D.C. Code tit. 42 § 42-3206
Service of notice to quit.
Operative Text
Every notice to the tenant to quit shall be served in English and Spanish upon him personally, if he can be found, and if he can not be found it shall be sufficient service of said notice to deliver the same to some person of proper age upon the premises, and in the absence of such tenant or person to post the same in some conspicuous place upon the leased premises. If the notice is posted on the premises, a copy of the notice shall be mailed first class U.S. mail, postage prepaid, to the premises sought to be recovered, in the name of the person known to be in possession of the premises, or if unknown, in the name of the person occupying the premises, within 3 calendar days of the date of posting.
Under D.C. Code § 42-3201 et seq. § 42-3206, a notice to quit must be provided in both English and Spanish and delivered through a specific hierarchy of methods: first by personal service on the tenant, then by delivery to a responsible adult on the premises if the tenant cannot be found, and finally by posting in a conspicuous location if no one is available. When posting is used, the landlord must also mail a copy by first-class U.S. mail, postage prepaid, to the premises within three calendar days of posting. This rule governs the procedural steps required before a landlord can pursue a tenant's removal.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators serving a notice to quit in the District of Columbia must follow the service hierarchy established by D.C. Code § 42-3201 et seq. § 42-3206, beginning with personal service on the tenant. If personal service is not possible, compliant operators document their attempt and then deliver the notice to a person of suitable age on the premises, or post it conspicuously if no such person is present. When posting is used, a copy addressed to the known or apparent occupant must be sent by first-class U.S. mail, postage prepaid, within three calendar days of the posting date, and operators generally retain proof of mailing as part of their records.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
D.C. Code § 42-3201 et seq. § 42-3206 establishes specific procedural requirements for how a notice to quit must be served on a tenant, including that it be provided in both English and Spanish. If a notice was not served in accordance with these requirements—for example, if it was posted but no follow-up mailing was sent within three calendar days—tenants may have grounds to raise that defect in any subsequent legal proceeding. Tenants who have questions about whether a notice was properly served can consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with District of Columbia housing law.
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.
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