D.C. Code tit. 7, ch. 10 § 7-1006
Equal access to housing.
Operative Text
(a) Persons with physical or mental disabilities shall be entitled to full and equal access, as other members of the general public, to all housing accommodations offered for rent, lease, or compensation in the District of Columbia, subject to the conditions and limitations established by law or in accordance with law and applicable alike to all persons. (b) Persons with physical or mental disabilities who have a service animal shall be entitled to full and equal access to all housing accommodations referred to in this section without being denied access because of the service animal. Such persons shall not be required to pay an extra charge for the service animal but shall be liable for any damage done by the service animal. (c) Nothing in this section shall require any person renting, leasing, or providing real property for compensation in the District of Columbia to modify his property in any way or to provide a higher degree of care for a blind person or person with another physical disability than for a person who does not have a physical disability. (d) In making a determination that an individual qualifies under this section, a housing provider shall limit any inquiry to the minimum information and documentation necessary to establish that an individual meets the definition of persons with physical or mental disabilities provided in § 7-1009(4) by requiring that a physician or other licensed healthcare professional verify that the individual meets the definition of persons with physical or mental disabilities. A housing provider may also require a person with a disability to demonstrate a nexus between his or her disability and the function that the service animal provides. A housing provider shall not inquire further into the nature or severity of the disability. A housing provider shall not require the individual to provide a description of the disability when making an eligibility determination. A housing provider shall not require the individual to provide eligibility documentation in less than 30 days.
D.C. Code § 7-1006 establishes that people with physical or mental disabilities have the same right to access rental housing in the District of Columbia as any other member of the public. The law specifically extends this equal access to individuals who use service animals, meaning a landlord cannot deny housing on the basis of the animal's presence, though the animal's handler remains responsible for any damage the animal causes. Housing providers are permitted to verify a person's disability status, but only through a narrow inquiry — typically a licensed healthcare professional's confirmation — and must allow at least 30 days for the applicant to provide documentation.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under D.C. Code § 7-1006, compliant housing operators generally treat applicants with disabilities on the same terms as all other applicants and do not impose extra fees or deposits solely because an applicant uses a service animal. When verifying disability status, operators typically limit their inquiry to confirmation from a licensed healthcare professional and may ask for a demonstrated connection between the disability and the service animal's function, but do not probe into the nature or severity of the disability itself. Operators also allow applicants a minimum of 30 days to supply any requested eligibility documentation before making a determination.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
D.C. Code § 7-1006 gives tenants and applicants with physical or mental disabilities the right to equal access to rental housing, including the right to have a service animal without paying an extra charge for it. If a housing provider demands excessive documentation, asks about the nature or severity of your disability, or gives you fewer than 30 days to submit verification materials, those actions may conflict with the protections this provision establishes. Tenants who believe their rights under § 7-1006 have been violated may consider filing a complaint with a local fair housing agency, contacting the D.C. Office of Human Rights, or reaching out to a tenant-rights organization for general information about 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
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