14 DCMR § 14-3817
SUBPOENAS
Operative Text
3817.1 The Commission may issue a subpoena requiring the production of documents or the attendance and testimony of witnesses, or a subpoena may be issued by the Commission on its own initiative. 3817.2 A subpoena issued by the Commission shall: (a) Be issued in writing; (b) Specify with particularity the books, papers, testimony, or electronic records desired; and (c) Be served on the subject at least ten (10) days before a hearing is scheduled or production of materials is required. 3817.3 A subpoena may be served in the same manner and by any person authorized by the civil rules of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia; provided, that no witness fees are required.
Under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-3817, the District of Columbia Rental Housing Commission has authority to compel the production of documents or the appearance and testimony of witnesses through a formal subpoena process. Any subpoena the Commission issues must be in writing, describe the requested materials or testimony with specificity, and be delivered to the recipient at least ten days before the scheduled hearing or deadline for producing materials. Service of the subpoena follows the civil rules of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, and no witness fees are required from those who receive one.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers involved in Commission proceedings should be aware that under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-3817, the Commission can independently initiate a subpoena for records, documents, or testimony without a party's request. Operators who receive a subpoena generally review it carefully to confirm it meets the written, specific, and timely-service requirements set out in this section before responding. Maintaining organized and accessible records is a common practice that supports timely compliance when a subpoena is received.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants involved in Commission proceedings should know that D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-3817 gives the Commission the power to subpoena documents or witnesses on its own initiative, which can be a tool for surfacing evidence relevant to a housing dispute. If a tenant receives a subpoena, they may want to verify that it satisfies the requirements of this section — including that it is in writing, sufficiently specific, and served at least ten days in advance — and may consider consulting a tenant-rights organization for general guidance. No witness fees are required of those who receive a Commission subpoena under this provision.
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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