14 DCMR § 14-3807
STANDARDS OF REVIEW
Operative Text
3807.1 The Commission shall reverse a final order of the Rent Administrator or the Office of Administrative Hearings that the Commission finds to be arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, not in accordance with the provisions of the Act, or that contains findings of fact unsupported by substantial evidence on the record of the proceedings before the Rent Administrator or the Office of Administrative Hearings. 3807.2 Interlocutory appeals shall be reviewed pursuant to the provisions found at § 3922 of this title for an order by the Rent Administrator or at 1 DCMR § 2936 for an order by the Office of Administrative Hearings. The Commission shall assign interlocutory appeals priority and may schedule interlocutory appeals for hearing. 3807.3 The Commission shall rule on an interlocutory appeal as follows: (a) By determining the merits of the appeal based upon § 3922 of this title for an order by the Rent Administrator or at 1 DCMR § 2936 for an order by the Office of Administrative Hearings; or (b) By dismissing the interlocutory appeal without prejudice and leaving the issue to be determined by the Rent Administrator or the Office of Administrative Hearings, if the Commission determines that the interlocutory appeal was incorrectly certified under the applicable rules. 3807.4 Review by the Commission shall be limited to the issues raised in the proceedings below and in the notice of appeal; provided, that the Commission may correct plain error or minor, technical mistakes on its own initiative. 3807.5 The Commission shall not receive new evidence on appeal.
Under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-3807, the Rental Housing Commission is empowered to reverse decisions made by the Rent Administrator or the Office of Administrative Hearings when those decisions are found to be arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, contrary to the Act, or unsupported by substantial evidence. The Commission's review is generally confined to issues already raised in the lower proceedings and in the notice of appeal, though it may correct plain errors on its own initiative. No new evidence may be introduced at the appellate stage, and interlocutory (mid-proceeding) appeals are handled under a separate, prioritized process.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers who receive an adverse ruling from the Rent Administrator or the Office of Administrative Hearings should be aware that D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-3807 governs how the Rental Housing Commission reviews such decisions on appeal. Compliant operators generally ensure that all relevant arguments and evidence are presented during the initial proceedings, since the Commission's review is limited to the record already established below. Because no new evidence is accepted at the appellate level, thorough documentation and participation at the earliest stages of any proceeding are hallmarks of sound practice.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants who have participated in proceedings before the Rent Administrator or the Office of Administrative Hearings should know that D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-3807 sets out the grounds on which the Rental Housing Commission can overturn those decisions, including findings that are arbitrary, capricious, or unsupported by substantial evidence. Because the Commission generally limits its review to issues already raised below and does not accept new evidence, raising all relevant concerns during the initial hearing is an important part of the process. Tenants seeking to understand their appellate options may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with D.C. rental housing law.
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.
Effective Timeline
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