Washington, District of Columbia Short Term Rental Laws

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Washington, DC Short Term Rental Law Summary

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  • The Short-Term Rental Regulation Act of 2018 governs the licensure of short-term and vacation rentals in Washington, DC.
  • Short-term rentals allow hosts to offer fee-based lodging at their primary residence while they are present on the property.
  • Vacation rentals allow hosts to offer fee-based lodging at their primary residence without being present on the property.
  • Short-term rentals have no limit on the number of stays allowed during a calendar year, but each stay is limited to 30 or fewer continuous nights.
  • Vacation rentals cannot exceed 90 nights in any calendar year, and each rental is limited to 30 or fewer continuous nights.
  • To confirm the existence of a license, use the SCOUT online database or contact the Short-Term Rental Hotline.
  • Property owners must have a Short-Term or Vacation Rental License to operate a short-term or vacation rental.
  • Requirements for applying for a license include proof of liability insurance, a Certificate of Clean Hands, and compliance with homeowner/condo/cooperative association rules.
  • Short-term rentals are allowed in any neighborhood or zone as long as the host has a valid license.
  • Guests are allowed to park on public streets and must observe residential parking restrictions.
  • The total cost for a license is $104.50 for a two-year license.
  • Hosts must provide a 24-hour accessible phone number for emergencies and post the license inside the property.
  • Transient lodging taxes must be paid, and records of each booking must be maintained for two years.
  • Investment properties and corporate-owned properties are not eligible for licenses.
  • Short-term rentals require a Short-Term Rental License, while vacation rentals require a Vacation Rental License.
  • There is a limit of eight guests or two guests per bedroom in a short-term rental.
  • Only natural persons can be hosts, and business entities are prohibited from operating short-term or vacation rentals.
  • Short-term rentals do not require a housing inspection before obtaining a license.
  • Short-term and vacation rentals are allowed in condominium buildings if the host's primary residence and association rules allow it.
  • The status of a license can be confirmed using the SCOUT online platform.
  • Hosts can hold both a Short-Term Rental License and a Bed and Breakfast License, but it is not recommended.
  • Property owners should be aware of specific provisions in the District tax code for rental properties.
  • If a booking is made for a property that is not eligible for a license, the booking must be canceled to avoid enforcement action.
  • Complaints regarding short-term and vacation rentals can be made to the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection.
Tracking Washington, DC short term rental laws in the following zipcodes: 20250, 20010, 20011, 20012, 20015, 20520, 20064, 20418, 20415, 20388, 20319, 20020, 20024, 20510, 20515, 20591, 20427, 20422, 20542, 20540, 20240, 20245, 20390, 20005, 20004, 20003, 20002, 20001, 20009, 20008, 20016, 20317, 20059, 20057, 20052, 20017, 20018, 20565, 20566, 20560, 20220, 20551, 20019, 20230, 20373, 20260, 20007, 20006, 20032, 20036, 20037, 20204, 20431, 20045, 20408, 20535, 20530, 20013, 20022, 20026, 20027, 20029, 20030, 20033, 20035, 20038, 20039, 20040, 20042, 20043, 20044, 20047, 20049, 20050, 20053, 20055, 20056, 20058, 20060, 20061, 20062, 20063, 20065, 20066, 20067, 20068, 20069, 20070, 20071, 20073, 20074, 20075, 20076, 20077, 20078, 20080, 20081, 20082, 20090, 20091, 20201, 20202, 20203, 20206, 20207, 20208, 20210, 20211, 20212, 20213, 20214, 20215, 20216, 20217, 20218, 20219, 20221, 20222, 20223, 20224, 20226, 20227, 20228, 20229, 20232, 20233, 20235, 20237, 20238, 20239, 20241, 20242, 20244, 20251, 20252, 20254, 20261, 20262, 20265, 20266, 20268, 20270, 20277, 20289, 20299, 20301, 20303, 20306, 20310, 20314, 20318, 20330, 20340, 20350, 20355, 20370, 20372, 20374, 20375, 20376, 20380, 20389, 20391, 20392, 20393, 20394, 20395, 20398, 20401, 20402, 20403, 20404, 20405, 20406, 20407, 20410, 20411, 20412, 20413, 20414, 20416, 20417, 20419, 20420, 20421, 20423, 20424, 20425, 20426, 20428, 20429, 20433, 20434, 20435, 20436, 20437, 20439, 20440, 20441, 20442, 20444, 20447, 20451, 20453, 20456, 20460, 20463, 20468, 20469, 20470, 20472, 20500, 20501, 20502, 20503, 20504, 20505, 20506, 20507, 20508, 20509, 20511, 20521, 20522, 20523, 20524, 20525, 20526, 20527, 20528, 20529, 20531, 20533, 20534, 20536, 20537, 20538, 20539, 20541, 20543, 20544, 20546, 20547, 20548, 20549, 20552, 20553, 20554, 20555, 20557, 20559, 20570, 20571, 20572, 20573, 20575, 20576, 20577, 20578, 20579, 20580, 20581, 20585, 20586, 20590, 20593, 20594, 20597, 20599, 56901, 56902, 56904, 56908, 56915, 56920, 56933, 56935, 56944, 56945, 56950, 56965, 56967, 56972, 56998, 56999

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