District of Columbia · Evictions · Updated Oct 2026

District of Columbia eviction rules for tenants

The notices a landlord in District of Columbia must give, how long you have to respond in court, why a lockout is illegal and where to get free legal help fast.

Short answer

No eviction case for nonpayment if you owe less than $600.

Notice for unpaid rent
10 days
Time to respond in court
Not set by statute.
Lockouts
Banned

If you get an eviction notice

  1. Read it closely: the kind of notice, the amount, the dates and how it was delivered. Use the timeline below.
  2. Don't move out or stop paying because of a notice alone. Only a court can order an eviction; the notice is the first step.
  3. Get free legal help now. Legal aid and the court's self-help center can check whether the notice is valid.
  4. If you are served with court papers, respond by the deadline and go to every hearing. Missing one can mean losing by default.
  5. Keep copies of the notice, your lease, rent receipts, texts and photos.

Eviction in District of Columbia

Notice for unpaid rent
No eviction case for nonpayment if you owe less than $600. Before filing, the landlord must give at least 10 days' written notice with the amount owed and a ledger, by certified mail (or tracked delivery) AND by hand delivery or posting on your door. You can stay if you pay the full balance. A late fee alone can never be the reason for eviction.
Notice for a lease violation
30-day notice to correct a lease violation (other than nonpayment). If you fix it within 30 days, you cannot be evicted for it. Notices must also be sent to the Rent Administrator.
Ending a month-to-month tenancy
Landlords cannot end a tenancy just because the lease expired or by a simple month-to-month notice: as long as you pay rent, you can be evicted only for reasons listed in the law (for example 90 days' notice for the owner's personal use or a sale for personal use, 30 days for a lease violation). Tenant notice to leave is not set by this statute.
Time to respond to an eviction lawsuit
Not set by statute. The summons gives an initial hearing date in DC Superior Court's Landlord and Tenant Branch; go to it (in person or remotely as allowed).
Lockouts and utility shutoffs
Yes. No tenant may be evicted except after a court case and only for the reasons and with the notices required by law (§ 42-3505.01). Evictions also cannot be carried out on days below freezing, above 95°F, or when it is raining or snowing.
Court self-help
The court's eviction self-help page
Law
D.C. Code § 42-3505.01

Eviction notice timeline for District of Columbia

Got a notice from your landlord? Enter the kind of notice and the day you got it to see the dates that follow from your state's rule, what your landlord may not do, and where to get free help fast.

This is not legal advice. Eviction deadlines are short and missing one can cost you your home. Read your notice carefully and contact legal aid or your court's self-help center right away.

Enter the date you got the noticeThe timeline appears when you pick a date.

Dates are estimates from the rule in our data. We skip weekends only where the rule counts business or court days, and we don't skip holidays.

Where to get free help in District of Columbia

Retaliation in District of Columbia

Landlords may not retaliate (evict, raise rent, cut services, refuse to renew, harass) when you use any legal right. If within 6 months before the landlord's action you asked for code repairs (in writing or with a witness), complained to DC officials, lawfully withheld rent after notice, joined a tenant organization, enforced your lease, or sued the landlord, retaliation is presumed and the landlord must disprove it by clear and convincing evidence. D.C. Code § 42-3505.02.

Rent increases and rent control in District of Columbia

Notice of a rent increase
A rent increase is not effective until the first rent due date more than 60 calendar days after written notice. D.C. Code § 42-3509.04(b) (as amended in 2023).
Rent control
Yes, DC rent stabilization (rent control) applies to many older buildings (with exemptions, for example some small landlords and newer buildings that are properly registered as exempt). For an occupied rent-controlled unit, the yearly increase may not exceed the CPI-W adjustment plus 2%, and never more than 10%; rent can go up only once every 12 months, and only if the unit substantially complies with the housing code and the landlord is licensed and registered. Registered elderly tenants and tenants with disabilities: no more than the lowest of the CPI-W adjustment, the Social Security COLA, or 5%. For increases taking effect May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027 the caps are 4.1% (2.1% for registered elderly/disabled tenants). D.C. Code §§ 42-3502.06, 42-3502.08(h), 42-3502.24.

Questions about eviction in District of Columbia

How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in District of Columbia?

No eviction case for nonpayment if you owe less than $600. Before filing, the landlord must give at least 10 days' written notice with the amount owed and a ledger, by certified mail (or tracked delivery) AND by hand delivery or posting on your door. You can stay if you pay the full balance. A late fee alone can never be the reason for eviction.

How much notice for a lease violation in District of Columbia?

30-day notice to correct a lease violation (other than nonpayment). If you fix it within 30 days, you cannot be evicted for it. Notices must also be sent to the Rent Administrator.

How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month lease in District of Columbia?

Landlords cannot end a tenancy just because the lease expired or by a simple month-to-month notice: as long as you pay rent, you can be evicted only for reasons listed in the law (for example 90 days' notice for the owner's personal use or a sale for personal use, 30 days for a lease violation). Tenant notice to leave is not set by this statute.

How long do I have to respond to an eviction lawsuit in District of Columbia?

Not set by statute. The summons gives an initial hearing date in DC Superior Court's Landlord and Tenant Branch; go to it (in person or remotely as allowed).

Can my landlord lock me out or shut off utilities in District of Columbia?

Yes. No tenant may be evicted except after a court case and only for the reasons and with the notices required by law (§ 42-3505.01). Evictions also cannot be carried out on days below freezing, above 95°F, or when it is raining or snowing.

More for District of Columbia renters

Eviction in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 2026.