14 DCMR § 14-9908
SERVICE OF THE NOTICE OF VIOLATION, INFRACTION, OR ORDER
Operative Text
9908.1 Each notice or order issued under § 9907 shall be served on a respondent by any one of the following methods: (a) Personal service on a respondent or a respondent’s agent; (b) By electronic mail to the last-known electronic mail address of the person or business to be notified; (c) Delivering the notice or order to the last known home or business address as identified by the tax records, the business license address, or the corporate registration address of the respondent or the respondent’s agent and leaving it with a person over the age of sixteen (16) years old residing or employed therein; (d) Mailing the notice or order, via first class mail postage prepaid, to the last known home or business address, as identified by the tax records address, the business license address or the corporate registration address, of the respondent or the respondent’s agent; or (e) If the notice or order is returned as undeliverable by the Post Office authorities, or if no address is known or can be ascertained by reasonable diligence, by posting a copy of the notice or order in a conspicuous place in or about the host’s primary residence affected by such notice.
Under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-9908, when a notice of violation, infraction, or order is issued, it must be formally delivered to the respondent through one of several recognized methods. These include personal service, email to a last-known address, in-person delivery at a home or business address to someone over 16, first-class mail, or — as a last resort — conspicuous posting at the affected property when no address can be found or mail is returned undeliverable. The rule establishes a clear hierarchy of delivery options to ensure that respondents receive meaningful notice before any enforcement action proceeds.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to enforcement proceedings under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-9908 should be aware that official notices and orders may arrive through a variety of channels, including email, first-class mail, or in-person delivery to a representative at a registered business address. Compliant operators generally keep their tax records, business license filings, and corporate registration addresses current so that notices reach the right party without delay. Maintaining an up-to-date contact address across all official registrations reduces the risk that a notice is served by posting — a method used only when other delivery attempts fail.
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. § 14-9908 governs how official notices and orders must be delivered to respondents in District of Columbia housing enforcement matters, and tenants may find this relevant when tracking whether a landlord has been properly notified of a violation. If a landlord claims ignorance of an order, the methods of service outlined in this provision — including email, mail, and personal delivery — establish what counts as legally sufficient notice. Tenants who believe a notice was improperly served, or who want to understand the enforcement process, may consult a tenant-rights organization or the relevant D.C. agency for general information about how these procedures apply.
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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