D.C. Code tit. 30, ch. 2 § 30-201.09
Enforcement.
Operative Text
(a) The Department shall: (1) Maintain records on licensed short-term rentals; (2) Maintain statistics on short-term rental activity and provide reports annually at the request of the Mayor or the Council; (3) Monitor short-term rentals for compliance with this subchapter and all applicable regulations including the zoning regulations; (4) Investigate suspected violations of this subchapter by booking services or hosts; provided, that the Office of the Chief Financial Officer shall investigate suspected violations of §§ 30-201.06(c) and 30-201.08(f) ; and (5) Issue administrative penalties and orders to enforce the provisions of this subchapter . (b) The Department may refer violations of this subchapter to the Office of the Attorney General. (c) The Department shall monitor listings of short-term rentals by booking services. Upon discovery of a violation of this subchapter , the Department shall immediately notify the relevant booking service and the host. (d) For purposes of determining whether a host is in violation of this subchapter , 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.
D.C. Code § 30-201.09 establishes the enforcement framework for the District's short-term rental rules. The Department responsible for licensing is charged with keeping records, tracking activity, monitoring listings on booking platforms, investigating suspected violations by both hosts and booking services, and issuing administrative penalties and orders. A separate body—the Office of the Chief Financial Officer—handles investigations into specific financial and tax-related violations, and the Office of the Attorney General may receive referrals for further action. Notably, if a listing implies a guest will have exclusive use of an entire residence, that language alone can serve as prima facie evidence that the rental is operating as a vacation rental, regardless of what license endorsement was actually issued.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under D.C. Code § 30-201.09, the Department actively monitors short-term rental listings on booking platforms and can act immediately upon discovering a violation—notifying both the host and the booking service. Compliant operators generally ensure that their listings accurately reflect the type of license endorsement they hold and avoid language that could suggest guests will have exclusive use of the entire residence, since such language constitutes prima facie evidence of vacation-rental operation. Operators also typically maintain records and practices consistent with zoning regulations and all other applicable rules, given the Department's authority to issue administrative penalties and orders and to refer cases to the Office of the Attorney General.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
D.C. Code § 30-201.09 gives the Department broad authority to investigate suspected violations by hosts and booking services, issue administrative penalties, and refer matters to the Office of the Attorney General, providing multiple avenues through which non-compliant short-term rentals can be addressed. If a neighboring unit or a rental you are considering appears to be operating outside its license type—for example, advertising exclusive use of an entire home when only a different endorsement was issued—that listing language itself can serve as prima facie evidence of a violation under this provision. Tenants and neighbors who believe a short-term rental is operating unlawfully may consider filing a complaint directly with the Department, contacting a local tenant-rights organization for guidance, or consulting with an attorney familiar with D.C. housing regulations.
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 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation