*NOTE: This section includes amendments by temporary legislation that will expire on August 13, 2026. To view the text of this section after the expiration of all emergency and temporary legislation affecting this section, click this link: Permanent Version.*

1. (a) A person applying for an initial basic business license shall pay a license fee of:

   1. (1) $49 for a 6-month license;
   2. (2) $99 for a 2-year license; and
   3. (3) $198 for a 4-year license.

2. (b) For the renewal of:

   1. (1) An initial 6-month license, a person shall pay a license fee of $49 for a second 6-month license; provided, that only one $49 renewal of a 6-month license shall be permitted; thereafter, the person shall pay a renewal license fee according to paragraph (2) of this subsection;
   2. (2) A 2-year license, a person shall pay a license fee of $99; and
   3. (3) A 4-year license, a person shall pay a license fee of $198.

3. (c)

   1. (1) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of this section, a business with expected or actual gross annual revenue of between $2,000 and $10,000 shall be exempt from the payment of basic business licensing fees.

   2. (2)

      1. (A) When applying for an initial basic business license or when applying to renew a basic business license, a person claiming an exemption pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection shall submit a statement certifying that the annual gross revenue for the person's business will not or does not exceed $10,000 ("self-certification statement").
      2. (B) The self-certification statement submitted pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall be submitted on a form published by the Department. The form shall include a space for the person to enter his or her expected annual gross revenue for the next year or the gross annual revenue for the previous year.
   3. (3) If circumstances change such that the business no longer qualifies for the exemptions provided by this subsection after the submission of a self-certification statement, the person who submitted the self-certification statement shall inform the Department within 30 days of the change of circumstances.

   4. (4) An applicant who knowingly makes a false statement in a self-certification statement or who knowingly fails to inform the Department that a business no longer qualifies for the exemption shall be:

      1. (A) Guilty of a Class 1 civil infraction and subject to fines pursuant to section 3201 of Title 16 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations; and
      2. (B) Barred from receiving a basic business license for 5 years.

4. (d)

   1. (1) A person applying for a temporary special event license pursuant to § 47-2851.03(b) shall pay a license fee of $158 per day.
   2. (2) The Mayor may adjust the license fee set forth in paragraph (1) of this subsection to cover the costs to the District of providing police, fire, and other public services that are necessary to protect public health and safety.
5. (e) The Department may revise the fees established in this section through the promulgation of rules pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2.
6. (f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to supersede the zoning regulations.

7. (g)

   1. (1) The Department shall not charge a license fee to a charity.
   2. (2) The Department may accept an affidavit of religious exemption in lieu of a certificate of registration.

History

Apr. 29, 1998, D.C. Law 12-86, § 101(b), 45 DCR 1172

Apr. 20, 1999, D.C. Law 12-261, § 2002(b), 46 DCR 3142

Oct. 28, 2003, D.C. Law 15-38, § 2(f), 50 DCR 6913

Sept. 24, 2010, D.C. Law 18-223, §§ 2030, 2054, 57 DCR 6242

Mar. 22, 2023, D.C. Law 24-333, § 5(c)(10)

Dec. 31, 2025, D.C. Law 26-78, § 3(b)

Emergency Legislation

For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see §§ 2030, 2054 of Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2010 (D.C. Act 18-463, July 2, 2010, 57 DCR 6542).

For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 210 of Fiscal Year 2010 Balanced Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2010 (D.C. Act 18-531, August 6, 2010, 57 DCR 8109).

For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 210 of Fiscal Year 2010 Balanced Budget Support Emergency Act of 2010 (D.C. Act 18-450, June 28, 2010, 57 DCR 5635).

For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(f) of Streamlining Regulation Emergency Act of 2003 (D.C. Act 15-145, August 11, 2003, 50 DCR 6896).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 3(b) of Revised Business Licensing Reform Emergency Amendment Act of 2025 (D.C. Act 26-165, Oct. 23, 2025, 0 DCR 0).

Temporary Legislation

Section 2002(b) of D.C. Law 18-222 provided that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.

“(B) The Director, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2, may revise such fees as are established by this subchapter. The proposed rules issued pursuant to this subparagraph shall be submitted to the Council for a 90-day period of review, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, legal holidays, and days of Council recess. If the Council does not approve or disapprove the proposed rules, in whole or in part, by resolution within this 90-day review period, the proposed rules shall be deemed disapproved.”.

Section 210 of D.C. Law 18-222, in subsec. (c)(1), designated the existing text as subpar. (A) and added subpar. (B) to read as follows:

For temporary (225 days) amendment of this section, see § 3(b) of Revised Business Licensing Reform Temporary Amendment Act of 2025 (D.C. Law 26-78, Dec. 31, 2025, 72 DCR 12889).

Effect of Amendments

D.C. Law 18-223, in subsec. (a), added the second sentence; and, in subsec. (c)(1), designated the existing text as subpar. (A) and added subpar. (B).

D.C. Law 15-38, in subsec. (a), substituted “basic” for “master”.

Prior Codifications

1981 Ed., § 47-2851.4.

Applicability

Applicability of D.C. Law 24-333: § 9 of D.C. Law 24-333 provided that the change made to this section by § 5(c)(10) of D.C. Law 24-333 is subject to the inclusion of the law’s fiscal effect in an approved budget and financial plan. Therefore that amendment has not been implemented.

Section 7286 of D.C. Law 25-217 provided that the amendments made to this section by Section 5(c)(2) of D.C. Law 24-333 shall apply as of October 1, 2025. Therefore those amendments have been implemented.

Section 7286 of D.C. Law 25-217 amended section 9 of D.C. Law 24-333 making the amendment of this section by section 5(c)(10) of D.C. Law 24-333 applicable as of October 1, 2025.

Section 4 of D.C. Law 26-78 provided that the amendments made to this section by section 3(b) of D.C. Law 26-78 shall apply as of October 1, 2025.