D.C. Code tit. 42 § 42-3502.11a
Mandatory fees prohibited.
Operative Text
(a) A housing provider shall not impose on a tenant a mandatory fee for any service or facility that has not been approved pursuant to § 42-3502.11 or § 42-3502.15 . (b) A housing provider who violates this section shall be liable to the tenant for treble damages pursuant to section 901(a).
D.C. Code § 42-3502.11a prohibits housing providers from charging tenants mandatory fees for any service or facility unless that fee has been formally approved through the District's rent stabilization process under § 42-3502.11 or § 42-3502.15. The rule is designed to prevent landlords from circumventing rent control limits by adding unapproved charges on top of regulated rent. A housing provider who imposes such an unauthorized fee faces liability for treble damages — meaning the tenant may recover three times the amount of the improper charge.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 42-3502.11a, compliant housing providers ensure that every mandatory fee charged to tenants for a service or facility has received prior approval through the applicable rent stabilization petition or schedule process under § 42-3502.11 or § 42-3502.15. Operators generally audit their fee structures before billing tenants to confirm each charge has a documented approval on file. Because violations expose the housing provider to treble-damages liability, maintaining clear records of approved fees is a standard practice in compliant operations.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 42-3502.11a gives tenants a basis to challenge any mandatory fee that a housing provider has not obtained approval for through the District's rent stabilization process. If a tenant believes they have been charged an unapproved mandatory fee, general enforcement paths include raising the violation before the D.C. Rental Housing Commission, filing a complaint with the relevant District housing authority, or consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with D.C. rent stabilization law. The provision's treble-damages remedy means that a successful claim could result in a recovery of three times the amount of any improperly imposed fee.
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 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
Rules and statutes cited by this regulation
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation