What Landautomate does with this page
This guide is the reading version of our District of Columbia rule base. In the app, the same rules become dated tasks on each of your District of Columbia properties, timed to your purchase date, lease dates, property age, and climate, with an email before each one is due. The free preview shows a sample of that schedule for District of Columbia in under a minute, no account needed.
Preview the District of Columbia schedule
District of Columbia compliance obligations
District of Columbia landlords commonly track 7 state and local compliance obligations, each listed below with its schedule, its sources, and the date we last verified it. Among them: check your DC rental Basic Business License and renew before it expires, confirm deposit escrow and post the year-end interest notice, and file DC biennial report (BRA-25) by April 1 in your entity's filing year.
Check your DC rental Basic Business License and renew before it expires
Renting out a DC home, condo, room, or apartment requires a DLCP Basic Business License, which expires on the last day of the month its term ends, so a yearly check of the expiration date leaves time to pass the required DOB inspection and renew in the 90 days before it expires, because DLCP will not renew without a passed inspection, a lapsed license draws penalties starting at $75, and an eviction generally requires proof of a current rental license.
On a recurring schedule · Last verified September 2026 · source 1 · source 2 · source 3
Confirm deposit escrow and post the year-end interest notice
DC requires deposits to be held in an interest-bearing escrow account at a DC financial institution, with a year-end notice in the lobby and rental office giving the account location and the rate for each six-month period, and within 45 days after a tenancy ends you must refund the deposit with interest or send written notice of deductions with supporting photos and the tenant's right to dispute, then the balance and an itemized statement within 30 days of that notice, because missed steps can leave you owing the full deposit plus interest.
Each year around December 15 · Last verified September 2026 · source 1 · source 2
File DC biennial report (BRA-25) by April 1 in your entity's filing year
If your DC property is held in an LLC, corporation, or other entity registered with DLCP, its BRA-25 biennial report is due by April 1 of the year after the entity registered and every second year after that ($300 for an LLC or corporation, plus a $100 late fee), and an unfiled report can lead to administrative dissolution or, for an out-of-state entity, termination of its DC registration.
Each year around April 1 · Last verified September 2026 · source 1 · source 2 · source 3
Have heating system inspected by September 1 (buildings with two or more units)
If your DC building has two or more units, or your rented single-family home received a housing violation notice for a defective heating system, a DC-licensed heating professional or certified utility employee must inspect the furnace or boiler (including a carbon monoxide check of flues and vents) between March 1 and September 1, with the findings filed with the District and any defects fixed and certified before October 1, so booking it in early summer leaves time for repairs before the heating season.
Each year around July 1 · Last verified September 2026 · source 1 · source 2 · source 3
Pay DC first-half real property tax by March 31
The first-half installment of DC real property tax is due March 31, with a 10% penalty and 1.5% monthly interest for late payment.
Each year around March 31 · Last verified September 2026 · source 1 · source 2 · source 3
Pay DC second-half real property tax by September 15
The second-half installment of DC real property tax is due September 15, with a 10% penalty and 1.5% monthly interest for late payment.
Each year around September 15 · Last verified September 2026 · source 1 · source 2 · source 3
Turn on heat by October 1 where you supply it and hold 68F to May 1
Where you supply the heat or control the heating system, DC requires heat from October 1 through May 1 (an October 15 start for two-pipe systems that need longer to switch over from cooling) that keeps habitable rooms and bathrooms at 68F or more, so confirming the system is on and reaching that temperature by October 1 avoids housing code violations and no-heat complaints.
Each year around October 1 · Last verified September 2026 · source 1 · source 2 · source 3
Seasonal maintenance for District of Columbia
Landlords in District of Columbia plan upkeep around a temperate climate: this guide lists 6 seasonal maintenance items for District of Columbia in calendar order, each with its timing and the date we last verified it. Among them: exterior paint and siding moisture check, smoke and CO detector seasonal test, and HVAC seasonal service.
Exterior paint and siding moisture check
Checking paint and siding after the wet season prevents rot and moisture intrusion in mild climates.
Around March · Verified before August 2026
Smoke and CO detector seasonal test
An annual full test of smoke and CO detectors (beyond battery swaps) confirms every alarm actually sounds.
Around March · Verified before August 2026
HVAC seasonal service
A shoulder-season HVAC service keeps heating and cooling efficient before temperature swings.
Around May · Verified before August 2026
Service heating systems before the October heating season
A September service of the furnace, boiler, or heat pump, including a check of flues and vents for carbon monoxide leaks on gas or oil equipment, gets heat working before October's cold nights and before HVAC contractors get busy for winter.
Each year around September 1 · Last verified September 2026 · source 1 · source 2 · source 3
Winterize exterior plumbing before the first fall freeze
First freezes typically reach the District's cooler neighborhoods in late October or early November and Reagan National Airport by mid-November, so a mid-October session that drains and stores hoses, shuts off and drains outdoor hose bibs, drains irrigation lines, and insulates pipes in unheated spaces helps prevent burst pipes and water damage.
Each year around October 15 · Last verified September 2026 · source 1 · source 2 · source 3
Clean gutters and check the roof after fall leaf drop
In DC, fall color peaks around Halloween into the first week of November and the leaves come down through November, so an early December cleanout of gutters and downspouts, with downspouts discharging a few feet from the house, plus a look at shingles, flashing, eaves, and soffits keeps winter rain and snowmelt off the roofline and away from the foundation.
Each year around December 1 · Last verified September 2026 · source 1 · source 2 · source 3
Baseline upkeep for every rental
Every rental needs the same baseline care regardless of state: this guide tracks 16 recurring upkeep items, each with its schedule and the date we last verified it. Among them: CPA tax document preparation, gutter inspection, and HVAC filter replacement.
CPA tax document preparation
Organized records make tax filing accurate and deductions defensible.
Within 365 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026
Gutter inspection
Clear gutters prevent water intrusion, foundation, and roof damage.
Within 90 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026
HVAC filter replacement
Clean filters protect HVAC equipment and keep energy costs down.
Within 90 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026
Insurance renewal review
Confirms coverage limits and premiums still match the property risk.
Within 365 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026
LLC annual filing prep
Keeps the ownership entity in good standing with state filings.
Within 365 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026
Lease renewal planning
Planning renewals ahead of time reduces vacancy and turnover costs.
Within 365 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026
Maintenance review
Keeps small maintenance issues from turning into expensive repairs.
Within 30 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026
Owner distribution check
Verifies owner cash distributions reconcile with rent and expenses.
Within 30 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026
Pest inspection
Early pest detection prevents structural damage and habitability complaints.
Within 90 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026
Property tax review
Reviewing assessments can surface appeal opportunities and budget changes.
Within 365 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026
Rent collection review
Confirms rent was received on time and surfaces collection issues early.
Within 30 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026
Rent increase review
Keeps rent aligned with market rates and local rent regulations.
Within 365 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026
Smoke detector battery check
Working smoke and CO detectors are a life-safety and legal requirement.
Within 90 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026
Utilities minimal-service verification
Confirms vacant-property utilities stay at minimal service so pipes, alarms, and sump pumps keep working.
Within 14 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026
Utility reconciliation
Catches billing errors and unexpected usage spikes on property utilities.
Within 30 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026
Vacant property security check
Regular walkthroughs of a vacant property deter break-ins, squatting, and unnoticed damage.
Within 30 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026
Common questions
What are the compliance requirements for District of Columbia landlords?
Our reviewed rule base currently lists 7 state and local compliance obligations that District of Columbia landlords commonly track. Among them: check your DC rental Basic Business License and renew before it expires, confirm deposit escrow and post the year-end interest notice, and file DC biennial report (BRA-25) by April 1 in your entity's filing year. Each obligation shows its schedule, the sources it was checked against, and the date we last verified it. This guide is general information for planning reminders, not legal advice.
What seasonal maintenance should District of Columbia landlords plan for?
The District of Columbia guide lists 6 seasonal maintenance items timed to a temperate climate, in calendar order. Among them: exterior paint and siding moisture check, smoke and CO detector seasonal test, and HVAC seasonal service. Landautomate turns each item into a dated reminder on your property calendar so the work is planned before the season arrives.
What routine upkeep should every District of Columbia rental get?
Alongside state specific work, the District of Columbia guide tracks 16 baseline upkeep items that apply to nearly every rental. Among them: CPA tax document preparation, gutter inspection, and HVAC filter replacement. These recur on a regular schedule, and Landautomate schedules each one automatically for every property you add.
How does Landautomate verify District of Columbia landlord rules?
Every rule in the District of Columbia guide goes through human review before it is published, and each rule shows the date we last verified it. Each compliance obligation links the primary sources it was checked against. Laws and deadlines change, so if you believe something here is outdated or incorrect, contact us at support@landautomate.com and we will review it promptly.