14 DCMR § 14-206
DENIAL, SUSPENSION, AND REVOCATION OF LICENSES
Operative Text
206.1 Refusal to permit any authorized District of Columbia official to inspect the premises occupied or to be occupied by a housing business shall be cause for withholding the issuance of a license for the premises until such time as inspection is permitted. 206.2 Refusal to permit any authorized District of Columbia official to inspect the premises occupied by a licensed housing business shall be cause for revocation of the license. 206.3 The Director may refuse to issue or renew, or may suspend or revoke, a license issued under this chapter on any of the following grounds: (a) Conviction of the business license holder for any criminal offense involving fraudulent conduct arising out of or based on the business being licensed; (b) Willful or fraudulent circumvention by the business operator of any provision of District statute or regulation relating to the conduct of the business; (c) Employment of any fraudulent or misleading device, method, or practice relating to the conduct of the business; or (d) The making of any false statement in the license application. 206.4 All qualifications set forth in this chapter as prerequisite to the issuance of a license shall be maintained for the entire license period. Failure to maintain any qualification for licensure shall be cause for suspension or revocation of the license.
Under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-206, District of Columbia housing business licenses can be denied, suspended, or revoked for a range of conduct-related reasons. Blocking an authorized D.C. official from inspecting a property can result in a license being withheld or revoked outright. Additional grounds for adverse licensing action include criminal fraud convictions tied to the business, willful circumvention of applicable laws or regulations, use of misleading practices, or false statements on a license application. Licensees are also required to maintain all qualifying conditions throughout the entire license period, not just at the time of initial issuance.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating housing businesses in the District of Columbia should be aware that § 14-206 of D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. establishes multiple grounds on which the Director can deny, suspend, or revoke a housing business license. Compliant operators generally permit authorized D.C. officials to conduct inspections without obstruction, ensure that all application materials are accurate and complete, and avoid any fraudulent or misleading business practices. Because § 14-206 also requires that all licensure qualifications be maintained for the full license period, operators typically conduct ongoing reviews to confirm continued compliance with applicable statutes and regulations.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in licensed housing businesses in the District of Columbia may find it useful to know that D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-206 gives District authorities the power to deny, suspend, or revoke a landlord's housing business license under specified circumstances. If a landlord is blocking official inspections, engaging in fraudulent conduct, or otherwise failing to meet licensure requirements, these may constitute grounds for licensing action under § 14-206. Tenants who believe their housing provider may be violating these standards can consider filing a complaint with the relevant District of Columbia licensing authority or reaching out to a local 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 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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