14 DCMR § 14-201
LICENSE CATEGORIES
Operative Text
201.1 The Department shall have the following categories for licenses subject to this chapter: (a) One-family rental, which shall include the rental of single-family homes, townhouses, duplexes, individual condominium units, or individual rooms (including individual rooms in a residential building that the licensee also occupies); (b) Two-family rental, which shall include the rental of an English basement apartment, converted basement apartment, or carriage house in a single-family home where the main residence is occupied by the property owner or another tenant; and (c) Apartment houses, which shall include the rental of buildings with three (3) or more dwelling units. 201.2 Each license category, with the exception of a one-family rental, shall require a Certificate of Occupancy issued by the Department at the time of application for licensure. 201.3 Pursuant to District zoning regulations, one-family rental licenses shall not be issued to residential housing properties that are rented for less than ninety (90) days. 201.4 Each license category, unless exempt pursuant to D.C. Official Code § 42-3502.05(a)(3) (2010 Repl.), shall require registration of the rental units with the Department of Housing and Community Development’s Rental Accommodations Division at the time of application for licensure.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 § 14-201 establishes three categories of rental housing licenses in the District of Columbia: one-family rentals (covering single-family homes, townhouses, duplexes, individual condo units, and individual rooms), two-family rentals (covering English basement apartments, converted basement apartments, or carriage houses where the main home is owner- or tenant-occupied), and apartment houses (buildings with three or more dwelling units). With the exception of one-family rentals, each category requires a Certificate of Occupancy at the time of license application. One-family rental licenses cannot be issued for properties rented for fewer than 90 days, and most categories also require registration with the Rental Accommodations Division unless a specific statutory exemption applies.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 14-201, property owners renting in the District of Columbia generally determine which license category applies to their property type before applying for a rental license. Operators of two-family rentals and apartment houses typically secure a Certificate of Occupancy from the Department prior to submitting their license application. Most licensees also register their rental units with the D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development's Rental Accommodations Division at the time of application, unless they qualify for an exemption under D.C. Official Code § 42-3502.05(a)(3).
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 14-201 of the D.C. Municipal Regulations means that landlords renting residential units in the District are generally required to hold a license in the appropriate category and, in most cases, to have their units registered with the Rental Accommodations Division. Tenants who believe their landlord may not hold the required license or registration can contact the D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development to inquire about a property's status. Tenant-rights organizations in the District can also help renters understand how a landlord's failure to comply with § 14-201 licensing requirements might be relevant to their situation.
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