District of Columbia Administrative Code

4888 RESERVED SOURCE: Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 5044-5048 (June 23, 2006), incorporating by reference the text of Notice of Emergency and Proposed Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 933-937 (February 10, 2006).

4889 RESERVED SOURCE: Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 5044-5048 (June 23, 2006), incorporating by reference the text of Notice of Emergency and Proposed Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 933-937 (February 10, 2006).

4890 RESERVED SOURCE: Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 5044-5048 (June 23, 2006), incorporating by reference the text of Notice of Emergency and Proposed Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 933-937 (February 10, 2006).

4891 RESERVED SOURCE: Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 5044-5048 (June 23, 2006), incorporating by reference the text of Notice of Emergency and Proposed Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 933-937 (February 10, 2006).

4892 RESERVED SOURCE: Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 5044-5048 (June 23, 2006), incorporating by reference the text of Notice of Emergency and Proposed Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 933-937 (February 10, 2006).

4893 RESERVED SOURCE: Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 5044-5048 (June 23, 2006), incorporating by reference the text of Notice of Emergency and Proposed Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 933-937 (February 10, 2006).

4894 RESERVED SOURCE: Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 5044-5048 (June 23, 2006), incorporating by reference the text of Notice of Emergency and Proposed Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 933-937 (February 10, 2006).

4895 RESERVED SOURCE: Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 5044-5048 (June 23, 2006), incorporating by reference the text of Notice of Emergency and Proposed Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 933-937 (February 10, 2006).

4896 RESERVED SOURCE: Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 5044-5048 (June 23, 2006), incorporating by reference the text of Notice of Emergency and Proposed Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 933-937 (February 10, 2006).

4897 RESERVED SOURCE: Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 5044-5048 (June 23, 2006), incorporating by reference the text of Notice of Emergency and Proposed Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 933-937 (February 10, 2006).

4898 RESERVED SOURCE: Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 5044-5048 (June 23, 2006), incorporating by reference the text of Notice of Emergency and Proposed Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 933-937 (February 10, 2006).

4899 DEFINITIONS 4899.1 When used in this chapter, the following terms and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed: “Act” means the Residential Drug-Related Evictions Re-enactment Act of 2000 (the “Act”), effective October 19, 2000 (D.C. Law 13-172; D.C. Official Code § 42-3601 …

4900 STATEMENT OF POLICIES AND OBJECTIVES 4900.1 The Section 8 Program was established by the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, 42 U.S.C. § 1437 (1976), and amended by the Housing and Community Development Act of 1981 (Pub. L. 97-35), the Housing and Urban-Rural Reco…

4901 STATEMENT OF LOCAL OBJECTIVES 4901.1 Consistent with the purpose and policy of the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended, the mission of DCHA is to provide rental assistance for decent, safe, and affordable housing to eligible families in accordance with the provisio…

4902 PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 4902.1 The HCVP is designed to achieve four major objectives: To provide improved living conditions for very low-income families while maintaining their rent payments at an affordable level; To promote freedom of housing choice and spatial deconcentration…

4903 APPLICABILITY OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE PLAN 4903.1 This Plan, comprising chapters 49 through 59 of this title of the DCMR: Outlines how DCHA shall implement the requirements found in the applicable federal laws, regulations, and notices, as well as the requirements of the Distr…

4904 VETERANS AFFAIRS SUPPORTIVE HOUSING – SPECIAL PROGRAM RULES 4904.1 Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers are generally administered in accordance with the HCVP tenant-based rental assistance regulations set forth at 24 C.F.R. § 982, the DCMR, and this Administr…

4905 MODERATE REHABILITATION 4905.1 The following provisions of the Administrative Plan shall not apply to the Moderate Rehabilitation program, as defined at 24 C.F.R. § 882: 14 DCMR chapter 52 – Briefing of Families and Issuance of Vouchers; (b) 14 DCMR § 5103 - Mandatory Social…

4906 FAIR HOUSING POLICY 4906.1 DCHA shall comply fully with all federal, state, and local nondiscrimination laws in accordance with the rules and regulations governing Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity in housing and employment. 4906.2 Specifically, DCHA shall not on account of…

4907 PROTECTIONS FOR APPLICANTS AND PARTICIPANTS UNDER THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT 4907.1 In certain circumstances, as further explained below, applicants or participants may be afforded additional protections from HCVP requirements and policies under the Violence Against Wome…

4908 DECONCENTRATION OF POVERTY 4908.1 DCHA encourages owners of decent, safe, and sanitary housing units to lease to Housing Choice Voucher families by encouraging program participation by owners of units located outside areas of poverty or minority concentration. 4908.2 DCHA en…

4909 OWNER OUTREACH 4909.1 DCHA issues invitations to owners as needed to make dwelling units available for leasing by eligible families in accordance with the Equal Opportunity Housing Plan. DCHA welcomes the continuous participation of owners of decent, safe, and sanitary housi…

4910 FAMILY OUTREACH 4910.1 DCHA continues to publicize and disseminate information, as needed, concerning the availability and nature of housing assistance for very low income families. Upon execution of an Annual Contributions Contract (ACC) for additional units, DCHA shall mak…

4911 PRIVACY RIGHTS 4911.1 In conjunction with the HUD Form-50058, applicant and participant families shall be required to sign the Federal Privacy Act Statement, which states under what conditions HUD will release Family and owner information. 4911.2 DCHA shall only release info…

500 GENERAL PROVISIONS 500.1 The owner of a building used for residential purposes shall provide that building with adequate facilities for heating, ventilating, and lighting. 500.2 Each facility provided and maintained to comply with this section shall be properly and safely ins…

501 HEATING OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS 501.1 Adequate heating facilities shall mean the provision and maintenance in good repair of one of the following: (a) A central heating facility; (b) A non-portable, flue-connected heating facility; or (c) An electric heating facility which m…

502 LIGHTING IN HABITABLE ROOMS 502.1 Each habitable room shall have a glass area transmitting natural light equivalent to that which would be transmitted by a clear glass area at least equal to one tenth (1/10) of the floor area served, consisting of one or more of the following…

503 OBSTRUCTIONS TO LIGHT 503.1 If a habitation is located on the ground floor of a residential building, the yard of that building which lies immediately outside the habitation shall be maintained clear of any obstruction to light for a distance of at least three feet (3 ft.) fr…

504 LIGHTING OF BATHROOMS 504.1 Each bathroom shall be naturally or artificially lighted at least equivalent to the requirements of this section. 504.2 A naturally lighted bathroom shall have a glass area consisting of one or more of the following: (a) Windows; (b) Skylights; (c)…

505 LIGHTING OF HALLWAYS, STAIRWAYS, AND OTHER COMMON SPACE 505.1 Hallways, stairways, and other common space used in common by the occupants of more than one habitation shall have adequate lighting facilities, which shall be kept in good condition at all times. 505.2 The artific…

506 VENTILATION OF HABITABLE ROOMS 506.1 Each habitable room shall have either natural or mechanical ventilation at least equal to the requirements of this section. 506.2 Natural ventilation shall be provided by an opening directly to the outside, the area of which is at least eq…

507 VENTILATION OF BATHROOMS 507.1 Each bathroom shall be naturally or mechanically ventilated, at least equivalent to the requirements of this section. 507.2 Natural ventilation shall be provided by openings, other than a door, directly to the outside, the openable area of which…

508 CONTROL AND MAINTENANCE OF MECHANICAL VENTILATION 508.1 If mechanical ventilation is provided for any residential building by the owner or licensee, the owner or licensee shall maintain that system in safe and good working condition. 508.2 If the mechanical ventilation system…

509 OBSTRUCTIONS TO VENTILATION 509.1 If a habitation is located on the ground floor of a residential building, the yard of the building which lies immediately outside the habitation shall be maintained clear of any obstruction to ventilation for a distance of at least three feet…

510 AIR CONDITIONING 510.1 The owner of a rental habitation, who provides air conditioning as a service either through individual air conditioning units or a central air conditioning system, shall maintain such unit or system in safe and good working condition so that it provides…

511 REFRIGERATION AND AIR CONDITIONING PERMIT FEES 511.1 For purposes of the fee schedule, refrigeration systems shall be classified according to the net refrigeration effect in British thermal units (B.T.U.) per hour developed by the system as certified by the manufacturer. The …

599 DEFINITIONS 599.1 The definitions and provisions of section 199 of chapter 1 of this title shall be applicable to this chapter.

5100 ELIGIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS FOR HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM APPLICANTS 5100.1 When applicable, the policies for admission to the HCVP shall be governed by chapter 61 of this title of the DCMR. 5100.2 Once an applicant is determined to be eligible to receive a Voucher, the …

5101 FAMILY COMPOSITION CHANGES PRIOR TO VOUCHER ISSUANCE 5101.1 DCHA shall only consider an applicant Family’s request to add an adult to the Family composition under the following circumstances: (a) Marriage; (b) If the adult is to be added as a live-in aide; or (c) As a reason…

5102 CITIZEN OR ELIGIBLE IMMIGRATION STATUS 5102.1 In order to be determined eligible for the HCVP, HUD requires each Family member to affirm, via a written declaration, whether the individual is a United States (U.S.) citizen, U.S. national, or an eligible noncitizen, except tho…

5103 MANDATORY SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS 5103.1 Each Family member claiming U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status shall be required to disclose and verify a Social Security Number (SSN) prior to admission. 5103.2 Applicant families who cannot disclose and verify SSNs for …

5104 FAMILY CONSENT TO RELEASE OF INFORMATION 5104.1 In order for DCHA to determine an applicant Family’s eligibility, it is necessary to obtain information from third parties. The following rules apply: The Head of Household, Spouse, and each adult Family member, regardless of a…

5105 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION 5105.1 This section shall only apply to students who are seeking HCVP assistance on their own, as a Head of Household, separately from their parents. It shall not apply to a student who is a member of a Family currently p…

5201 BRIEFING 5201.1 The purpose of the briefing is to fully inform the applicant Family about the HCVP so that the applicant Family will be able to discuss it with participating owners. Applicants shall be informed of the differences between the Housing Choice Voucher programs. …

5202 NOTIFICATION AND ATTENDANCE 5202.1 HCVP shall notify Families in writing, by first class mail or hand delivery, of their eligibility for assistance at the time that they are invited to attend a briefing. The notice shall identify who is required to attend the briefing, as we…

5203 ORAL BRIEFING 5203.1 Each briefing shall provide information on the following subjects: How the Housing Choice Voucher Program works; Family and owner responsibilities; Where the Family can lease a unit, including renting a unit inside or outside DCHA’s jurisdiction; For fam…

5204 BRIEFING PACKET 5204.1 Documents and information provided in the briefing packet shall include the following: The term of the Voucher and DCHA’s policies on any extensions of the term; A description of the method used to calculate the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) for a F…

5205 DETERMINATION OF VOUCHER SIZE 5205.1 The Voucher size is used to determine the maximum rent subsidy for a Family assisted in the HCVP. 5205.2 The following requirements apply when DCHA determines Voucher size under the subsidy standards: The subsidy standards shall provide f…

5206 EXCEPTIONS TO VOUCHER SIZE 5206.1 In determining the Voucher size for a particular Family, DCHA may grant an exception to the subsidy standards set forth in § 5205 if DCHA determines that the exception is justified by the age, sex, gender identity, health, or disability of o…

5207 LIVE-IN AIDES GUIDELINES FOR PARTICIPANTS 5207.1 DCHA shall approve a live-in aide if needed as a reasonable accommodation, in accordance with chapters 49 and 74 of this title of the DCMR, to make the unit and Program accessible to and usable by a Family member who is elderl…