Washington, DC Short Term Rental Regulations

City Code of Ordinances

There are two types of rental in the Washington District market:

• Short-Term Rental - A short-term rental (STR) allows a host to provide fee-based lodging in their primary residence while remaining on the premises, such as a bedroom within a home. There is no restriction to the number of stays allowed in a calendar year as long as the host is present; however, each short-term rental stay must be 30 nights or less.
• Vacation Rental - A vacation rental is a type of short-term rental that allows a host to provide fee-based lodging at their primary residence while not being present on the premises, such as the entire house. Vacation rentals cannot exceed more than 90 nights in a calendar year, and each rental must be for 30 or fewer consecutive nights.

The property must be owned by an individual and serve as the homeowner's primary residence to operate a short-term or vacation rental in the District. As long as the host holds a valid Short-Term or Vacation Rental License, short-term rentals are permitted in any neighborhood or zone in the District. Occupancy in a short-term rental is limited to a maximum of eight guests, or two guests per bedroom, whichever is greater. For more information, see the Operating a Short-Term Rental in the District of Columbia page. 

Business License Requirements

Here are the steps to apply for a Short-Term Rental License: 

1. Sign up for an Access DC account.
2. Visit the District of Columbia Short-Term Rental Licensing Platform to begin the licensing application process.
3. You'll be asked to link your license platform account to the address where you'll be conducting short-term rentals after registering. 
4. Have the following information available:

• Clean Hands Certificate issued within the last 30 days in the property owner's name (request from the DC Office of Tax and Revenue)
• Proof of liability insurance (a minimum of $250,000 in coverage)
• Completed Short-Term/Vacation Rental Attestation Form if your property is in an association (HOA, condo, CoOp, etc.)
• Credit/debit card to pay the license fees.

Building and Housing Standards

Washington D.C has rules and regulations that specify minimum building, design, maintenance standards, habitability, health, and safety requirements. Some rules and regulations that apply to residential and non-residential properties may apply to your listing. The below are needed: 

• Working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and a portable fire extinguisher are necessary for unobstructed egress from the rental property.
• In the event of an emergency, hosts must provide a phone number that is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• The Short-Term Rental or Vacation Rental License must be prominently displayed inside the property.

Please consult Washington, D.C, for more information. 

Tourist and Local Taxes

All applicable transient lodging taxes, which will be collected by booking services on behalf of hosts, must be paid. More information is available in the DC Code, Sections 47-2002 and 47-2002.02. 

Other Rules

Records of each booking must be maintained for a period of two years. Investment properties and those owned by corporate entities are not eligible. It is also essential to understand and abide by other contracts or rules that bind you, such as leases, condo boards, co-op rules, HOA rules, or rules established by tenant organizations. Please read your lease agreement and check with your landlord if applicable. Visit Washington, D, C for more information.