14 DCMR § 14-601
PLUMBING FACILITIES
Operative Text
601.1 Minimum basic plumbing facilities in buildings used in whole or in part to house one (1) or more habitations shall be as required in this section, except as specifically provided otherwise in § 602. 601.2 Each dwelling unit, except a bachelor apartment, shall contain a kitchen sink for the exclusive use of the occupant(s) of that dwelling unit. 601.3 Each dwelling unit and each rooming unit shall have available for the use of the occupant(s) of that unit a lavatory, a water closet, and a bathing facility. 601.4 Each kitchen sink, lavatory, and bathing facility required by this chapter shall be properly connected with both hot and cold water lines. 601.5 All plumbing fixtures shall be properly connected to the public water system and to an approved sewerage system. 601.6 Any lavatory required to be installed by this subtitle shall be located in the room or compartment with the required water closet, or as close to it as practicable, except as provided in § 601.7 601.7 If a lavatory is not provided in the same room with the water closet, the specific location of the lavatory shall be approved by the director.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-601 establishes the minimum plumbing standards that must be present in any residential building in the District of Columbia. Every dwelling unit (except bachelor apartments) must have its own kitchen sink, and every dwelling and rooming unit must have access to a lavatory, toilet, and bathing facility. All required fixtures must be connected to both hot and cold water, linked to the public water system, and tied into an approved sewage system, with lavatories placed as close as practicable to the toilet unless the director approves an alternative location.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating residential buildings in the District of Columbia are expected to maintain plumbing facilities that meet the standards set out in D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-601. Compliant operators generally ensure that each dwelling unit has a dedicated kitchen sink (except in bachelor apartments), that every unit has a functioning toilet, lavatory, and bathing facility with both hot and cold water connections, and that all fixtures are properly tied into the public water and sewage systems. Where a lavatory cannot be placed in the same room as the toilet, operators typically seek director approval for the alternative placement as the section requires.
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. § 14-601 gives residential tenants in the District of Columbia a clear baseline: their unit must include a kitchen sink (unless it is a bachelor apartment), a toilet, a lavatory, and a bathing facility, all supplied with hot and cold water and connected to approved water and sewer systems. If any of these required fixtures are missing, broken, or improperly connected, that condition may constitute a housing code violation that tenants can report to the District's housing inspection authorities. Tenants who believe their unit falls short of these standards may also consider reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization to understand the range of options available to them.
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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