1. (a) When a person detains possession of real property without right, or after his right to possession has ceased, the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, on complaint under oath verified by the person aggrieved by the detention, or by his agent or attorney having knowledge of the facts, may issue a summons in English and Spanish to the party complained of to appear and show cause why judgment should not be given against him for the restitution of possession.
2. (b) A person aggrieved shall not file a complaint seeking restitution of possession pursuant to this section for nonpayment of rent in an amount less than $600. Nothing in this subsection shall prevent the person aggrieved from filing a complaint to recover the amount owed.

3. (c)

   1. (1) A person aggrieved shall not file a complaint seeking restitution of possession pursuant to this section without a valid rental registration or claim of exemption pursuant to § 42-3502.05, and a current license for rental housing issued pursuant to § 47-2828(c)(1), as certified at the time of filing and documented at the initial hearing.
   2. (2) The Court may waive the requirements for a current license for rental housing in this subsection if the person aggrieved can demonstrate that they were unable to obtain or renew a current rental housing license due to extenuating circumstances, including a medical emergency, agency delay, or a circumstance in which a tenant or occupant denies permission for a required pre-license inspection or required repairs.
   3. (3) The requirements of this subsection shall not apply to complaints involving subtenants.
4. (d) At the initial hearing for any complaint for possession, if the complaint does not allege sufficient facts or the person aggrieved has not produced sufficient documentation to meet all requirements under District law, the Court may, in its discretion when weighing the prejudice to all parties, dismiss the complaint or provide leave for the complainant to correct any deficiencies.
5. (e) Subsections (b) and (c) of this section shall not apply to complaints involving commercial tenants.

History

Dec. 23, 1963, 77 Stat. 581, Pub. L. 88-241, § 1

July 29, 1970, 84 Stat. 560, Pub. L. 91-358, title I, § 145(g)(1)

June 29, 1984, D.C. Law 5-90,§ 2(a), 31 DCR 2537

May 18, 2022, D.C. Law 24-115, § 2(a)

Dec. 31, 2025, D.C. Law 26-80, § 201(b)

Prior Codifications

1973 Ed., § 16-1501.

1981 Ed., § 16-1501.

Section References

This section is referenced in § 15-318, § 16-1502, and § 42-3602.

Cross References

Sufferance estates, see § 42-520.

Remedies of purchaser upon refusal to deliver possession, see § 15-318.

Forcible entry and detainer, see § 22-3301.

Ejectment actions, see § 42-3210.

Emergency Legislation

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 404(a)(1) of Coronavirus Support Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 (D.C. Act 23-326, May 27, 2020, 67 DCR 7045).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 404(a)(1) of Coronavirus Support Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 (D.C. Act 23-328, June 8, 2020, 67 DCR 7598).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 404(a)(1) of Coronavirus Support Second Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 (D.C. Act 23-405, Aug. 19, 2020, 67 DCR 10235).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 3 of Fairness in Renting Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 (D.C. Act 23-497, Nov. 10, 2020, 67 DCR 13949).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 3 of Fairness in Renting Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2021 (D.C. Act 24-3, Jan. 25, 2021, 68 DCR 001529).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 404(a)(1) of Coronavirus Support Emergency Amendment Act of 2021 (D.C. Act 24-30, Mar. 17, 2021, 68 DCR 003101).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(a)(1) of Eviction Moratorium Public Safety Exception Emergency Amendment Act of 2021 (D.C. Act 24-67, May 3, 2021, 68 DCR 004907).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 404(a)(1) of Coronavirus Support Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2021 (D.C. Act 24-96, June 7, 2021, 68 DCR 006025).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 3(t) of Public Emergency Extension and Eviction and Utility Moratorium Phasing Emergency Amendment Act of 2021 (D.C. Act 24-125, July 24, 2021, 68 DCR 007342).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 5(a)(1) of Public Emergency Extension and Eviction and Utility Moratorium Phasing Emergency Amendment Act of 2021 (D.C. Act 24-125, July 24, 2021, 68 DCR 007342).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 3 of Fairness in Renting Emergency Amendment Act of 2021 (D.C. Act 24-186, Oct. 25, 2021, 68 DCR 011333).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 3(a)(1) of Tenant Safe Harbor Emergency Amendment Act of 2021 (D.C. Act 24-231, Dec. 13, 2021, 68 DCR 013238).

Temporary Legislation

For temporary (225 days) amendment of this section, see § 404(a)(1) of Coronavirus Support Temporary Amendment Act of 2020 (D.C. Law 23-130, Oct. 9, 2020, 67 DCR 8622).

For temporary (225 days) amendment of this section, see § 3 of Fairness in Renting Temporary Amendment Act of 2021 (D.C. Law 23-255, Mar. 16, 2021, 67 DCR 13959).

For temporary (225 days) amendment of this section, see § 404(a)(1) of Coronavirus Support Temporary Amendment Act of 2021 (D.C. Law 24-9, June 24, 2021, 68 DCR 004824).

For temporary (225 days) amendment of this section, see § 3(t) of Public Emergency Extension and Eviction and Utility Moratorium Phasing Temporary Amendment Act of 2021 (D.C. Law 24-39, Oct. 27, 2021, 68 DCR 009487).

For temporary (225 days) amendment of this section, see § 5(a)(1) of Public Emergency Extension and Eviction and Utility Moratorium Phasing Temporary Amendment Act of 2021 (D.C. Law 24-39, Oct. 27, 2021, 68 DCR 009487).

For temporary (225 days) amendment of this section, see § 3(a)(1) of Tenant Safe Harbor Temporary Amendment Act of 2021 (D.C. Law 24-75, Feb. 24, 2022, 69 DCR 000190).