14 DCMR § 14-9907
NOTICES OF VIOLATION, INFRACTION, OR ORDER
Operative Text
9907.1 The Department may issue a notice of violation, notice of infraction, or order on a respondent imposing a civil fine or other civil penalty, whenever the Department has reasonable grounds to believe the respondent is in violation of this chapter. 9907.2 The Department may refer violations of this chapter to the Office of the Attorney General. 9907.3 For purposes of determining whether a host is in violation of this chapter, if any part of a listing for a short-term rental claims or suggests that a short-term rental guest will have exclusive use of the host’s entire residence during the guest’s stay, this shall serve as prima facie evidence that the short-term rental is a vacation rental, notwithstanding the type of license endorsement actually issued. A host may, however, note in a listing that a short-term rental guest will have exclusive access of a certain portion of the property (i.e., an English basement, or a defined space within the overall property). 9907.4 Notices and orders shall be in writing in a form prescribed by the Department and shall include: (a) The name of the respondent; (b) The address of the host’s primary residence or a description of the host’s primary residence sufficient for identification; (c) A citation or reference to the provision of this chapter which the respondent has violated; (d) The circumstances giving rise to the violation, including the time and place of the violation; (e) The amount of the civil fine applicable to the violation; (f) A statement that: (1) The fine must be paid within thirty (30) calendar days of the date that the notice has been served on the respondent; (2) The respondent has the right to request a hearing before OAH; and (3) If the respondent fails to pay the fine or request a hearing within thirty (30) calendar days of the date the notice is served on the respondent, a penalty equal to the amount of the fine may be imposed and the respondent’s license may be suspended until the fine has been paid; and (g) Any other information that the Department may require.
Under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-9907, the District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) is authorized to issue written notices of violation, notices of infraction, or orders imposing civil fines whenever it has reasonable grounds to believe a short-term rental host has violated the chapter's rules. Notices must include specific details such as the respondent's name, the address of the host's primary residence, the nature of the violation, and the applicable fine amount. Respondents have 30 calendar days from service of the notice to either pay the fine or request a hearing before the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH); failure to do either can result in an additional penalty equal to the original fine and suspension of the host's license. Additionally, the Department may refer violations to the Office of the Attorney General for further action.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of short-term rentals in the District of Columbia should be aware that D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-9907 gives the Department authority to issue formal written notices and civil fines when it has reasonable grounds to believe a violation has occurred. Compliant hosts generally ensure their listings do not claim or suggest that guests will have exclusive use of the entire residence, as such language can serve as prima facie evidence that the rental is operating as a vacation rental regardless of the license type held—though noting exclusive access to a defined portion of the property, such as an English basement, is permissible. When a notice is received, operators typically respond within the 30-calendar-day window by either paying the stated fine or requesting a hearing before OAH to avoid additional penalties or license suspension.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Guests and community members should know that § 14-9907 of D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. establishes a formal enforcement process through which the Department can issue written notices and civil fines against short-term rental hosts found to be in violation of D.C.'s short-term rental rules. If a listing suggests a guest will have exclusive use of an entire residence, that language can itself be treated as evidence of an unlicensed vacation rental operation under this provision. Those who believe a host may be operating in violation of these rules can consider filing a complaint with the relevant District agency or consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with D.C. short-term rental regulations for information about available enforcement paths.
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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