D.C. Code tit. 42 § 42-3531.13
Hearing.
Operative Text
(a) A hearing to determine liability for a bill shall be held before an administrative law judge within the Office of Administrative Hearings and shall be conducted in accordance with § 2-509 . (b) If an owner who requests a hearing fails to appear at a hearing, the administrative law judge may proceed with the hearing and issue a final decision in the case. (c) (1) The administrative law judge shall decide whether the owner's liability for the amount of the bill, in whole or in part, has been established by a preponderance of the evidence. (2) If an owner is found liable for any portion of the bill, the administrative law judge may impose an additional penalty of up to twice the amount of the liability for the bill. (d) If an administrative law judge issues an order finding an owner liable, the owner shall pay the amount due within 30 days after the issuance of the order.
Under D.C. Code § 42-3531.13, when a property owner disputes a bill related to housing obligations, the matter is resolved through a formal hearing before an administrative law judge within the Office of Administrative Hearings. The judge applies a preponderance-of-the-evidence standard to determine whether the owner is liable for all or part of the bill. If liability is found, the judge may impose an additional penalty of up to twice the amount owed, and any amount due must be paid within 30 days of the order.
Plain English — not legal advice.
D.C. Code § 42-3531.13 establishes that owners who request a hearing must appear before an administrative law judge at the Office of Administrative Hearings, because a failure to appear can result in the hearing proceeding and a final decision being issued without the owner's input. Compliant operators generally maintain thorough documentation related to any disputed bill so that evidence can be presented under the preponderance standard. If an order of liability is issued, the full amount due—potentially including an additional penalty of up to twice the original bill—must be paid within 30 days of that order.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
D.C. Code § 42-3531.13 provides a formal adjudication process at the Office of Administrative Hearings that can result in an owner being held liable for a disputed bill, with the possibility of an additional penalty of up to twice the amount found due. Tenants may find it useful to understand that this hearing process operates under a preponderance-of-the-evidence standard, which governs how liability is determined. Tenant-rights organizations in the District of Columbia can help explain how this provision may be relevant to a particular housing situation and what avenues exist for raising related concerns.
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
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