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Renting in the District of Columbia

Your rights as a tenant in the District of Columbia

In the District of Columbia, the security deposit can be up to 1 month of rent. What state law says about your deposit, the notices you must get, repairs and eviction. Every rule comes with its citation and the text of the law.

The rules, one by oneFree or low-cost legal help
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Maximum deposit
Up to 1 month of rent
14 DCMR §308.2
Notice for late rent
10 days
D.C. Code §42-3505.01(a-1)(1)
Month-to-month notice
30 days
D.C. Code §42-3505.54(a)

A summary of state law, not legal advice. Cities may have additional rules.

What the law says

The rules, one by one

The basic rules for renting in the District of Columbia, answered with state law and its citation.

Tap “What the law says” to read the exact text and see where it comes from.

  1. How much can they charge for a deposit?

    Up to 1 month of rent

    In the District of Columbia, a security deposit cannot be more than the first full month's rent charged for the unit. The landlord can charge the deposit only once.

    What the law says · 14 DCMR §308.2
    “On or after February 20, 1976, any security deposit or other payment required by an owner as security for performance of the tenant’s obligations in a lease or rental of a dwelling unit shall not exceed an amount equivalent to the first full month’s rent charged that tenant for the dwelling unit, and shall be charged only once by the owner to the tenant.”

    Source: D.C. Office of Documents and Administrative Issuances – D.C. Municipal Regulations (DCMR), Title 14 (Housing) · Verified on October 24, 2026

  2. If I fall behind on rent, what notice must I get?

    10 days

    If you owe $600 or more in rent, the landlord must give you notice that they intend to file a court claim to take back the unit at least 10 days before filing it. If you owe less than $600, the landlord may not give that notice.

    What the law says · D.C. Code §42-3505.01(a-1)(1)
    “A housing provider shall provide the tenant with notice of the housing provider's intent to file a claim against a tenant to recover possession of a rental unit for the non-payment of rent at least 10 days before filing the claim; except, that the housing provider shall not issue such notice if the amount of rent that the tenant has failed to pay is less than $600.”

    Source: Council of the District of Columbia – D.C. Law Library (D.C. Code) · Verified on October 24, 2026

  3. How much notice ends a month-to-month rental?

    30 days

    If you rent month to month, you can end the tenancy with a 30-day written notice. The notice ends on the first day of the first month that is at least 30 days after the notice date. The law says this notice runs only from the tenant to the landlord: the landlord cannot use it to end your tenancy.

    What the law says · D.C. Code §42-3505.54(a)
    “A residential tenancy from month-to-month may be terminated by a 30-day notice in writing only from the tenant to the housing provider of the tenant's intention to quit. The notice shall expire on the first day of the first month at least 30 days after the date of the notice.”

    Source: Council of the District of Columbia – D.C. Law Library (D.C. Code) · Verified on October 24, 2026

  4. Are there limits on late fees?

    A late fee cannot be more than 5% of the rent due. The landlord can charge it only if your written lease states the maximum late fee and you have not paid the full rent within 5 days after the due date (or a longer grace period in your lease).

    What the law says · D.C. Code §42-3505.31(a)-(b)
    “(a) Pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, a housing provider may charge a late fee of no more than 5% of the full amount of rent due by a tenant. (b) A housing provider may only charge a late fee: (1) If the written lease agreement between the housing provider and the tenant informs the tenant of the maximum amount of the late fee that may be charged pursuant to this section; and (2) If the tenant has not paid the full amount of rent within 5 days, or any longer grace period that may be provided in the lease, after the day the rent payment is due.”

    Source: Council of the District of Columbia – D.C. Law Library (D.C. Code) · Verified on October 24, 2026

  5. How much notice before a rent increase?

    60 calendar days

    A rent increase under D.C.'s rental housing laws takes effect on the first rent day that comes more than 60 calendar days after the landlord gives you the notice.

    What the law says · D.C. Code §42-3509.04(b)
    “(b) No rent increases, whether under this chapter, the Rental Accommodations Act of 1975, the Rental Housing Act of 1977, the Rental Housing Act of 1980, or any administrative decisions issued under these acts, shall be effective until the first day on which rent is normally paid occurring more than 60 calendar days after the notice of the increase is given to the tenant; provided, that the requirements of § 42-3505.54(b) are met.”

    Source: Council of the District of Columbia – D.C. Code (D.C. Law Library) · Verified on November 6, 2026

Protections

Protections the law gives you

We show only what state law says, with its citation. Your city may give you more protections.

  • Only a court order can remove you

    Yes: state law says so

    The landlord cannot remove you on their own, for example by cutting off your utilities or changing the locks. An eviction can happen only under a court order, after a written notice expires, and it is scheduled and supervised by the U.S. Marshals Service.

    What the law says · D.C. Code §§42-3505.01, 42-3505.01a, 16-1501
    “The landlord may not use “self-help” methods to evict you, such as cutting off your utilities or changing the locks. Rather, any eviction must be pursuant to a court order following the expiration of a written Notice to Vacate (NTV), and must be scheduled and supervised by the U.S. Marshals Service.”

    D.C. Office of the Tenant Advocate (OTA) – District of Columbia Tenant Bill of Rights (September 2026)

Eviction

How an eviction works in the District of Columbia

Step by step, with the time periods the law sets. No landlord can skip the court.

Compare with other states

  1. Notice of intent to file for unpaid rent ($600 or more)

    at least 10 days

    What the law says · D.C. Code §42-3505.01(a-1)(1)
    “A housing provider shall provide the tenant with notice of the housing provider's intent to file a claim against a tenant to recover possession of a rental unit for the non-payment of rent at least 10 days before filing the claim; except, that the housing provider shall not issue such notice if the amount of rent that the tenant has failed to pay is less than $600.”

    code.dccouncil.gov

  2. Landlord files the complaint; the court issues the summons in English and Spanish

    What the law says · D.C. Code §16-1501(a)
    “the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, on complaint under oath verified by the person aggrieved by the detention, or by his agent or attorney having knowledge of the facts, may issue a summons in English and Spanish to the party complained of to appear and show cause why judgment should not be given against him for the restitution of possession.”

    code.dccouncil.gov

  3. Service of the summons, at least 14 days before the initial hearing

    at least 14 days

    What the law says · D.C. Code §16-1502(a)
    “The summons provided for by section 16-1501 shall be served at least 14 days before the day fixed for the initial hearing of the action.”

    code.dccouncil.gov

  4. Hearing, trial and judgment for possession

    What the law says · D.C. Code §16-1503
    “When, upon a trial in a proceeding pursuant to this chapter, it appears that the plaintiff is entitled to the possession of the premises, judgment and execution for the possession shall be awarded in his favor, with costs”

    code.dccouncil.gov

  5. Paying everything you owe before the eviction date avoids it (rent cases)

    What the law says · D.C. Code §§42-3505.01, 42-3505.01a, 16-1501
    “For nonpayment of rent evictions, you can avoid eviction by paying the landlord all that you owe before the scheduled eviction date.”

    ota.dc.gov

  6. Landlord files for the writ of restitution with a current license

    What the law says · D.C. Code §42-3505.01(q)
    “No tenant shall be evicted from a rental unit unless the housing provider provides documentation to the court at the time of filing a writ of restitution demonstrating that the housing provider has a current business license for rental housing issued pursuant to § 47-2828(c)(1), unless the court waived the license requirement.”

    code.dccouncil.gov

  7. Landlord's notice of the eviction date, at least 21 days ahead

    at least 21 days

    What the law says · D.C. Code §42-3505.01a(b)(1)
    “In addition to any notification from the United States Marshals Service ("Marshals") to the tenant of the date of eviction, a housing provider shall deliver to the tenant a notice confirming the date of eviction not fewer than 21 days before the date of eviction by using the following methods:”

    code.dccouncil.gov

  8. The U.S. Marshals execute the writ

    What the law says · D.C. Code §42-3505.01a(h)
    “For the purposes of this section, the term "time of eviction" means the time at which the Marshals execute a writ of restitution.”

    code.dccouncil.gov

Frequently asked questions

How much can a landlord charge for a deposit in the District of Columbia?

In the District of Columbia, a security deposit cannot be more than the first full month's rent charged for the unit. The landlord can charge the deposit only once. (14 DCMR §308.2)

What notice is required for late rent in the District of Columbia?

If you owe $600 or more in rent, the landlord must give you notice that they intend to file a court claim to take back the unit at least 10 days before filing it. If you owe less than $600, the landlord may not give that notice. (D.C. Code §42-3505.01(a-1)(1))

How much notice ends a month-to-month rental in the District of Columbia?

If you rent month to month, you can end the tenancy with a 30-day written notice. The notice ends on the first day of the first month that is at least 30 days after the notice date. The law says this notice runs only from the tenant to the landlord: the landlord cannot use it to end your tenancy. (D.C. Code §42-3505.54(a))

Are there limits on late fees in the District of Columbia?

A late fee cannot be more than 5% of the rent due. The landlord can charge it only if your written lease states the maximum late fee and you have not paid the full rent within 5 days after the due date (or a longer grace period in your lease). (D.C. Code §42-3505.31(a)-(b))

How much notice before a rent increase in the District of Columbia?

A rent increase under D.C.'s rental housing laws takes effect on the first rent day that comes more than 60 calendar days after the landlord gives you the notice. (D.C. Code §42-3509.04(b))

A summary of state law, not legal advice. Cities may have additional rules.

Pending

What is left to verify

We have not yet verified these the District of Columbia rules in the law with their citation, so we do not show them. If you need them today, ask for free legal aid.

  • When must they return my deposit? Not verified yet
  • Protection from retaliation Not verified yet
  • Protection related to immigration status Not verified yet
  • Repair and deduct from the rent Not verified yet