14 DCMR § 14-1204
DESIGNATION OF APARTMENTS
Operative Text
1204.1 Each apartment entrance door shall be distinctively numbered or lettered and all other rooms in the apartment buildings shall be distinctively identified. 1204.2 The provisions of this section shall not apply to rooms in individual apartments. 1204.3 The owner of each apartment house shall maintain and provide the tenants of each apartment the use of a secure mail receptacle which has been approved by the United States Postal Service. 1204.4 Each receptacle, other than those in an apartment house that has twenty-four (24) hour-a-day desk clerk service, is required to have a lock that will enable it to be secured and the owner shall provide each tenant with a key to the lock. 1204.5 Installation, security specifications, and maintenance of mail receptacles shall be consistent with the requirements of postal service laws and regulations. 1204.6 The owner shall be responsible for the proper installation of mail receptacles, and shall maintain the same in safe and good working condition. 1204.7 In the event of disrepair, the owner shall have a reasonable time (not to exceed seven (7) working days) to repair mail receptacles.
Under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-1204, apartment buildings in the District of Columbia must have each entrance door distinctively numbered or lettered, and all common rooms must be clearly identified. Building owners are also required to provide tenants with secure, U.S. Postal Service-approved mail receptacles that are properly installed, locked (unless the building has 24-hour desk clerk service), and maintained in good working order. When a mail receptacle falls into disrepair, the owner has a reasonable period—capped at seven working days—to complete repairs.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Compliant operators under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-1204 ensure that every apartment entrance door bears a distinct number or letter and that all non-apartment rooms in the building are clearly identified. They also supply each tenant with a U.S. Postal Service-approved, lockable mail receptacle and a corresponding key, unless the building maintains 24-hour desk clerk service. When a receptacle is reported or found to be in disrepair, operators generally document the issue and complete repairs within the seven-working-day window the regulation establishes.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-1204 gives tenants the right to a secure, approved mail receptacle with a working lock and a key, as well as clearly marked apartment entrance doors. If a mail receptacle is broken or unsecured, the owner is obligated to repair it within seven working days. Tenants who believe these requirements are not being met may consider filing a complaint with the District's housing inspection authorities, contacting a local tenant-rights organization, or raising the violation as a defense in relevant housing proceedings.
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 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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