D.C. Code tit. 42 § 42-2851.06
Vouchers for rental housing assistance.
Operative Text
(a) The monetary assistance provided to an owner of a housing accommodation under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 or any District law or program authorizing the payment of rental housing assistance, either directly or through a tenant, shall be considered the income of the tenant for the purposes of any minimum income qualification for a dwelling unit in the housing accommodation. (b) The monetary assistance provided to an owner of a housing accommodation under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 or any District law or program authorizing the payment of rental housing assistance, either directly or through a tenant, shall be considered income and a source of income under § 2-1402.21 . (c) The owner of a housing accommodation shall not refuse to rent a dwelling unit to a person because the person will provide his or her rental payment, in whole or in part, through a voucher for rental housing assistance provided by the District or federal government. (d) In any written notice, statement, or advertisement of a dwelling unit for rent, the housing provider shall clearly state that the housing provider will not refuse to rent a rental unit to a person because the person will provide the rental payment, in whole or in part, through a voucher for rental housing assistance provided by the District or federal government.
D.C. Code § 42-2851.06 establishes that rental housing assistance payments—such as Section 8 vouchers issued by the federal government or the District—must be counted as tenant income when evaluating minimum income requirements for a dwelling unit. The law also classifies such assistance as a protected source of income under D.C.'s Human Rights Act. Housing providers are prohibited from refusing to rent to prospective tenants on the basis that they use a voucher, and any written notice, statement, or advertisement for a rental unit must affirmatively state that voucher holders will not be turned away.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under D.C. Code § 42-2851.06, compliant housing providers apply the same income-qualification standards to voucher holders as to any other applicant, counting the assistance payment toward the minimum income threshold. Operators who advertise available units—whether online, in print, or through any written notice—include a clear statement that voucher-based rental payments are accepted. Refusing to rent to an applicant solely because they use a District or federal housing voucher is a violation of this provision and may also constitute unlawful discrimination under D.C.'s Human Rights Act.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
D.C. Code § 42-2851.06 gives tenants and prospective tenants the right to have their Section 8 or other government rental assistance counted as income when a landlord applies a minimum income test, and it protects voucher use as a recognized source of income under D.C. law. If a housing provider refuses to rent to you or screens you out because you hold a voucher, that conduct is prohibited by this provision. Tenants who believe their rights under § 42-2851.06 have been violated may consider filing a complaint with the D.C. Office of Human Rights, raising the violation in any relevant housing proceeding, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options.
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.
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