant or setting the wrong rent. It happens before a single lease is signed – when a landlord skips, delays, or incorrectly completes the licensing and registration steps required to legally rent property in the District. A missing Basic Business License means you can’t enforce your lease. An unregistered rental unit means rent control automatically applies, even if you’d otherwise qualify for an exemption. A missed BBL renewal triggers a $100 penalty plus interest and can halt eviction proceedings mid-process.

DC landlord compliance isn’t optional, and it isn’t forgiving. Here are the six core requirements every DC rental property owner needs to address before collecting rent:

1. Basic Business License (BBL) with housing endorsement
2. Certificate of Occupancy (required for two-family and apartment properties)
3. Lead-based paint disclosure and remediation compliance
4. Radon testing and disclosure
5. Rent control registration or exemption filing with RAD
6. Required lease disclosures including DC Tenant Bill of Rights

Each one carries its own deadline, agency, and consequence for non-compliance. This checklist walks through all six – plus the annual renewal calendar that keeps you out of trouble once you’re up and running.

Requirement 1: Basic Business License

Every DC landlord – regardless of property type, size, or whether you live on-site – is required to hold a Basic Business License (BBL) with a housing endorsement under 14 DCMR § 220.2. This requirement applies even if you’re renting a single room in a property you also occupy. There are no exceptions for owner-occupants, short-term arrangements, or informal rental agreements.

The BBL category depends on your property type:

• One-Family Rental License – Covers single-family homes, townhouses, condominiums, duplexes, and individual rooms. This is the most common endorsement for DC landlords and does not require a Certificate of Occupancy from the Department of Buildings.
• Two-Family Rental License – Required for English basement apartments, converted basement units, or carriage houses where the property owner or another tenant occupies the main residence. A Certificate of Occupancy is required for this category.
• Apartment License – Applies to buildings with three or more dwelling units. Requires both a Certificate of Occupancy and registration with the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) after the BBL is accepted by the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP).

Applications are filed through the DC Business Center at the DLCP. The two-year BBL costs $99, and the four-year term costs $198 – though Housing and Lodging Services licenses are increased by statutory Rental Accommodations and Office of Tenant Advocate fees. Total costs for a single-family rental including all required fees typically run approximately $198 to $650, depending on property type and term selected.

One-family and two-family landlords must pass a housing inspection before the license is issued. The inspection covers DC Housing Code requirements including heating systems, plumbing, electrical, egress, and habitability standards. Your property must pass this inspection before the BBL application can be fully approved – not after.

After the BBL is issued, one-family and two-family landlords must register with the DHCD Rental Accommodations Division (RAD). For apartment properties, RAD registration happens before the license is issued – the DHCD-stamped RAD form must be returned to DLCP before the license is finalized.

BBL licenses expire on a two- or four-year cycle depending on the term selected at application. Late renewal triggers a $100 penalty plus interest under DC rules and regulations. A lapsed BBL means you cannot legally enforce your lease – including initiating eviction proceedings – until the license is reinstated.

For a complete walkthrough of the BBL application process, see the detailed guide to obtaining a DC rental property license.

Requirement 2: Certificate of Occupancy

A Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) is a document issued by DC’s Department of Buildings confirming that a property meets zoning, building code, and safety standards for residential use. It is not required for all properties – one-family rentals (single-family homes, townhouses, condos) are exempt from this requirement – but it is mandatory for two-family and apartment properties before a BBL can be issued.

The C of O requirement trips up landlords who are converting a basement, adding an accessory dwelling unit, or renting an English basement for the first time. If the unit doesn’t have a C of O, the BBL application for a two-family rental cannot be fully processed. Getting the C of O first is not optional – it’s the prerequisite.

Properties that require a C of O must pass a Department of Buildings inspection verifying that the unit meets residential building code requirements: proper fire separation, legal egress, minimum ceiling heights, and compliant plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems. Basement units and carriage houses receive particular scrutiny for fire separation and egress compliance.

For more detail on the process and what inspectors look for, see the full guide to the Certificate of Occupancy in DC.

Requirement 3: Lead-Based Paint Disclosure and Compliance

Federal law under 42 U.S.C. § 4852d requires landlords of properties built before 1978 to provide tenants with a lead-based paint disclosure before signing any lease agreement. DC adds additional requirements that go beyond federal minimums.

For properties constructed before 1978, landlords must provide the EPA-approved lead-based paint disclosure form to all prospective tenants before lease signing, deliver the EPA pamphlet “Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home,” retain signed disclosure copies for at least three years, and share any existing lead inspection or risk assessment records for the property.

DC’s Lead Hazard Prevention and Elimination Act (DC Law 17-381) adds a duty-to-address standard where lead hazards are identified. If a child under age 6 resides or is expected to reside in the property, DC requires a lead inspection and – if hazards are found – remediation before occupancy. Disclosure alone is not sufficient when a young child will be living in a property with known lead hazards. Penalties for violations include civil fines and significant liability in tenant disputes.

Requirement 4: Radon Testing and Disclosure

DC requires landlords to test rental properties for radon and disclose results to prospective tenants before lease signing. The EPA action level is 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). Properties testing at or above that threshold require mitigation before the unit can be rented. Testing should be conducted on the lowest occupied level of the property using a certified radon contractor or a hardware store test kit. Radon is one of the more commonly overlooked disclosure requirements in DC landlord education – if your property hasn’t been tested, test it before listing.

Requirement 5: Rent Control Registration or Exemption

Every DC rental unit must be registered with the Rental Accommodations Division (RAD) – either as subject to rent control or exempt from it. This is not optional even if your property clearly qualifies for an exemption. Under DC Code § 42-3502.05, any unit that is not registered with RAD is automatically subject to rent control, regardless of its actual status. Missing this registration means you lose the ability to set market rents, even on properties that would otherwise be fully exempt.

DC rent control under the Rental Housing Act of 1985 applies to rental units in buildings constructed before 1976 with five or more rental units. Common exemptions include the small landlord exemption (a natural person – not an LLC or corporation – who owns four or fewer DC rental units), properties that received their first C of O after December 31, 1975, and federally or locally subsidized units. One critical distinction: if your properties are held in an LLC, the small landlord exemption does not apply.

To claim an exemption, file Form 1 – RAD Registration Claim of Exemption with DHCD. For rent-controlled properties, you receive a registration number. For exempt properties, an exemption number. Either way, the form must be filed – an unregistered unit is automatically subject to rent control.

For rent-controlled units, annual rent increases are limited to the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) plus 2%, not to exceed 10% in any single year. For tenants who are 62 or older or have qualifying disabilities and have registered that status with the city, the maximum increase is CPI only – no additional 2%. The maximum allowable standard rent increase for rent control year 2025 (May 1, 2025 through April 30, 2026) is 4.8%.

Increases in rent-controlled units require advance written notice using RAD Form 7, filed at least 30 days before the effective date. Implementing a rent increase without proper notice and filing is a violation that can result in the increase being voided and financial penalties.

For a detailed look at DC’s security deposit rules, which interact closely with RAD registration requirements, see the guide to DC security deposit laws.

Requirement 6: Required Lease Disclosures

DC landlords must provide specific disclosures to every tenant at or before lease signing. Missing any of these creates legal exposure and can affect your ability to enforce lease terms or retain security deposits.

Required disclosures include:

• DC Tenant Bill of Rights – A document published by the Office of the Tenant Advocate that must be provided to every tenant. Landlords must obtain a signed acknowledgment that the tenant received it.
• Lead-based paint disclosure – Required for all pre-1978 properties as described above.
• Radon test results – Any testing results must be disclosed before lease execution.
• Housing code violation disclosure – Landlords must disclose any outstanding housing code violations affecting the unit.
• Rent control status disclosure – Tenants must be informed whether the unit is subject to rent control and what the current allowable rent ceiling is.
• Utility cost disclosure – If utilities are separately metered, landlords must provide information about the property’s utility costs.
• Security deposit disclosure – DC caps security deposits at one month’s rent. Landlords must place deposits in an interest-bearing account, provide written notice to the tenant of where the deposit is held, and return deposits within 45 days of move-out with an itemized statement if any deductions are taken. Failure to meet the 45-day deadline or making undocumented deductions can result in forfeiture of the full deposit plus penalties.

Your Annual DC Landlord Compliance Calendar

Getting compliant once is the starting point. Staying compliant requires tracking ongoing deadlines. Here’s the recurring schedule DC landlords need to maintain:

The compliance burden in DC is real, and the consequences for falling behind are not minor. This is one of the primary reasons landlords with demanding careers or remote situations engage professional property management – not because the individual steps are complicated, but because the tracking, timing, and filing requirements across multiple agencies add up quickly when a property isn’t your full-time job.

Frequently Asked Questions