D.C. Code tit. 42 § 42-3502.02
Powers and duties of Rental Housing Commission.
Operative Text
(a) The Rental Housing Commission shall: (1) Possess sole authority to issue, amend, and rescind rules and procedures for the administration of this chapter except rules and procedures subject to § 2-1831.05(a)(7) ; (2) Decide appeals brought to it from decisions of the Rent Administrator or the Office of Administrative Hearings, including appeals under the Rental Accommodations Act of 1975, the Rental Housing Act of 1977, and the Rental Housing Act of 1980; and (3) Certify and publish before February 1 of each year: (A) The annual adjustment of general applicability of the rent charged for a rental unit under § 42-3502.06 ; (B) The most recent annual cost-of-living adjustment of benefits for social security recipients established pursuant to section 415(i) of the Social Security Act, approved August 28, 1950 (64 Stat. 506; 42 U.S.C. § 415(i)); (C) The maximum annual rent adjustment that may be imposed on a unit occupied by an elderly tenant or tenant with a disability pursuant to § 42-3502.24(a) ; and (D) The qualifying income for an elderly tenant or tenant with a disability to be exempt from an adjustment in the rent charged pursuant to §§ 42-3502.10 , 42-3502.11 , 42-3502.12 , and 42-3502.14 and whose rent charged may not be increased under § 42-3502.15 (b) (1) The Rental Housing Commission may hold hearings, sit and act at times and places within the District, administer oaths, and require by subpoena or otherwise the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of books, records, correspondence, memoranda, papers, and documents as the Rental Housing Commission may consider advisable in carrying out its functions under this chapter. (2) A majority of the Rental Housing Commissioners shall constitute a quorum to do business, and any vacancy shall not impair the right of the remaining Rental Housing Commissioners to exercise all the powers of the Rental Housing Commission. (3) In the case of contumacy or refusal to obey a subpoena issued under paragraph (1) of this subsection by any person who resides in, is found in, or transacts business within the District, the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, at the written request of the Rental Housing Commission, shall issue an order requiring the contumacious person to appear before the Rental Housing Commission, to produce evidence if so ordered, or to give testimony touching upon the matter under inquiry. Any failure of the person to obey any order of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia may be punished by that Court for contempt. (c) Upon the written request of the chairperson of the Rental Housing Commission, each department or entity of the District government may furnish directly to the Rental Housing Commission any assistance and information necessary for the Rental Housing Commission to carry out effectively this chapter. (d) The Rental Housing Commission shall employ the staff necessary to carry out its functions. Of the staff employed, 3 shall be law clerks who shall assist each member of the Rental Housing Commission in the preparation of decisions and orders. (e) All documents filed in any case before the Rental Housing Commission shall be available to the public for review, consistent with subchapter II of Chapter 5 of Title 2 .
D.C. Code § 42-3501.01 et seq. § 42-3502.02 establishes the Rental Housing Commission as the central administrative body overseeing rent regulation in the District of Columbia. The Commission holds exclusive authority to create and revise rules governing the rental housing chapter, decides appeals from the Rent Administrator and the Office of Administrative Hearings, and must certify and publish annual rent adjustment figures—including cost-of-living adjustments and special caps for elderly or disabled tenants—before February 1 each year. The Commission also has investigative powers, including the ability to subpoena witnesses and documents, and all case filings before it are available for public review.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under D.C. Code § 42-3501.01 et seq. § 42-3502.02, compliant property owners and managers in the District generally monitor the annual rent adjustment figures that the Rental Housing Commission certifies and publishes before February 1 each year, since those figures govern the maximum allowable rent increases for covered units. Operators also take note of the special caps applicable to units occupied by elderly tenants or tenants with disabilities, as those limits are separately certified under the same provision. Because the Commission maintains public records of all case filings, landlords involved in any proceeding before it can expect those documents to be accessible to the public.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
D.C. Code § 42-3501.01 et seq. § 42-3502.02 gives tenants a meaningful avenue for challenging rent-related decisions: the Rental Housing Commission hears appeals from rulings issued by the Rent Administrator and the Office of Administrative Hearings, making it a key body for contesting improper rent increases or other violations. Tenants who are elderly or have a disability may benefit from the Commission's annual certification of reduced rent-adjustment caps and income-based exemptions, which are published before February 1 each year. Tenants seeking to understand their rights or pursue an appeal can consult a tenant-rights organization, review publicly available case filings at the Commission, or explore filing a complaint through the appropriate District administrative channel.
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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