District of Columbia (DC) lease form

District of Columbia Residential Lease Agreement

The District of Columbia has some of the strongest tenant protections in the United States, and residential lease agreements must satisfy layered disclosure obligations under the Rental Housing Act of 1985 (D.C. Code Title 42, Chapter 35) as well as the DC Tenant Bill of Rights. Housing providers who skip required disclosures or include prohibited clauses risk lease voidability, fines, and liability exposure. Understanding exactly what must and must not appear in a DC lease is essential before any tenancy begins.

Build a compliant District of Columbia lease in minutes

Revun generates a District of Columbia-ready lease with the required disclosures and clauses built in, then handles e-signature, rent, and renewals on the same platform.

Get the District of Columbia lease template District of Columbia landlord-tenant law

Required disclosures

DC Tenant Bill of Rights

Landlords must provide every rental applicant with a copy of the DC Tenant Bill of Rights before a lease is signed, as required by D.C. Code sec. 42-3502.22(b). Failure to deliver this document is a violation of the Rental Housing Act.

RAD Disclosure Form (Housing Provider Disclosures)

Upon receiving a rental application, the housing provider must deliver a Rental Accommodations Division disclosure form covering the unit's current rent, rent-controlled or exempt status, business license, pending rent-increase petitions, any surcharges and their expiration dates, and code violation reports from the prior 12 months.

DCMR Title 14 Housing Regulations Copy

At the start of every new tenancy, the landlord must give the tenant a copy of DC Municipal Regulations Title 14, Chapter 3 (Landlord and Tenant) and Chapter 1 sections 101 and 106 covering civil enforcement policy and tenant notification of code violations.

Lead-Based Paint Disclosure (Pre-1978 Buildings)

Federal law (42 U.S.C. 4852d) requires landlords of properties built before 1978 to disclose known lead-based paint hazards, provide the EPA pamphlet 'Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home,' and include a lead-warning statement in the lease.

Maximum Occupancy Limit

Landlords must advise each tenant in writing, either within the lease or by separate notice, of the maximum number of occupants permitted in the unit under DC housing regulations.

Clauses your lease should include

Rent amount, due date, and late-fee cap: DC law permits late fees only if the maximum dollar amount is expressly stated in the written lease.
Rent-stabilization status: The lease must identify whether the unit is subject to rent control under the Rental Housing Act or qualifies for an exemption, and on what basis.
Term of tenancy: The lease must specify the start date, end date (for fixed-term leases), and the notice period required to terminate a month-to-month tenancy (generally 30 days).
Identity and address of the housing provider or authorized agent, so the tenant has a named party for notices and legal service.
Disclosure of any known housing code violations or pending proceedings that materially affect habitability, ensuring the tenant can make an informed decision before signing.
Pet policy and any associated fees or deposits, stated clearly, because DC courts have voided ambiguous pet-fee provisions as unlawful additional rent without proper notice.
Maintenance responsibilities: The lease should specify which minor repairs are assigned to the tenant, consistent with DCMR Title 14 standards; landlords cannot contractually shift statutory habitability duties.

Clauses to avoid in District of Columbia

Any clause waiving the landlord's duty to maintain the property in habitable condition is void under DC law; the implied warranty of habitability cannot be contractually disclaimed.
A provision requiring tenants to waive their right to a jury trial in landlord-tenant disputes is unenforceable in the District of Columbia.
Clauses permitting the landlord to enter without reasonable advance notice (generally 24 hours) except in a genuine emergency violate DC tenant privacy rights and are unenforceable.
Any lease term that purports to waive or limit a tenant's rights under the Rental Housing Act of 1985 or the DC Tenant Bill of Rights is void as against public policy under D.C. Code sec. 42-3502.18.
Automatic renewal clauses that do not provide the tenant with clear written notice of the renewal mechanism and opt-out period are disfavored and may be unenforceable.
Provisions that impose fees or penalties not expressly authorized by the lease and DC law, such as undisclosed move-in fees characterized as additional rent, are prohibited.

Drafting tips

Deliver all required disclosure documents together at the application stage rather than at lease signing, to avoid last-minute deficiencies that can delay or void the tenancy.
Use the Rental Accommodations Division's official RAD Form 3 for housing provider disclosures to ensure every line item required by DC regulations is covered and defensible.
State the late-fee cap in an exact dollar amount or percentage in the lease body itself, because DC courts have disallowed late fees that were referenced only in a separate addendum.
Retain signed copies of every disclosure document, including the Tenant Bill of Rights acknowledgment, for at least three years as proof of compliance in any future dispute.

General information, not legal advice. Governing statute: Rental Housing Act of 1985, D.C. Code Title 42, Chapter 35; DC Municipal Regulations Title 14 (Housing). Confirm current requirements or consult an attorney before finalizing a lease.

District of Columbia lease FAQ

Common questions

What disclosures are required in a DC residential lease agreement?

DC landlords must provide the Tenant Bill of Rights, the RAD housing-provider disclosure form (covering rent, rent-control status, code violations, and surcharges), a copy of DCMR Title 14 housing regulations, and for pre-1978 buildings a federal lead-paint disclosure and EPA pamphlet.

Is a written lease required in Washington DC?

DC law does not flatly require every tenancy to be in writing, but a written lease is the only way landlords can lawfully charge late fees, enforce specific terms, and properly comply with all required disclosure obligations, making a written agreement effectively essential.

What lease clauses are illegal in the District of Columbia?

Clauses waiving the implied warranty of habitability, waiving jury trial rights, permitting entry without notice, or attempting to override rights granted by the Rental Housing Act are void and unenforceable under DC law.

Does a DC landlord have to attach the Tenant Bill of Rights to the lease?

Yes, the housing provider must give every rental applicant a copy of the DC Tenant Bill of Rights as part of the pre-lease disclosure package required by D.C. Code sec. 42-3502.22(b), and tenants may request updated copies annually.

All state lease forms

District of Columbia Residential Lease Agreement