D.C. Code tit. 42 § 42-3531.12
Assessment of expenses for emergency housing and relocation assistance.
Operative Text
(a) (1) The Chief shall submit a bill to the owner for the cost of providing emergency assistance or relocation assistance, including information on how the owner can pay the bill and, if the owner disputes the charge, how to contest the bill. (2) The Chief may submit the bill to the owner by personal service or by sending it via first-class U.S. mail to the person who last appears as the owner of the real property on the tax roll on file with the Office of Tax and Revenue, to the last mailing address shown on the tax roll in accordance with § 42-405 . The Chief may, by regulation, establish alternative methods of providing the bill to the owner. (b) Within 30 calendar days after receipt of the bill, the owner shall: (1) Pay the full amount of the bill; or (2) Contest the bill and request a hearing to determine liability. (c) If an owner fails to pay the full amount of the bill or to request a hearing within 30 days after receipt of the bill, the owner shall be liable for the full amount of the bill. (d) For the purpose of this section, a mailed bill is presumed to have been received by the owner 7 calendar days after the date of mailing.
Under D.C. Code § 42-3531.12, when the District provides emergency housing or relocation assistance on behalf of displaced residents, the Chief of the relevant agency is authorized to bill the property owner for those costs. The owner has 30 calendar days after receiving the bill to either pay in full or formally contest the charge by requesting a hearing. A bill sent by first-class mail is legally presumed received seven days after it was mailed, and failure to act within the 30-day window results in automatic liability for the full billed amount.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers should be aware that under D.C. Code § 42-3531.12, a bill for emergency or relocation assistance costs can arrive by personal service or first-class mail sent to the address on file with the Office of Tax and Revenue. Compliant operators generally keep their mailing address current on the tax roll, since the law presumes receipt just seven days after mailing and the 30-day response clock starts from that presumed date. Operators who receive such a bill typically either remit full payment or submit a timely written request for a hearing to contest liability before the deadline expires.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
D.C. Code § 42-3531.12 establishes a mechanism by which the District can recover the cost of emergency housing or relocation assistance directly from the property owner, not from displaced tenants. Tenants who were provided such assistance should understand that the financial obligation for those costs is placed on the owner, and the owner's failure to respond to the bill within 30 days results in their automatic liability. Tenants with questions about how this process affects their situation may find it helpful to contact a local tenant-rights organization or the District's housing agencies for general information.
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
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References In
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