14 DCMR § 14-3819
HEARINGS
Operative Text
3819.1 In hearing appeals, the Commission shall sit as a body with a quorum of the Commission present. All hearings shall be conducted as meetings on the record in accordance with §§ 3800.4-3800.8, and at the conclusion of all permitted arguments at the hearing, the Commission may enter into closed session to deliberate on the appeal. 3819.2 The Commission shall schedule each appeal for oral argument in accordance with § 3802.9, unless all parties agree to submit the case for decision solely on written arguments in accordance with § 3802.14. 3819.3 The Commission, in its discretion, may schedule additional hearings to allow the parties to an appeal to present arguments on a pending motion or any other matter related to the appeal. 3819.4 All parties to an appeal shall appear, personally or through a representative in accordance with § 3812, for all properly noticed hearings, unless the Commission grants a request for a continuance as provided in § 3815. 3819.5 If an appellant fails to appear for a hearing on the merits of an appeal, the appeal may be dismissed for want of prosecution; provided, that the appellee may present arguments at that time without prejudice to any motion to dismiss. 3819.6 If an appellee fails to appear for a hearing on the merits of an appeal, the Commission may commence the hearing and deem the appellee’s opportunity to present oral argument as waived. 3819.7 If any party fails to appear for a hearing on a motion or other matter, the Commission may deem party’s position on the subject of the hearing to be withdrawn, conceded, consented to, stipulated, or otherwise unopposed. 3819.8 The appellant(s) and appellee(s) shall each be allowed a total of twenty (20) minutes to present oral argument on the merits of the issue(s) appealed to the Commission. The appellant(s) may reserve no more than five (5) minutes of the allotted time for rebuttal. The appellee(s) shall not be allowed to reserve any portion of its allotted time for rebuttal. 3819.9 When a cross-appeal is filed or an appeal is initiated by the Commission, each party shall have an opportunity to present oral argument on the issue(s) for twenty (20) minutes; provided, that each party may reserve a portion of no more than five (5) minutes of its allotted time for rebuttal to the oral argument made by the other party. 3819.10 In an order scheduling a hearing other than one on the merits of an appeal, the Commission shall specify whatever times for argument and rebuttal it deems appropriate to the subject(s) of the hearing. 3819.11 The Commission reserves the right to question the parties without diminishing the allotted time periods. 3819.12 If a party has been aggrieved by an order of the Commission due to a failure to appear for a Commission hearing, the Commission may set aside the order based on the following factors: (a) Whether the party had actual notice of the hearing; (b) Whether the party acted in good faith; (c) Whether the party acted promptly upon notice of the order; and (d) Whether the party presents a prima facie argument that it could have prevailed in the order.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-3819 establishes the procedural framework for how the Rental Housing Commission conducts appeal hearings in the District of Columbia. The Commission must convene with a quorum, hold hearings on the record, and generally schedule oral argument unless all parties agree to proceed on written submissions alone. Each side typically receives twenty minutes to argue the merits, and the Commission retains the right to question parties without reducing that allotted time. Parties who miss a properly noticed hearing risk having their appeal dismissed, their arguments deemed waived, or an adverse order entered against them, though the Commission may set aside such orders under certain conditions.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-3819, property owners or managers who are parties to a Commission appeal generally attend every properly noticed hearing, either personally or through an authorized representative as permitted by § 3812. Compliant operators track scheduled hearing dates carefully, submit timely continuance requests when attendance is not possible, and prepare oral arguments within the twenty-minute limit allotted to each side. Failing to appear can result in the Commission treating a party's position as conceded or waived, so diligent calendar management and prompt communication with the Commission are hallmarks of sound practice.
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. § 14-3819 gives tenants who are parties to a Commission appeal the right to present oral argument—typically twenty minutes on the merits—and to participate in all properly noticed hearings. If a tenant misses a hearing and an adverse order results, § 14-3819.12 describes factors the Commission may consider when deciding whether to set aside that order, including whether the party had actual notice and acted promptly upon learning of the outcome. Tenants navigating Commission proceedings may find it helpful to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with D.C. rental housing regulations to understand available procedural 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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