D.C. Code tit. 2, ch. 14 § 2-1403.04
Filing and withdrawal of complaints; mediation.
Operative Text
(a) Any person or organization, whether or not an aggrieved party, may file with the Office a complaint of a violation of the provisions of this chapter, including a complaint of general discrimination, unrelated to a specific person or instance. The complaint shall state the name and address of the person alleged to have committed the violation, hereinafter called the respondent, and shall set forth the substance thereof, and such other information as may be required by the Office. The Director, sua sponte, may investigate individual instances and patterns of conduct prohibited by the provisions of this chapter and may initiate complaints in connection therewith. Any complaint under this chapter shall be filed with the Office within 1 year of the occurrence of the unlawful discriminatory practice, or the discovery thereof, except as may be modified in accordance with § 2-1403.03 . (b) (1) Complaints filed with the Office under the provisions of this unit may be voluntarily withdrawn at the request of the complainant by filing a written notice of withdrawal with the Office. A person who withdraws a complaint may only maintain a private cause of action consistent with the provisions of § 2-1403.16 . (2) The Office may fully investigate the circumstances accompanying a complainant's notice of withdrawal. (c) A mediation program shall be established and all complaints shall be mediated before the Office commences a full investigation. During the mediation the parties shall discuss the issues of the complaint in an effort to reach an agreement that satisfies the interests of all concerned parties. The Office shall grant the parties up to 45 days within which to mediate a complaint. If an agreement is reached during the mediation process, the terms of the agreement shall control resolution of the complaint. If an agreement is not reached, the Office shall proceed with an investigation of the complaint. (d) Complaints filed with the Office alleging unlawful discrimination in residential real estate transactions or violations of FHA, shall be served on the complainant and respondent within 5 days of filing, with a notice identifying the alleged discriminatory practice and advising the parties of their procedural rights and obligations under this chapter and FHA. The Office shall refer the complaint for mediation, but shall begin investigating the complaint within 30 days of its filing if the parties fail to reach an agreement.
Under D.C. Code § 2-1401.01 et seq. § 2-1403.04, any person or organization — not just someone directly harmed — may file a discrimination complaint with the D.C. Office of Human Rights (OHR), including complaints about general patterns of discrimination. Complaints must generally be filed within one year of the discriminatory act or its discovery. Before a full investigation begins, all complaints go through a structured mediation process, giving parties up to 45 days to reach a voluntary resolution; if mediation fails, OHR proceeds with a formal investigation. For complaints involving residential real estate or Fair Housing Act (FHA) violations, the parties are served notice within 5 days of filing, and OHR begins investigating within 30 days if mediation does not produce an agreement.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers named as respondents under D.C. Code § 2-1401.01 et seq. § 2-1403.04 should be aware that a complaint can be initiated by virtually anyone — not only a directly affected individual — and that OHR itself may open an investigation on its own initiative. Compliant operators typically maintain clear records of their rental practices and communications, which can be relevant during the mandatory mediation phase that precedes any full investigation. In residential real estate and FHA-related matters, respondents receive formal notice within 5 days of a complaint's filing, so being prepared to engage promptly with the mediation process is a hallmark of organized property management.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants who believe they have experienced housing discrimination in the District of Columbia have the right under D.C. Code § 2-1401.01 et seq. § 2-1403.04 to file a complaint with the D.C. Office of Human Rights within one year of the discriminatory act or its discovery. The complaint process includes a mandatory mediation step — lasting up to 45 days — before any full investigation begins, and for FHA-related residential complaints, tenants receive formal notice of their procedural rights within 5 days of filing. Tenants who choose to withdraw a complaint should understand that doing so may affect their ability to pursue further action through OHR, and consulting a tenant-rights organization can help clarify what options remain available under § 2-1403.16.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation