14 DCMR § 14-310
RETURN OF SECURITY DEPOSIT: INSPECTION OF PREMISES
Operative Text
310.1 In order to determine the amount of the security deposit or other payment to be returned to the tenant, the owner may inspect the dwelling unit within three (3) days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, before or after the termination of the tenancy. 310.2 The owner shall conduct the inspection, if the inspection is to be conducted, at the time and place of which notice is given to the tenant. 310.3 The owner shall notify the tenant in writing of the time and date of the inspection. 310.4 The notice of inspection shall be delivered to the tenant, or at the dwelling unit in question, at least ten (10) days before the date of the intended inspection.
Under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-310, District of Columbia law establishes a structured inspection process that owners may use to assess a dwelling unit's condition before determining how much of a security deposit to return. The inspection must occur within three business days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays) before or after the tenancy ends. Written notice of the inspection's time and date must be delivered to the tenant—or left at the unit—at least ten days before the inspection takes place.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers in the District of Columbia who choose to inspect a unit under § 14-310 of D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. generally provide written notice of the inspection's scheduled time and date at least ten days in advance, delivered directly to the tenant or left at the dwelling unit. Compliant operators schedule the inspection within the three-business-day window (excluding weekends and holidays) immediately before or after the tenancy terminates, and they conduct it at the time and place stated in the notice. Keeping dated copies of all written notices helps document adherence to these procedural requirements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-310 gives tenants the right to receive written notice of any pre- or post-move-out inspection at least ten days before it occurs, with the inspection itself limited to a three-business-day window around the end of the tenancy. If an owner fails to follow these notice or timing requirements, that procedural gap may be relevant to any dispute over deductions from the security deposit. Tenants who believe these rules were not followed can reach out to a local tenant-rights organization or the D.C. Office of the Tenant Advocate to understand available options.
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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