14 DCMR § 14-4109
REGISTRATION FEE
Operative Text
4109.1 Each housing provider required to be registered under this chapter shall pay the registration fee established by § 401 of the Act (D.C. Official Code § 42-3504.01) through the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (“DLCP”) in accordance with § 207.1 of this title at the time its housing business license is issued or renewed or as otherwise directed by DLCP. 4109.2 The registration for any housing accommodation or rental unit for which the registration fee is unpaid shall be deemed to be defective in accordance with § 4104.3. If the registration fee is not paid when a housing provider first files a Registration/Claim of Exemption Form and the housing provider receives notice from the Rent Administrator of the defect, the housing provider may timely correct the defect in accordance with §§ 4104.2 and 4104.5. Thereafter, if the registration fee is not paid when required, the housing provider shall be deemed to not have met the registration requirements of this chapter until the fee is paid.
Under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-4109, housing providers in the District of Columbia must pay a registration fee through the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) when their housing business license is issued or renewed. If that fee goes unpaid, the registration is considered defective, which can affect the legal standing of the housing accommodation or rental unit. A housing provider who receives notice of the defect has an opportunity to correct it within the timeframes set by the regulation, but continued nonpayment means the provider is treated as unregistered until the fee is paid.
Plain English — not legal advice.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-4109 requires housing providers to submit the applicable registration fee to DLCP at the time a housing business license is issued or renewed, or as otherwise directed by DLCP. Compliant operators generally ensure the fee is paid on time to avoid a defective registration status, which can undermine their standing under the District's rental housing rules. When DLCP issues a defect notice for nonpayment, the regulation provides a window to cure the deficiency under §§ 4104.2 and 4104.5, but repeated or uncorrected nonpayment results in the provider being treated as unregistered.
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. § 14-4109 establishes that a landlord's registration is defective if the required fee has not been paid, which can affect the landlord's ability to meet the registration requirements of the District's rental housing chapter. Tenants may find this relevant if a landlord's registration status is at issue in a rent-related proceeding, since an unpaid fee can render that registration legally insufficient. Tenants who have questions about their landlord's registration status may consider contacting the Rent Administrator, consulting a tenant-rights organization, or exploring whether the defective registration can be raised in an applicable proceeding.
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.
Effective Timeline
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Rules and statutes that cite this regulation