14 DCMR § 14-3921
OFFICIAL NOTICE
Operative Text
3921.1 During the disposition of a petition or complaint, the Rent Administrator, on his or her own motion or on the motion of a party, may take official notice of the following: (a) Matters of common knowledge; (b) Any information contained in the record of the Rental Accommodations Division; or (c) Any information contained in the records of any federal or District agency, board or commission; provided, that all parties have been given notice of the Rent Administrator’s intention to do so and have been given an opportunity to show the contrary. 3921.2 Official notice taken of any fact shall satisfy a party’s burden of proving that fact. 3921.3 If the Rent Administrator takes official notice of any matter provided in § 3921.1, all parties are entitled to be informed in writing of the fact found by the Rent Administrator, and to be provided a period of no less than ten (10) days to contest the proposed findings of fact before a final decision is issued. 3921.4 Any registration files or other public documents of which the Rent Administrator takes official notice shall be entered into the official record of the proceeding in accordance with § 3919.1(e).
Under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-3921, the Rent Administrator overseeing a petition or complaint may take "official notice" of commonly known facts, records held by the Rental Accommodations Division, or information from other federal or District agency records. When official notice is taken, it carries the same evidentiary weight as proven fact, relieving a party of the burden of independently establishing that fact. Before any final decision is issued, all parties must receive written notice of the proposed findings and at least ten days to contest them, ensuring a meaningful opportunity to respond.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers involved in proceedings before the Rental Accommodations Division should be aware that, under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-3921, the Rent Administrator may draw on publicly available agency records—including registration files—without requiring a party to formally introduce that evidence. Compliant operators generally maintain accurate and up-to-date registration records, since those records can be entered into a proceeding's official record through official notice. When the Rent Administrator signals an intent to take official notice, operators typically review the proposed findings carefully and respond within the ten-day written-contest window if any information appears inaccurate.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants participating in a rent petition or complaint should know that D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-3921 gives the Rent Administrator authority to rely on agency records and common knowledge as established facts, which can support a tenant's position without requiring the tenant to independently prove every detail. Importantly, the rule guarantees that all parties—including tenants—receive written notice of any officially noticed findings and no fewer than ten days to challenge those findings before a final decision is issued. Tenants who believe an officially noticed fact is incorrect may submit a written response during that period; tenant-rights organizations in the District can help explain how this process works in practice.
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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