District of Columbia Administrative Code

6401 OCCUPANCY STANDARDS 6401.1 Occupancy standards are established by DCHA to ensure that units are occupied by families of the appropriate size. This policy maintains the maximum usefulness of the units, while preserving them from underutilization or from excessive wear and tea…

6402 UNIT OFFERS 6402.1 [RESERVED] 6402.2 This § 6402 describes DCHA’s policies with regard to the number of unit offers that will be made to applicants selected from the waiting list(s). This § 6402 also describes DCHA’s policies for offering units with accessibility features. 6…

6403 [REPEALED] SOURCE: Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 33 DCR 7973, 8023 (December 26, 1986); as amended by Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 54 DCR 12312-15 (December 21, 2007); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 73 DCR 007351 (May 15, 2026). District of …

6404 [REPEALED] SOURCE: Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 33 DCR 7973, 8023 (December 26, 1986); as amended by Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 36 DCR 6529 (September 15, 1989); and Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 49 DCR 2462, 2467 (March 15, 2002); as amende…

6500 INTRODUCTION 6500.1 A family’s annual income is used to determine their income eligibility for the public housing program and is also used to calculate the amount of the family’s rent payment. DCHA will use the policies and methods described in this chapter to ensure that on…

6501 ANNUAL INCOME 6501.1 Annual income includes: All amounts, not specifically excluded in 24 CFR § 5.609(b); All amounts received from all sources by each member of the family who is eighteen (18) years of age or older or is the head of household or spouse; Unearned income by o…

6502 DETERMINING ANNUAL INCOME 6502.1 Unless specifically excluded by the regulations (see the section on Annual Income Exclusions), the income of all family members approved to live in the unit will be counted, even if the family member is temporarily absent from the unit. See §…

6503 DETERMINING ASSET INCOME 6503.1 Upon approval in the MTW Plan, family assets include the market value of all assets owned by the family, except where specifically excluded in this section. 6503.2 Upon approval in the MTW Plan, when the market value of the family’s total asse…

6504 ANNUAL INCOME EXCLUSIONS Subject to applicable HUD guidance and DCHA MTW policy, annual income does not include the types of income listed in this § 6504. Per DCHA’s MTW, income from assets when the market value of family assets total Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) or less…

6505 ADJUSTED INCOME 6505.1 [RESERVED] 6505.2 This § 6502 covers DCHA policies related to mandatory deductions. 6505.3 DCHA shall use current circumstances to anticipate expenses. When possible, for costs that are expected to fluctuate during the year (e.g., childcare during scho…

6506 CALCULATING RENT 6506.1 The first step in calculating income-based rent is to determine each family’s total tenant payment (TTP). 6506.2 TTP is the highest of the following: Thirty percent (30%) of the family’s monthly adjusted income; Ten percent (10%) of the family’s month…

6900 GENERAL PROVISIONS 6900.1 The purposes of the appointment of a tenant receiver shall be: (a) To safeguard the health, safety, and security of the tenants of a rental housing accommodation if there exists a violation of the District of Columbia or federal law which seriously …

6901 GROUNDS FOR APPOINTMENT 6901.1 A receiver may be appointed if: (a) A rental housing accommodation has been cited by DCRA for a violation of chapters 1 through 16 of Title 14 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations, or its equivalent; (b) The violation poses a serio…

6902 PETITION FOR RECEIVERSHIP 6902.1 The Corporation Counsel may, based on section 502 of the Act, petition the Superior Court to appoint a receiver of the rents and payments for use and occupancy of the affected rental housing accommodation. 6902.2 A majority of the tenants in …

6903 NOTICE AND SERVICE OF PLEADINGS 6903.1 If an ex parte appointment is made under section 504(b)(1) of the Act, the petitioner shall serve the owner, agent, lessor, or manager of the rental housing accommodation with the following documents: (a) Notice and a copy of the petiti…

6904 APPOINTMENT OF A RECEIVER 6904.1 The following persons shall be excluded for appointment as a receiver: (a) An employee of a District agency that licenses or provides financial payment to the type of housing accommodation being placed in receivership; (b) A person who has a …

6905 BONDS 6905.1 Prior to taking charge of the operation and management of the rental accommodation, the receiver shall post a bond with the Superior Court. 6905.2 The bond premiums may be paid in installments with the Superior Court. 6905.3 The value of the bond shall not excee…

6906 POWERS, DUTIES, AND LIMITATIONS OF A RECEIVER 6906.1 Except as otherwise provided by the Superior Court, a receiver shall have the authority to: (a) Take charge of the operation and management of the rental housing accommodation and assume all rights to possess and use the b…

6907 NOTICE 6907.1 Notice required in section 506(a)(2) of the Act and § 6906.1(b) of this section shall be printed in not less than twelve (12) point type in both English and Spanish and, at a minimum, include the following: (a) The reasons for the receivership; (b) The identity…

6908 PAYMENT PRIORITIES 6908.1 First priority: The receiver is to use no more than one-half (1/2) of monthly rental income, to abate housing code violations if abatement is required within seven (7) days of service of notice, and, after abatement of the conditions, to abate housi…

6909 TERMINATION OF RECEIVERSHIP 6909.1 The Superior Court shall terminate the receivership pursuant to section 507 of the Act. 6909.2 A receivership shall not be terminated in favor of any person who was the owner of the rental accommodation or his representative at the time the…

6999 DEFINITIONS 6999.1 When used in this section, the following terms and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed: Receiver - a person or entity who has demonstrated to the Superior Court the capacity and expertise to develop and supervise a viable financial and construction pl…

2515 CONSTRUCTION WORK IN OCCUPIED BUILDINGS OR DWELLINGS 2515.1 Where construction work is conducted in an occupied rental unit within an apartment building, the owner shall comply with the District of Columbia Noise Control Act of 1977. 2515.2 Except as provided in subsection 2…

700 GENERAL PROVISIONS 700.1 The purpose of this subtitle is to require repairs and maintenance designed to make a premises or neighborhood healthy and safe. These requirements are in addition to the basic repairs and maintenance needed to keep out the elements. 700.2 Every premi…

701 GENERAL MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS 701.1 All structures located on a premises including, but not limited to, accessory structures (such as walls, garages, fences, and sheds) shall be maintained in a sanitary and structurally sound condition and in good repair. 701.2 All walkways…

702 ROOFS AND CHIMNEYS 702.1 The roof shall be maintained so it does not leak, and all rain water shall be drained and conveyed from the roof so that it does not cause wet walls or ceilings. 702.2 Each smoke pipe and each chimney shall be adequately supported, free from obstructi…

703 GUTTERS AND DRAINAGE 703.1 All gutters and downspouts shall be properly connected, and shall be maintained in good condition, free of holes and obstructions. 703.2 Water shall be conveyed off premises in accordance with the plumbing regulations of the District of Columbia. 70…

704 FOUNDATIONS, STRUCTURAL MEMBERS, AND EXTERIOR WALLS 704.1 Foundations and structural members shall provide a safe, firm, and substantial base and support for the structure at all points. 704.2 Exterior walls shall be structurally sound and free of cracks and holes through whi…

705 WINDOWS AND DOORS 705.1 Each window shall be fully supplied with window panes which are without open cracks or holes. 705.2 Each window sash shall be in good condition and shall fit reasonably well within its frame. 705.3 Each window, other than fixed windows, shall be capabl…

706 INTERIOR WALLS, FLOORS, AND CEILINGS 706.1 Each interior wall or ceiling shall be structurally sound and free of loose plaster or other loose structural or surfacing material. 706.2 Each interior wall or ceiling shall be free of holes and wide cracks. 706.3 Each floor shall b…

707 PEELING WALL COVERING OR PAINT 707.1 Loose or peeling wall covering or paint on interior surfaces shall be removed, and the surface so exposed shall be repainted or repapered by the owner, except as provided otherwise in § 707.2. 707.2 If a room or ceiling is completely repla…

708 STAIRWAYS, STEPS, AND PORCHES 708.1 Stairways, steps, and porches shall be firm, and the walking surfaces shall be sufficiently smooth so as to be readily cleaned and provide safe passageways free of tripping hazards. 708.2 Treads shall be reasonably level and in any flight e…

799 DEFINITIONS 799.1 The provisions of section 199 of Chapter 1 of this title and the definitions set forth in that section shall be applicable to this chapter.

7000 INTRODUCTION This Chapter governs DCHA’s policies on the keeping of pets and describes any criteria or standards pertaining to the policies. The rules adopted are reasonably related to the legitimate interest of DCHA to provide a decent, safe, and sanitary living environment…

7001 ASSISTANCE ANIMALS 7001.1 DCHA will use HUD’s Division of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) published Notices as guidance in its assistance animals policy. 7001.2 There are two (2) types of assistance animals: Service animals; and Support animals, which are other ani…

7002 CARE OF ASSISTANCE ANIMALS AND PETS 7002.1 DCHA residents shall have the following responsibilities with respect to their assistance animals and pets, as applicable: Residents are responsible for feeding, maintaining, providing veterinary care, and controlling their assistan…