D.C. Code tit. 42 § 42-3405.13
Severability.
Operative Text
If any provision of this chapter, or any section, clause, phrase, or word or the application thereof, in any circumstances is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of the chapter and of the application of any other provision, section, sentence, clause, phrase, or word shall not be affected.
Section 42-3405.13 of D.C. Code § 42-3401.01 et seq. is a severability clause, which means that if any individual part of the chapter—whether a section, clause, phrase, or word—is found legally invalid by a court, the rest of the chapter continues to stand on its own. The invalidity of one piece does not contaminate or nullify the remaining provisions. This is a standard structural safeguard built into the law to preserve as much of the chapter's protections as possible.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 42-3405.13, a landlord operating under D.C. Code § 42-3401.01 et seq. should understand that even if a specific provision of the chapter were struck down or found unenforceable, the remaining obligations and rules in the chapter would still apply in full. Compliant operators generally continue to follow all other provisions of the chapter regardless of any legal challenge to a particular section. Staying informed about any court rulings affecting specific provisions helps operators understand which requirements remain in effect.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 42-3405.13 means that tenants' rights and protections under D.C. Code § 42-3401.01 et seq. are not entirely undone if one part of the law is challenged or invalidated—the rest of the chapter's protections remain in force. Tenants who believe their rights under other sections of the chapter have been violated may still raise those provisions as a basis for a complaint or defense, even if a separate part of the law has been questioned. Tenant-rights organizations in the District of Columbia can help explain which specific protections remain active and applicable.
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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