14 DCMR § 14-903
EXIT AND EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND DIRECTIONAL SIGNS
Operative Text
903.1 It shall be the duty of the operator of each housing business to maintain in an operable condition all emergency and exit lights. 903.2 The operator of each housing business shall maintain lighted exits and emergency lights from sunset to sunrise, and at other times when conditions warrant. 903.3 The operator of each housing business shall maintain all exit directional signs.
Under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-903, housing business operators in the District of Columbia are required to keep all emergency and exit lights in working order at all times. These lights must remain illuminated from sunset to sunrise and whenever other conditions make lighting necessary. Operators must also maintain all exit directional signs so that building occupants can safely navigate to exits.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Compliance with D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-903 generally means that property operators conduct regular inspections to confirm that emergency lights, exit lights, and directional signs are fully functional. Lighting systems should be kept illuminated throughout the overnight hours and activated whenever circumstances—such as power outages or low-visibility conditions—call for it. Maintaining service records and promptly replacing failed bulbs or fixtures are practices consistent with meeting this obligation.
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. § 14-903 establishes that tenants in housing businesses have a right to properly maintained emergency lighting and exit signage throughout the building. If exit lights are broken, unlit overnight, or directional signs are missing, tenants may consider documenting the conditions and reporting them to the District of Columbia's housing inspection authorities. Tenant-rights organizations in D.C. can provide general information about available complaint processes and other options for addressing unsafe conditions.
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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