Operating A Short-Term Rental In the District of Columbia

An Update For Short-Term Rental Hosts

The Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) announces that it is extending the application grace period for Short-Term Rental Licenses to June 9, 2022.

In support of the Short-Term Rental Regulation Act of 2018, DCRA began accepting applications for Short-Term Rental Licenses on January 10, 2022. To give short-term rental hosts enough time to get the required documentation and obtain licenses, a 90-day grace period was implemented.

To assist hosts who have not yet obtained their licenses, and to allow them confirm eligibility for the Homestead Deduction or obtain a Certificate of Clean Hands from the DC Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR), DCRA will extend the grace period for an additional 60 days until June 9, 2022.

Things to Know About Short-Term Rental Licensure

Two license types available to those wishing to conduct short-term rentals in the District:

  1. Short-Term Rental License: Allows a host to offer fee-based lodging at their primary residence while the host is present on the property (for example, a bedroom within a home). As long as the host is present, there is no limit on the number of stays allowed during a calendar year; however, each short-term rental stay is limited to 30 or fewer continuous nights.
  2. Short-Term Rental: Vacation Rental License: A “Vacation Rental” is a type of short-term rental that allows a host to offer fee-based lodging at their primary residence without being present on the property (for example, a full home). Cumulatively, vacation rentals cannot exceed 90 nights in any calendar year, and each rental is limited to 30 or fewer continuous nights.

Short-term rentals are limited to a host’s primary residence, which the law defines as a property for which the owner is eligible for the Homestead Tax Deduction. Only natural persons are eligible for short-term rental licenses; business entities such as an LLC or corporation are not eligible.

Cost to License

The total cost for a two-year short-term rental license is $104.50, which includes a $70 processing fee, a $25 endorsement fee, and a 10% technology fee. The overall license cost is in line with or cheaper than other comparable jurisdictions locally and nationally. As an example, the cost of a two-year short-term rental license in San Francisco, California is $450.

Once the extended enforcement grace period ends on June 9, 2022, failure to comply with the District’s short-term rental requirements may result in fines of up to $250 for the first violation, escalating up to $1,000 for a third violation. Violations can be reported to the District of Columbia Short-Term Rental Hotline by calling 202-221-8550.

For further information and a list of Frequently Asked Questions visit dcra.dc.gov/shorttermrentals.