D.C. Code tit. 42 § 42-3506.02
Demolition.
Operative Text
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall demolish and the Mayor shall not permit the demolition of any housing accommodation or rental unit for the purpose of constructing or expanding a hotel, motel, inn, or other transient residential accommodation. (b) No person shall construct or expand and the Mayor shall not permit the construction or expansion of a hotel, motel, inn, or other transient residential occupancy on the site of a housing accommodation or rental unit demolished after July 17, 1985.
Under D.C. Code § 42-3501.01 et seq. § 42-3506.02, the District of Columbia prohibits the demolition of any housing accommodation or rental unit when the purpose is to build or expand a hotel, motel, inn, or similar transient lodging. Additionally, no hotel or transient residential facility may be constructed or expanded on any site where a housing accommodation or rental unit was demolished after July 17, 1985. This rule is designed to protect the existing residential housing stock from being converted into short-term or transient lodging uses.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and developers operating in the District of Columbia should be aware that D.C. Code § 42-3501.01 et seq. § 42-3506.02 bars the demolition of residential housing accommodations or rental units for the purpose of building or expanding transient lodging such as hotels or motels. Compliant operators generally ensure that any proposed demolition or redevelopment project does not involve converting a residential site—particularly one demolished after July 17, 1985—into a hotel, motel, inn, or similar transient facility. Permit applications for such projects are subject to denial by the Mayor under this provision.
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. § 42-3506.02 provides tenants in the District of Columbia with a protection against having their housing accommodation or rental unit demolished to make way for hotel, motel, or other transient lodging development. Tenants who believe a landlord or developer is pursuing demolition for this prohibited purpose may have grounds to raise this provision as a basis for challenging the demolition or related permits. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid services in the District can help residents understand how this protection may apply to their circumstances.
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.
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