14 DCMR § 14-706
INTERIOR WALLS, FLOORS, AND CEILINGS
Operative Text
706.1 Each interior wall or ceiling shall be structurally sound and free of loose plaster or other loose structural or surfacing material. 706.2 Each interior wall or ceiling shall be free of holes and wide cracks. 706.3 Each floor shall be structurally sound, reasonably level, and free of holes and wide cracks. 706.4 Each floor shall be free of loose, splintered, protruding, or rotting floor boards. 706.5 The floors and interior wall surfaces of residential buildings shall be maintained reasonably free of dampness. 706.6 In any habitable room where any wall or floor surface is damp, that condition shall be corrected, and the wall or floor shall be maintained in a corrected condition.
Under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-706, residential interior walls, ceilings, and floors must be kept structurally sound and free of hazards such as loose plaster, holes, wide cracks, splintered or rotting boards, and persistent dampness. Where dampness is found in a habitable room, the underlying condition must be corrected and kept corrected—not merely patched over temporarily. This provision establishes a continuing maintenance standard, not a one-time fix requirement.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-706 generally conduct routine inspections of interior surfaces to identify and repair loose plaster, cracks, holes, deteriorating floorboards, and moisture intrusion before these conditions worsen. Compliant operators document repairs and follow up to confirm that corrected damp conditions remain corrected over time. Keeping maintenance records tied to specific units and dates is a common practice for demonstrating ongoing compliance with § 14-706's continuing-condition requirements.
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. § 14-706 gives tenants the right to live in a unit with structurally sound walls, ceilings, and floors that are free of holes, wide cracks, loose materials, dangerous floorboards, and unresolved dampness. Tenants who observe these conditions may report them to the District of Columbia's housing inspection authorities or raise a violation of § 14-706 as a defense in relevant housing proceedings. Tenant-rights organizations in the District can help residents understand the range of options available when a landlord has not addressed these conditions.
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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