*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)

   1. (1) The Department shall, by electronic mail or other methods of communication, send notice of impending license expiration, an application for renewal, and a statement of the applicable renewal fee to each licensee no later than 60 days prior to the expiration date to the mailing address or electronic mail address shown on the Department's records for the licensee.
   2. (2) It shall be the responsibility of the licensee to update the address information maintained by the Department.

2. (b)

   1. (1)

      1. (A) A license that has not been revoked, suspended, or voluntarily relinquished and that has not been renewed by its expiration date shall be deemed to be lapsed.
      2. (B) A licensee may apply for renewal of the license at any time within 30 days after the lapsing of the license, and the license shall be reinstated upon the payment of a penalty of $75 plus other applicable fees or penalties provided by law.

   2. (2)

      1. (A) A license that is lapsed for more than 30 days shall be deemed to be expired.
      2. (B) A licensee whose license is lapsed for more than 30 days, but less than 6 months, may apply for renewal of the license, and the license shall be reinstated upon the payment of a penalty of $150, plus all other applicable fees and penalties provided by law.

   3. (3)

      1. (A) A license that is lapsed for more than 6 months shall be deemed to be expired.
      2. (B) A licensee whose license is lapsed for more than 6 month[s] may apply for renewal of the license, and the license shall be reinstated upon payment of a penalty of $350, plus other applicable fees and penalties provided by law, and the completion of any reinstatement requirements considered necessary by the Department.
   4. (4) To encourage a licensee to come into compliance with the District's business licensing laws, the Department may, in accordance with rules issued by the Director, waive the late fee and penalty for reinstating a lapsed license or an expired license.
3. (c) The Department may, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2, issue rules to implement the provisions of this section.

History

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

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

Mar. 3, 2010, D.C. Law 18-111, § 2041(b), 57 DCR 181

Apr. 23, 2013, D.C. Law 19-277, § 2(b), 60 DCR 2117

Mar. 22, 2023, D.C. Law 24-333, § 5(c)(16)

Dec. 6, 2025, D.C. Law 26-55, § 2163(b)

Dec. 31, 2025, D.C. Law 26-78, § 3(d)

Short Title

Short title: Section 2040 of D.C. Law 18-111 provided that subtitle E of title II of the act may be cited as the “Business Licensing Processing Adjustment Act of 2009”.

Emergency Legislation

For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2041(b) of Fiscal Year Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-260, January 4, 2010, 57 DCR 345).

For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2041(b) of Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Support Second Emergency Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-207, October 15, 2009, 56 DCR 8234).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2163(b) of Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2025 (D.C. Act 26-146, Sept. 3, 2025, 72 DCR 9623).

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

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2163(b) of Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2025 (D.C. Act 26-210, Nov. 24, 2025, 72 DCR 13514).

Effect of Amendments

The 2013 amendment by D.C. Law 19-277 substituted “60 days” for “30 days” in (a).

D.C. Law 18-111 rewrote subsecs. (a), (b) and (c).

Prior Codifications

1981 Ed., § 47-2851.10.

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)(16) 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)(16) 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)(16) 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(d) of D.C. Law 26-78 shall apply as of October 1, 2025.

Temporary Legislation

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