14 DCMR § 14-603
WATERPROOF FLOORS IN TOILETS
Operative Text
603.1 The owner of a building used for residential purposes shall provide each water closet compartment, privy, toilet room, and bathroom in the building with a waterproof floor surface and wall base. 603.2 The wall base shall be at least three inches (3”) in height. 603.3 The waterproof floor surface shall consist of one of the following: (a) Smooth-finished tile or masonry which is effectively sealed so that it has a nonporous surface, laid in a manner free from cracks or open joints, and tightly joined to the base; (b) Tongue-and-groove hardwood flooring that is tightly laid without open cracks or joints, and which is tightly joined to the base. Both the base and surface shall be covered with a seal coat of waterproof finish; or (c) Linoleum, plastic, or rubber floor covering, or linoleum, asphalt, rubber or plastic floor tiles, firmly cemented to a smooth substantial subfloor, laid without overlapping or open joints, and tightly joined to the base. 603.4 The term “linoleum” as used in this section, means a floor covering made of special preparations of linseed oil, gum, coloring matter, and wood flour, firmly affixed to a cloth or feltpaper base, and does not include enameled and cottonlinter composition coverings.
Under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-603, residential building owners are required to install and maintain waterproof floor surfaces and wall bases in all bathrooms, toilet rooms, and similar compartments. The wall base must reach at least three inches in height, and the floor must be made from an approved material—such as sealed tile, tongue-and-groove hardwood with a waterproof finish, or cemented linoleum or plastic covering—installed without gaps or open joints. The rule defines acceptable materials precisely, including a specific definition of 'linoleum' that excludes certain composition coverings.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-603 generally ensure that every bathroom and toilet room in their residential buildings has a compliant waterproof floor and a wall base of at least three inches. Compliant operators select flooring from the approved categories—sealed tile or masonry, finished hardwood, or cemented resilient floor covering—and install it without cracks, open joints, or overlapping seams. Routine inspections of these surfaces help identify deterioration, such as cracked grout or lifting floor tiles, before they result in a housing code violation.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants in District of Columbia residential buildings have a right to bathrooms and toilet rooms with waterproof floors and wall bases that meet the standards set out in D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-603. If a bathroom floor is cracked, has open joints, or lacks a proper waterproof surface, that condition may constitute a housing code violation that a tenant can report to the D.C. Department of Buildings or raise as a habitability concern. Tenant-rights organizations in the District can provide general information about how to document such conditions and what complaint or enforcement processes may be available.
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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