D.C. Code tit. 42 § 42-3404.34
Procedure for District to effectuate purchase.
Operative Text
(a) The Mayor shall have not less than 150 days from the date of the owner’s receipt of the Mayor’s written statement of interest, issued pursuant to § 42-3404.32(b) , to negotiate a contract for sale. (b) For every day of delay in providing information by the owner as required by this chapter, the negotiation period shall be extended by one day. (c) If a tenant organization is formed and delivers an application for registration to the Mayor pursuant to § 42-3404.11 , the Mayor shall have 15 days, in addition to the time provided for in subsection (a) of this section, to negotiate a contract of sale. (d) The Mayor shall have up to 60 days after the date of execution of a contract of sale to complete settlement. (e) If the owner provides any extension of time to a tenant under this chapter, the Mayor shall automatically receive the same extension of time. The owner shall provide written notification to the Mayor of any extensions of time provided to the tenant.
D.C. Code § 42-3404.34 establishes the timeline the District government follows when it seeks to purchase a rental property under the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act. The Mayor receives at least 150 days from the owner's receipt of the written statement of interest to negotiate a sale contract, with that window automatically extended day-for-day whenever an owner delays providing required information. An additional 15 days is added if a qualifying tenant organization registers during the process, and once a contract is signed, the District has up to 60 days to complete settlement. Any time extensions the owner grants to a tenant are automatically mirrored to the Mayor, and the owner must notify the Mayor in writing of any such extensions.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under D.C. Code § 42-3404.34, property owners navigating a District purchase negotiation are generally expected to provide all required information promptly, since each day of delay extends the negotiation period by one day. Owners must also track any time extensions they grant to tenant organizations and deliver written notice of those extensions to the Mayor, because the District automatically receives the same extension. Compliant operators typically maintain clear records of all communications and deadlines to avoid inadvertently lengthening the overall transaction timeline.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
D.C. Code § 42-3404.34 is relevant to tenants and tenant organizations participating in the District's opportunity-to-purchase process, because the formation and registration of a qualifying tenant organization can add 15 days to the Mayor's negotiation window. Tenants should be aware that any extensions of time an owner provides to them are also extended to the District, which can affect the overall timeline of a potential District purchase. Tenant-rights organizations and housing counselors familiar with the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act can help explain how these procedural timelines interact with tenant organizing rights under this chapter.
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 Out
Rules and statutes cited by this regulation
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation