D.C. Code tit. 42 § 42-3505.08
Victims of an intrafamily offense protection — Change locks and notice.
Operative Text
(a) Upon the written request of a tenant who is the victim of an intrafamily offense, as defined in § 16-1001(8) , a housing provider shall change the locks to all entrance doors to that tenant’s unit within 5 business days; provided, that if the perpetrator of the intrafamily offense is a tenant in the same dwelling unit as the tenant who makes the request, the tenant who makes the request shall provide the landlord with a copy of a protective order issued pursuant to § 16-1005 ordering the perpetrator to stay away from, or avoid, the tenant who makes the request, any other household member, or the dwelling unit. If the perpetrator of the intrafamily offense is not, or is no longer, a tenant in the same dwelling unit as the tenant who makes the request, no documentation of the intrafamily offense shall be required. (b) The housing provider shall pay the cost of changing the locks. No later than 45 days after the housing provider provides the tenant who makes the request with documentation of the cost of changing the locks, the tenant shall reimburse the housing provider for such cost and any associated fee; provided, that the fee shall not exceed the fee imposed on any other tenant for changing the locks under any other circumstances. (c) Upon receipt of a copy of the court order pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, unless the court orders that the perpetrator be allowed to return to the unit for some purpose, the housing provider shall not provide the perpetrator with keys to the unit or otherwise permit the perpetrator access to the unit or to property within the unit. (d) The housing provider shall not be liable to the perpetrator for any civil damages as a result of actions the housing provider takes to comply with this section. (e) This section shall not be construed to relieve the perpetrator of any obligation under a lease agreement or any other liability to the housing provider.
Under D.C. Code § 42-3505.08, a housing provider is required to change the locks on a tenant's unit within five business days when a tenant who is a victim of an intrafamily offense submits a written request. If the perpetrator lives in the same unit, the requesting tenant must supply a copy of a qualifying protective order; no documentation is required if the perpetrator no longer resides there. The housing provider must cover the upfront cost of the lock change, though the tenant is expected to reimburse that cost within 45 days of receiving documentation of the expense, and any associated fee cannot exceed what other tenants are charged for similar lock changes.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Housing providers operating in the District of Columbia should be familiar with D.C. Code § 42-3505.08, which establishes a clear timeline and cost-allocation framework for lock changes requested by victims of intrafamily offenses. A compliant operator processes written requests promptly, verifies whether a protective order is required based on the perpetrator's tenancy status, advances the cost of the lock change, and provides the requesting tenant with written documentation of that cost within the required window. Once a court order is received indicating the perpetrator must stay away, a compliant housing provider does not issue keys or otherwise grant the perpetrator access to the unit, and is shielded from civil liability to the perpetrator for actions taken in compliance with this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
D.C. Code § 42-3505.08 gives tenants who are victims of an intrafamily offense the right to request a lock change in writing, with the housing provider required to act within five business days and to front the cost. If the person who harmed you still lives in your unit, you will generally need to provide a copy of a protective order issued under § 16-1005; if that person no longer lives there, no documentation of the offense is required. Tenants who believe a housing provider has failed to comply with this provision may consider reaching out to a tenant-rights organization, the D.C. Office of the Tenant Advocate, or an attorney familiar with D.C. housing law to understand available enforcement paths.
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