14 DCMR § 14-4100
SCOPE AND COVERAGE OF THE RENTAL HOUSING ACT
Operative Text
4100.1 The jurisdiction of the Rent Administrator and of the Rental Housing Commission extends to all rental units in the District of Columbia that are covered by the Act and to all housing accommodations in which a covered rental unit is located, except for matters under titles III and VIII of the Act (D.C. Official Code §§ 42-3503.01 et seq. and 42-3507.01 et seq.). 4100.2 The jurisdiction of the Rent Administrator and of the Rental Housing Commission extends to all tenants of a rental unit covered by the Act and to all housing providers of a covered rental unit, except for matters under titles III and VIII of the Act (D.C. Official Code §§ 42-3503.01 et seq. and §§ 42-3507.01 et seq.). 4100.3 All rental units in the District of Columbia are covered by the Act except those rental units excluded from coverage by § 205(e) of the Act (D.C. Official Code § 42-3502.05(e)) and § 4105 of this chapter; provided, that no rental unit shall be excluded under § 205(e)(4) of the Act (the non-profit exclusion) without the prior approval of the Rent Administrator issued pursuant to § 4105 of this chapter.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-4100 establishes the broad reach of the District of Columbia's Rental Housing Act, extending the authority of the Rent Administrator and the Rental Housing Commission to virtually all rental units and housing accommodations in the District. Nearly every rental unit falls under the Act's coverage unless it qualifies for a specific statutory exclusion, and even those exclusions—such as the non-profit exemption—require prior approval from the Rent Administrator. Certain matters governed by titles III and VIII of the Act fall outside this general jurisdictional framework.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-4100, housing providers operating rental units in the District of Columbia are generally subject to the jurisdiction of both the Rent Administrator and the Rental Housing Commission. Operators who believe a unit may qualify for an exclusion—such as the non-profit exemption—typically seek prior written approval from the Rent Administrator through the process outlined in § 4105 before treating a unit as exempt. Compliant operators maintain documentation of any approved exemptions and do not assume coverage exclusions apply without that formal determination.
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. § 14-4100 means that most tenants renting in the District of Columbia are protected by the Rental Housing Act and have access to the Rent Administrator and the Rental Housing Commission as oversight bodies. If a housing provider claims a unit is exempt from the Act, tenants can look to § 4105 and the non-profit exclusion rules to understand whether that exemption was properly approved. Tenants who believe their unit is incorrectly treated as exempt may consider filing a complaint with the Rent Administrator or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for general guidance.
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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