9603.1 The Board shall hold a public hearing to review a proposed moratorium. The public hearing shall be a rulemaking hearing under section 6 of the DC APA and not in the nature of a contested case under section 10 of the DC APA.

9603.2 At the public hearing, any interested person may appear to give oral or written testimony in support of, or in opposition to, the moratorium request.

9603.3 In addition to receiving testimony from the public, the Board shall request formal comments from the following persons or agencies:

(1) The Councilmembers within whose wards the requested moratorium area is located;

(2) The ANCs within whose boundaries the requested moratorium area is located and any other ANC abutting the proposed moratorium area;

(3) The Assistant City Administrator for Economic Development, or their designee;

(4) The Office of Planning, or its successor agency; and

(5) The District Commander of the Metropolitan Police Department in which the requested moratorium zone is located.

9603.4 In deciding on a moratorium request, the Board shall consider the extent to which the testimony and comments show that the requested moratorium is appropriate under at least two (2) of the appropriateness standards set forth in the Act and this title.

9603.5 The Board may grant the moratorium request:

(1) In whole or in part;

(2) By enlarging or decreasing the moratorium area; or

(3) By limiting the moratorium to no more than one class of license.

9603.6 The Board may deny the moratorium request in its entirety.

9603.7 The decision of the Board shall be final and shall be issued in writing, including each member's vote.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 73 DCR 002136 (February 20, 2026).