14 DCMR § 14-806
SCREENING
Operative Text
806.1 The owner or licensee of each residential building shall provide screens for all openings to the external air from March 15th through November 15th (both dates inclusive) of each year; provided, that effective means other than screens may be substituted for screens when specifically approved by the Director. 806.2 Screens shall have a minimum of sixteen (16) meshes to the inch or the equivalent effectiveness of sixteen (16) meshes to the inch. 806.3 Screens shall be maintained to prevent effectively the entrance of flies and mosquitoes into the building. 806.4 All hinged screen doors shall open outwardly and be self-closing.
Under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-806, residential buildings in the District of Columbia must be equipped with screens on all exterior openings during the warm-weather season, running from March 15 through November 15 each year. Screens must meet a minimum mesh density of 16 meshes per inch—or an equivalent standard—and must be kept in working condition to block flies and mosquitoes. Hinged screen doors are specifically required to swing outward and close on their own; alternative pest-exclusion methods may be used only with the Director's explicit approval.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to § 14-806 of D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. generally ensure that screens are installed on all exterior openings no later than March 15 and remain in place through November 15 annually. Compliant operators verify that screens meet the 16-mesh-per-inch standard, inspect them regularly for tears or gaps that could allow insect entry, and confirm that any hinged screen doors are outward-swinging and equipped with self-closing hardware. Operators who wish to use an alternative pest-exclusion method in place of screens typically seek advance written approval from the Director before removing or substituting standard screens.
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. § 14-806 gives tenants a basis to expect properly installed, well-maintained screens on all exterior openings of their residential building from mid-March through mid-November each year. If screens are missing, damaged, or fail to keep insects out—or if hinged screen doors do not close automatically—tenants may have grounds to raise a housing-code violation. General enforcement paths available to District tenants include filing a complaint with the D.C. Department of Buildings, raising the violation in a housing court proceeding, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on next steps.
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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