*NOTE: This section includes amendments by temporary legislation that will expire on October 17, 2026. To view the text of this section after the expiration of all emergency and temporary legislation, click this link: Past Permanent Version.*

1. (a) The Department shall create a block party application and make it available for in-person pickup and online.

2. (b)

   1. (1) Any District resident who is 21 years of age or older may submit a block party application requesting that a street on which they reside be closed for the purpose of holding a block party.

   2. (2) The block party application shall, at a minimum:

      1. (A) Be completed on the form provided by the Department;
      2. (B) Identify the street name and cross streets of the block to be closed;
      3. (C) The date and time of the closure; and

      4. (D) Include either:

         1. (i) A list of at least 51% of the residents, owners, or businesses abutting the section of the street requested to be closed who have consented to the block party, excluding any property that has been identified as a vacant building, as that term is defined in § 42-3131.05(5); or
         2. (ii) Approval from all of the Advisory Neighborhood Commissions abutting the section of the street requested to be closed, in a manner to be determined by the Advisory Neighborhood Commission.
3. (b-1) A District resident may submit a block party application requesting that a street on which they reside be closed for the purpose of holding a porchfest.

4. (c)

   1. (1) A street closure conducted pursuant to a block party permit shall:

      1. (A) Not last longer than 12 hours; and
      2. (B) End by 10:00 p.m.
   2. (2) The Department may publish guidance on its website or issue rules limiting the physical length of block parties conducted pursuant to a block part permit.

History

Oct. 23, 2012, D.C. Law 19-190, § 3, 59 DCR 10163

Mar. 21, 2025, D.C. Law 25-312, § 4(b)

Mar. 6, 2026, D.C. Law 26-99, § 2(b)

Applicability

Applicability of D.C. Law 25-312: § 7 of D.C. Law 25-312 provided that the amendment to this section by § 4(b) of D.C. Law 25-312 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 7195 of D.C. Act 26-146 amended Section 7 of D.C. Law 25-312, thus removing the applicability limitation. Therefore the amendments to this section by §4(b) of D.C. Law 25-312 have been implemented.

Section 7195 of D.C. Act 26-210 amended Section 7 of D.C. Law 25-312, thus removing the applicability limitation. Therefore the amendments to this section by §4(b) of D.C. Law 25-312 have been implemented.

Section 7195 of D.C. Law 26-55 amended Section 7 of D.C. Law 25-312, thus removing the applicability limitation. Therefore the amendments to this section by §4(b) of D.C. Law 25-312 have been implemented.

Emergency Legislation

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 7195(a) 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 § 7195(a) of Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2025 (D.C. Act 26-210, Nov. 24, 2025, 72 DCR 13514).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(b) of Porchfest Permitting Emergency Amendment Act of 2025 (D.C. Act 26-236, Dec. 30, 2025, 73 DCR 66).

Temporary Legislation

For temporary (225 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(b) of Porchfest Permitting Temporary Amendment Act of 2025 (D.C. Law 26-99, Mar. 6, 2026, 73 DCR 448).