14 DCMR § 14-4400
DEMOLITION AND CONVERSION
Operative Text
4400.1 If a housing provider requests a permit to demolish a housing accommodation by filing an application with the Department of Buildings, a copy of the application shall be filed with the Rent Administrator. 4400.2 The housing provider shall file with the Rent Administrator, along with the copy of a permit application, a certification that, in accordance with § 602 of the Act (D.C. Official Code § 42-3506.02), the demolition is not for the purpose of constructing or expanding a hotel, motel, inn, or other structure used primarily for transient residential occupancy. 4400.3 The Rent Administrator shall determine whether the demolition is prohibited by § 602 of the Act (D.C. Official Code § 42-3506.02) and shall notify the Department of Buildings of the determination. 4400.4 If the housing provider fails to comply with the requirements of this section, or if a demolition is prohibited by § 602 of the Act (D.C. Official Code § 42-3506.02), the Rent Administrator shall request that the demolition permit be denied or revoked by the District. 4400.5 Pursuant to § 601 of the Act (D.C. Official Code § 42-3506.01), no housing provider shall convert any housing accommodation or rental unit into a hotel, motel, inn, or other transient residential occupancy unit or accommodation. 4400.6 The Rent Administrator may issue a notice of non-compliance pursuant to § 3927 of this title or take all other necessary and appropriate measures to ensure compliance with § 601 of the Act (D.C. Official Code § 42-3506.01) and § 4400.5 of this section.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 § 14-4400 establishes a dual-track oversight process for demolitions and conversions of residential housing in the District of Columbia. When a housing provider applies to demolish a housing accommodation, both the Department of Buildings and the Rent Administrator must receive copies of the application, along with a certification that the demolition is not intended to replace residential housing with a hotel, motel, inn, or similar transient-occupancy structure. Separately, the regulation prohibits converting any rental unit or housing accommodation into transient-occupancy use, and the Rent Administrator is empowered to issue notices of non-compliance or take other measures to enforce these restrictions.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 § 14-4400, housing providers who seek a demolition permit are generally expected to simultaneously file a copy of that permit application with the Rent Administrator, accompanied by a signed certification that the demolition does not serve the purpose of building or expanding transient-occupancy facilities such as hotels or motels. Operators who fail to submit these materials, or whose proposed demolition is found to be prohibited under § 602 of the Act, risk having the Rent Administrator request that the Department of Buildings deny or revoke the demolition permit. Additionally, converting any rental unit to transient residential use is flatly prohibited under § 4400.5, and non-compliance can trigger formal enforcement action by the Rent Administrator.
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 § 14-4400 provides protections for tenants living in housing accommodations that a landlord may seek to demolish or convert to transient use, such as a hotel or motel. If a housing provider proceeds with a demolition or conversion without following the required notification and certification process—or in violation of the prohibition on converting units to transient occupancy—the Rent Administrator has authority to seek permit denial or revocation and to issue notices of non-compliance. Tenants who believe their housing provider may be violating § 14-4400 can consider contacting the D.C. Office of the Tenant Advocate or a local tenant-rights organization to understand available options, including how a violation of this section might be raised in relevant proceedings.
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 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
Rules and statutes cited by this regulation
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation