7004.1 [RESERVED]

7004.2 DCHA requires a resident to pay a pet deposit for each pet which will be placed in an account of the type required under applicable District law for pet deposits, or if there are no such requirements, for rental security deposits, if applicable. DCHA will comply with such laws as to retention of the deposit, interest, and return of the deposit to the resident, and any other applicable requirements.

7004.3 The following apply to Pet Deposits:

1. (a) Pet owners are required to pay a pet deposit in addition to any other required deposits;
2. (b) The amount of the deposit is the lower of fifteen percent (15%) of the unit's flat rent (regardless of whether the resident is paying income-based or flat rent) or one hundred dollars ($100) in addition to any other required deposits;
3. (c) The pet deposit must be paid in full before the pet is brought on the premises; and
4. (d) The pet deposit is not part of rent payable by the resident.

7004.4 [RESERVED]

7004.5 The following is DCHA's deposit return policy:

1. (a) DCHA shall refund the pet deposit to the resident, less the costs of any damages caused by the pet to the dwelling unit, within forty-five (45) days of move-out or removal of the pet from the unit in accordance with Title 14 DCMR, § 309.1;
2. (b) The resident is billed for any amount that exceeds the pet deposit; and
3. (c) DCHA shall provide the resident with a written list of any charges against the pet deposit within forty-five (45) days of the move-out inspection. If the resident disagrees with the amount charged to the pet deposit, DCHA shall provide a meeting to discuss the charges.

7004.6 [RESERVED]

7004.7 The following is the DCHA policy on charges to the resident as a result of

damages caused by pets:

(a) All reasonable expenses incurred by DCHA as a result of damages directly attributable to the presence of the pet in the unit or development is the responsibility of the resident, including:

(1) The cost of repairs and replacements to the resident's dwelling unit;

(2) Fumigation of the dwelling unit; and

(3) Repairs to common areas of the project.

(b) The expense of flea elimination shall also be the responsibility of the resident;

(c) If the resident is in occupancy when such costs occur, the resident shall be billed for such costs in accordance with the policies in §§ 6701.29-6701.33. Pet deposits are not applied to the costs of pet-related damages during occupancy; and

(d) Charges for pet-related damage are not part of rent payable by the resident.

7004.8 DCHA's Policy on Rule Violation Fines:

(a) A separate pet waste removal charge of ten dollars ($10.00) per occurrence is assessed against pet owners who fail to remove pet waste in accordance with this policy;

(b) Notices of pet waste removal charges will be in accordance with requirements regarding notices of adverse action;

(c) Pet waste removal charges are due and payable fourteen (14) calendar days after billing; and

(d) Charges for pet waste removal are not part of rent payable by the resident.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 73 DCR 007351 (May 15, 2026).