D.C. Code tit. 42 § 42-3404.14
TOPA Application Assistance Pilot Program.
Operative Text
(a) For Fiscal Year 2017, there is established a TOPA Application Assistance Pilot Program ("Program") to help tenant organizations prepare their applications to the First Right Purchase Assistance Program described at Chapter 27 of Title 14 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (14 DCMR § 2700 et seq .). The Program shall complement the First Right Purchase Assistance Program, and shall include funding for pre-application legal and technical assistance, including assistance with environmental studies.
(b) A tenant organization in a building of 5 or more units shall be eligible for the Program if the tenant organization meets the eligibility requirements of 14 DCMR § 2701 for tenant associations. A property shall be eligible for the Program if the property meets the eligibility requirements of 14 DCMR § 2703.
(c) The Mayor shall ensure that the agency administering the Program:
(1) Approves or denies an application for the Program within 15 days of receiving the completed application from a tenant organization;
(2) Issues an award letter or denies an application for the First Right Purchase Assistance Program within 30 days of receiving the completed application from a tenant organization;
(3) Reimburses an invoice received from a tenant organization for Program expenditures or First Right Purchase Assistance Program expenditures within 30 days of receipt; and
(4) Expeditiously administers the Program and the First Right Purchase Assistance Program in a manner that allows tenant organizations to meet all deadlines required by this subchapter .
(d) The maximum amount of pre-application legal and technical assistance that may be awarded to a tenant organization per TOPA offer is as follows:
(1) Up to $25,000 for a tenant organization in a building with 5 to 50 units; and
(2) Up to $45,000 for a tenant organization in a building with greater than 50 units.
(e) Funds shall not be used to pay for any costs of litigation.
(f) If a tenant organization, or the entity to which a tenant organization assigns its rights under this subchapter , successfully purchases a property, the full amount of any assistance provided pursuant to this section shall be repaid to the Program within 30 days of the purchase of the property.
(g) By November 1, 2016, the Mayor, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2 , shall issue rules to implement the provisions of this section. The rules shall mandate processes for the application for, and distribution of, funds in a timely manner so as to facilitate successful compliance with the required timelines and purposes of this section.D.C. Code § 42-3404.14 (part of the broader Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act at D.C. Code § 42-3401.01 et seq.) established a pilot program for Fiscal Year 2017 to help tenant organizations in buildings of five or more units access pre-application legal, technical, and environmental assistance when pursuing a first-right purchase of their building. The program sets caps on assistance—up to $25,000 for buildings with 5–50 units and up to $45,000 for buildings with more than 50 units—and requires the administering agency to act on applications and reimburse invoices within defined timeframes. If a tenant organization ultimately succeeds in purchasing the property, the full amount of assistance received must be repaid to the program within 30 days of closing.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Because D.C. Code § 42-3404.14 (within D.C. Code § 42-3401.01 et seq.) is directed at tenant organizations and the Mayor's administering agency rather than property owners, landlords are not the primary actors under this provision. However, property owners whose buildings are subject to a TOPA offer should be aware that tenant organizations may be receiving publicly funded legal and technical assistance to evaluate and pursue a purchase, which can affect the pace and sophistication of tenant responses during the offer period. Operators managing properties with five or more units in the District generally maintain familiarity with TOPA timelines so they can anticipate how this assistance program may interact with their own transaction schedules.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under D.C. Code § 42-3404.14 (part of D.C. Code § 42-3401.01 et seq.), eligible tenant organizations in buildings of five or more units may apply for pre-application legal and technical assistance—including environmental studies—to help them navigate the First Right Purchase Assistance Program when a TOPA offer arises. The administering agency is required to act on completed applications within 15 days and to reimburse approved invoices within 30 days, giving tenant organizations defined timelines to hold the agency accountable. Tenants interested in whether their organization qualifies, or who want to understand the repayment obligation triggered by a successful purchase, may find it useful to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with District housing law.
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.
Effective Timeline
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Rules and statutes cited by this regulation
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