Title 8, Environmental and Animal Control and Protection.

A colony may be kept in the District only if it is established and maintained in a manner consistent with this subchapter and any regulations promulgated pursuant to this subchapter.

(a) A colony kept in the District shall be registered annually with the Department. (b) No person shall bring into the District a colony or portion of a colony, bees on combs, empty used combs, used hives, or other used apiary appliances without complying with the procedures esta…

(a) The Department shall establish procedures and may take measures to control the spread of bee diseases and may order a beekeeper to take measures to control the spread of bee diseases. (b) The Mayor shall treat or destroy the bees, hives, and honey of a beekeeper who fails to …

(a) The Mayor, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2 [§ 2-501 et seq.], may issue rules to implement the provisions of this subchapter. The rules may establish fees necessary to implement the provisions of this subchapter. (b) The Mayor may enforce this subchapter by u…

(a) No person shall release an animal from the custody or control of any entity charged with animal protection for any purpose except adoption or to improve the opportunity for adoption, redemption by the owner of the animal, or other suitable placement in the best interest of th…

For the purposes of this subchapter, the term “commercial guard dog” means any dog trained to guard, protect, patrol, or defend any commercial premises.

(a) All commercial guard dogs shall have a valid commercial guard dog license issued pursuant to District law. Upon issuance of a license, the Mayor shall issue a fluorescent guard dog identification tag, or such other tag as the Mayor determines appropriate, to be affixed to the…

(a) All commercial guard dogs shall undergo an annual examination by a licensed veterinarian for the purpose of determining whether or not the animal is healthy and fit to work as a commercial guard dog. Upon a determination by a licensed veterinarian that a commercial guard dog …

An individual, business, or entity that utilizes a commercial guard dog shall maintain a general liability insurance policy for bodily injury, personal injury, and property damage of not less than $50,000 to insure against liability resulting from acts of the animal performed whi…

An individual, business, or entity that utilizes a commercial guard dog shall notify the Mayor, in writing, as to the presence of the animal and shall provide contact information for the entity responsible for the animal and a 24-hour emergency telephone number.

An individual, business, or entity that utilizes a commercial guard dog shall post a sign in plain view alerting the public to the presence of a commercial guard dog and shall include the name of the entity responsible for the animal and a 24-hour emergency telephone.

A commercial guard dog shall not be maintained on any premises unless the dog is provided: (1) Full access to an enclosed shelter sufficient to protect the dog from wind, rain, excessive heat or cold, and disease; and (2) Continuous access to sufficient food and water.

Any person found guilty of violating this subchapter shall be subject to a penalty of $500 for the first offense and $1,000 for each subsequent offense.

The Mayor shall issue rules to implement the provisions of this subchapter.

Only animals of appropriate size and temperament suitable to a classroom environment shall be introduced into the classroom. Use of such animals shall be for instructional purposes only.

(a) Animals kept in schools shall be provided sufficient food and water, be cared for in a safe and humane manner, and remain in schools during holidays only if provided adequate care. (b) Animals no longer needed in the classroom should be adopted out to a suitable home or given…

Within 90 days of December 5, 2008, the Mayor shall establish an emergency preparedness plan for the protection, sheltering, and evacuation of domestic animals during and following a major disaster or emergency.

For the purposes of this chapter, the term: (1)(A) “Dangerous dog” means any dog that without provocation: (i) Causes a serious injury to a person or domestic animal; or (ii) Engages in behavior described in paragraph (4)(A)(i) of this section subsequent to having been determined…

(a) The Mayor is authorized to conduct an investigation and make a determination as to whether a dog is a potentially dangerous or dangerous dog. In determining whether a dog is a potentially dangerous or dangerous dog, the Mayor shall consider all evidence obtained or presented …

(a) If the Mayor determines that a dog is a potentially dangerous or dangerous dog, the owner shall comply with the requirements of §§ 8-1904 and 8-1905 and any other special security or care requirements the Mayor may establish. (b) If a potentially dangerous or dangerous dog ha…

(a) The Mayor shall issue a certificate of registration to the owner of a potentially dangerous dog if the owner establishes to the satisfaction of the Mayor that: (1) The owner of the potentially dangerous dog is 18 years of age or older; (2) A valid license has been issued for …

It shall be unlawful to: (1) Keep a potentially dangerous or dangerous dog without a valid certificate of registration issued under § 8-1904; (2) Permit a potentially dangerous dog to be outside a proper enclosure unless the potentially dangerous dog is under the control of a res…

(a) An owner of a dangerous or potentially dangerous dog who violates the provisions of § 8-1904 or § 8-1905 shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor and be subject to a fine not to exceed $500, imprisonment not to exceed 90 days, or both for a first offense, and a fine…

(a) The Mayor shall conduct an annual dangerous dog licensing drive in order to ensure compliance with the provisions of this chapter. (b) Within 180 days of October 18, 1988, the Mayor shall implement an educational campaign for the public on provisions of this chapter and exist…

The Mayor shall, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2, issue rules to implement the provisions of this chapter.

For the purposes of this chapter, the term: (1) “Animal control officer” means any employee or legally authorized agent of the District of Columbia (“District”) Animal Care and Control Agency as provided in § 8-1802. (2) “Carriage” means a device by which a person is transported …

(a) It shall be unlawful to operate a horse-drawn carriage trade in the District without a license and an identification card issued by the Mayor. (b) Upon application on a form devised by the Mayor and the payment of a fee not to exceed $100, a person may be issued a license to …

(a) The owner, operator, or custodian of each horse engaged in the horse-drawn carriage trade shall have the horse examined by a licensed veterinarian at intervals of not more than 12 months. (b) The examinations shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (1) The genera…

(a) The owner, operator, or custodian of a horse engaged in the horse-drawn carriage trade shall have available for immediate inspection by the Mayor or his or her designee, a police officer, or an animal control officer at all times when a horse is on any street or public byway …

(a) An owner, operator, or custodian of a horse engaged in the horse-drawn carriage trade shall: (1) Not use, work, drive, ride, or require labor from a horse for more than 8 hours in any 24-hour period; (2) Provide for adequate rest periods for a horse during the 8 hours of use;…

(a) An owner, operator, or custodian of a horse engaged in the horse-drawn carriage trade shall: (1) Provide that the carriage used is in good operating condition, the axles are well-greased, and that all operating mechanisms are in good working order; (2) Provide that the carria…

(a) An owner, operator, or custodian of a horse engaged in the horse-drawn carriage trade shall not drive, use, or work a horse on a public street or byway in the District: (1) During periods when the temperature exceeds 89 degrees Fahrenheit, as determined and announced by the N…

(a) The owner, operator, or custodian of a horse engaged in the horse-drawn carriage trade shall house, quarter, or maintain a horse in a lighted, clean, dry, and properly ventilated stable in which the horse shall be able to turn around easily in a stall. (b) The owner, operator…

All horses shall be loaded or unloaded for transport in horse loading zones as designated by the Mayor.

(a) The owner, operator, or custodian of a horse engaged in the horse-drawn carriage trade that is in pain, sick, diseased, lame, or injured shall take action to obtain immediate veterinary treatment, care, and attention for the horse. (b) An injured, sick, diseased, or lame hors…

(a) The owner or operator of a horse-drawn carriage trade shall maintain or require his or her driver to maintain a daily record of travel for each carriage used, which shall include: (1) The name of the driver; (2) The driver’s license number; (3) The horse-drawn carriage trade …

(a) A person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be fined up to $300 for the 1st offense and up to $500 for each subsequent offense. (b) Any owner, operator, or custodian of a horse engaged in the horse-drawn carriage trade who causes serious intentional injury to th…

(a) Within 120 days of March 7, 1991, the Mayor shall, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2, issue rules to implement the provisions of this chapter. (b) The proposed rules shall establish travel routes for and boundaries of the operation of the horse-drawn carriage t…

For the purposes of this chapter, the term: (1) “District” means the District of Columbia. (2) “Elderly” means any person who is 60 years of age or older. (3) “Person with a disability” means any person who has a medically determined physical impairment, including blindness, whic…

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the owner or operator of locally assisted housing accommodations for elderly persons or persons with disabilities shall not: (1) As a condition of tenancy or otherwise, prohibit or prevent an elderly tenant or tenant with a disability f…

(a) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit any owner or operator of a locally assisted housing accommodation for elderly persons or persons with disabilities or any local housing authority from requiring the removal from any rental unit any common household pet wh…

Any person who violates the provisions of this chapter shall be fined not more than $300 for each violation. A violation of this chapter shall be a civil infraction for purposes of Chapter 18 of Title 2. Civil fines, penalties, and fees may be imposed as sanctions for any infract…

Within 180 days of March 16, 1989, the Mayor shall promulgate proposed rules, in accordance with subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2, to carry out the purposes of this chapter. The proposed rules shall include guidelines, applicable to owners and tenants of locally assisted hous…

(a) There is established within the Department of Health a Bureau of Rodent Control (“Bureau”). (b) The Bureau shall be responsible for the control and elimination of rodents in the District that serve as vectors for disease, including but not limited to: (1) The treatment and ba…

All the functions, duties, property, records, and personnel associated with the control and elimination of rodents now under the authority of the Department of Public Works are transferred to the Bureau.

For the purposes of this subchapter, the term: (1) “Abate” means removing rodent infestations by eliminating or rodent-proofing rodent food sources, eliminating rodent nesting areas, rodent-proofing building entry ways, and poisoning or trapping existing rodent populations. (2) “…