D.C. Code tit. 6, ch. 7 § 6-731.03
Exemption by Mayor.
Operative Text
The Mayor of the District of Columbia, or his designee, may grant an exemption from the provisions of § 6-731.01 in the event he, or his designee, inspects a housing accommodation wherein there are unvacated units subject to a notice to vacate and finds that a proposed alteration, while it may cause such a rental unit to come to be in substantial violation (or, if already in substantial violation, to be in greater violation) of the housing regulations of the District of Columbia for a period of time in excess of 24 hours, is, nevertheless, necessary for the immediate safety of the habitants of the accommodation.
Under D.C. Code § 6-731.03, the Mayor of the District of Columbia—or an authorized designee—has the authority to waive the standard prohibition found in § 6-731.01 under specific emergency circumstances. This exemption applies when an inspection of an occupied housing accommodation reveals that a proposed alteration, even if it would temporarily push the property into substantial violation of D.C. housing regulations for more than 24 hours, is nonetheless required to protect the immediate safety of the building's residents. The provision essentially creates a narrow safety-valve allowing work that would otherwise be prohibited to proceed when lives or immediate well-being are at stake.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under D.C. Code § 6-731.03 should understand that this exemption is not self-executing—it requires the Mayor or a designated official to conduct an actual inspection and make an affirmative finding before any waiver of § 6-731.01 is granted. Compliant operators generally document the emergency conditions prompting the request, cooperate fully with any inspection, and do not proceed with alterations that would cause extended housing-code violations without first obtaining the formal exemption. Maintaining clear records of the safety concern, the inspection, and the exemption grant is consistent with how operators in good standing typically handle these situations.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Residents living in housing accommodations subject to a notice to vacate should be aware that D.C. Code § 6-731.03 limits when alterations causing extended housing-code violations can be authorized—only when the Mayor or designee has inspected the property and determined an immediate safety need exists. If you believe alterations are being made to your building without a proper exemption under this provision, general enforcement paths include contacting the D.C. Department of Buildings, reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization, or raising the issue with the relevant housing authority. Tenants may also consider consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with D.C. housing regulations to understand what options are available in their circumstances.
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 In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation