D.C. Code tit. 42 § 42-3505.05
Prohibition of discrimination against elderly tenants or families with children.
Operative Text
(a) It is unlawful for a housing provider to discriminate against families receiving or eligible to receive Tenant Assistance Program assistance, elderly tenants, or families with children when renting housing accommodations. (b) Any protections provided by subsection (a) of this section and any penalties provided in § 42-3509.01 shall be in addition to any other provision of law. (c) Allegations of violations of this section that are made by families receiving or eligible to receive Tenant Assistance Program assistance, by elderly tenants, or by families with children shall be promptly investigated and handled by the Department of Buildings, which shall provide the complaining party with a written report upon the conclusion of the investigation.
D.C. Code § 42-3505.05 makes it unlawful for housing providers in the District of Columbia to discriminate against three protected groups when renting housing: families who receive or are eligible for Tenant Assistance Program (TAP) assistance, elderly tenants, and families with children. The protections this provision establishes stack on top of any other applicable laws, and the penalties available under § 42-3509.01 apply in addition to any other legal remedies. Complaints alleging violations must be promptly investigated by the Department of Buildings, which is required to provide the complaining party with a written report once the investigation concludes.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Housing providers operating in the District of Columbia must ensure that their rental practices, policies, and screening criteria comply with D.C. Code § 42-3505.05, which bars discrimination against TAP-assisted families, elderly tenants, and families with children. Compliant operators generally review their application processes, occupancy standards, and marketing materials to confirm that none of these groups are treated less favorably than other prospective or current tenants. Because the penalties under § 42-3509.01 apply on top of any other legal liability, operators typically treat compliance with this provision as a baseline floor rather than a ceiling.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
D.C. Code § 42-3505.05 gives elderly tenants, families with children, and families receiving or eligible for Tenant Assistance Program assistance an explicit right to be free from discriminatory rental practices by housing providers. Tenants who believe a housing provider has violated this provision can file a complaint with the Department of Buildings, which is required to investigate promptly and deliver a written report at the conclusion of that process. Affected tenants may also wish to explore additional remedies available under § 42-3509.01 or consult a tenant-rights organization to understand the full range of options this provision and other laws may provide.
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