District of Columbia Residential Lease Agreement
Create a residential lease built for District of Columbia, including the disclosures the state requires. Fixed-term or month-to-month, free PDF download, no signup.
Verified against District of Columbia statute · 2026-06-11
District of Columbia lease rules at a glance
- Security deposit limit
- 1 month's rent (DC Code §42-3502.17).
- Deposit return window
- Within 45 days the landlord must return the deposit or give written notice of intent to withhold; an itemized statement of the actual repair costs is then due within 30 days of that notice (DC Code §42-3502.17).
- Notice (month-to-month)
- Tenant: 30 days. The District uses a strict just-cause framework — a landlord cannot issue a no-cause non-renewal of a periodic tenancy.
- Rent control
- Rent stabilization under the Rental Housing Act of 1985 applies to older multi-unit properties (generally pre-1976 buildings with non-exempt landlords; small landlords owning 4 or fewer units may be exempt). The maximum annual increase is recalculated each year on a CPI-W formula, with lower caps for elderly and disabled tenants — confirm a unit's coverage and the current allowable increase with the DC Rental Accommodations Division (RAD).
Required disclosures in District of Columbia
- Lead-based paint disclosure (federal law — required for any housing built before 1978).
- The security deposit must be held in an interest-bearing escrow account at a financial institution in the District, with written disclosure of the institution's name and address within 30 days of receiving the deposit (14 DCMR 308–311).
District of Columbia required disclosures
- Lead-based paint disclosure (federal law — required for any housing built before 1978).
- The security deposit must be held in an interest-bearing escrow account at a financial institution in the District, with written disclosure of the institution's name and address within 30 days of receiving the deposit (14 DCMR 308–311).
Output language
Starting template, not legal advice. Lease law varies by state and changes — have an attorney review before you sign.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What disclosures are required in a District of Columbia lease?
- Lead-based paint disclosure (federal law — required for any housing built before 1978). The security deposit must be held in an interest-bearing escrow account at a financial institution in the District, with written disclosure of the institution's name and address within 30 days of receiving the deposit (14 DCMR 308–311). Confirm current requirements with District of Columbia's landlord-tenant law.
- How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in District of Columbia?
- 1 month's rent (DC Code §42-3502.17). The deposit must be returned within: Within 45 days the landlord must return the deposit or give written notice of intent to withhold; an itemized statement of the actual repair costs is then due within 30 days of that notice (DC Code §42-3502.17).
- How much notice to end a month-to-month lease in District of Columbia?
- Tenant: 30 days. The District uses a strict just-cause framework — a landlord cannot issue a no-cause non-renewal of a periodic tenancy.
Lease agreement for another state
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This template is a starting point for residential leases in District of Columbia, USA. It is not legal advice. Lease law varies by state and changes — confirm requirements with District of Columbia and have an attorney review it before signing.