How to get a DC rental license in 2026 — BBL rental endorsements, required documents, fees, inspections, RAD, and renewal.
Yes. Any residential rental in DC — even renting your own house while you live elsewhere — requires a Basic Business License with a One-Family Rental endorsement, plus RAD registration.
For a single-family rental the DC fee is $159 for the full two-year license, and that is the total — Clean Hands and the first inspection are both free, and no Certificate of Occupancy is required. A two-family is $219; apartment licenses scale from $249 at three units to $599 at ten.
A complete, well-prepared filing typically takes 30 to 60 days. The inspection scheduling window is the main variable. Filings missing Clean Hands, RAD, or the Certificate of Occupancy can stretch to 90+ days.
They are the same document. "DC rental license" is the common term; "Basic Business License (BBL) with a rental endorsement" is the legal term. DC does not issue a separate standalone rental license.
Yes — a Short-Term Rental BBL endorsement is required and is stricter than long-term rental licensing. The unit must be your primary residence and you must be present at least 180 nights per year for unhosted stays. Violations carry significant fines.
Yes. You can hold a BBL as an individual. Most landlords still form an LLC for liability protection, but it is not required to be licensed.
You drop out of lawful operating status the day it expires. Any eviction filed during a lapse will be dismissed, and you can owe rent restitution. DLCP charges reinstatement fees on top of the standard renewal cost.
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