Washington, D.C. security deposit law

The District's housing regulations limit a security deposit to one month's rent, counting all deposits together, and allow it to be collected only once. The D.C. Code says deposits are collected under the Security Deposit Act and those regulations. The regulations are published only as Word files and were not reread for this page.

14 DCMR 308 D.C. Code § 42-3502.17(a)

• A landlord may not demand a deposit from a tenant who has lived in the unit since July 17, 1985 without ever having paid one, except for newly built units and some exempt units. D.C. Code § 42-3502.17(a)
• A separate pet deposit was added to the Code in 2025 but is marked not funded, so it has not taken effect. D.C. Code § 42-3502.17(d) D.C. Law 25-308
• When a prospective tenant applies, you must disclose the amount of any initial security deposit, the interest rate on it and how it is returned. D.C. Code § 42-3502.22(b)(1)(H) See Required disclosures on the Washington, D.C. page

When the tenancy ends, ask the tenant for a forwarding mailing or email address. Within 45 days after the tenancy ends, you must send the tenant written notice of any unpaid amounts you claim, with photographs or other documentation, a statement of the tenant's right to dispute them, and your contact information. The housing regulations also set the refund itself: return the deposit with interest within 45 days, or give written notice of the intent to withhold, then refund any balance with an itemized statement within 30 days after that notice.

D.C. Code § 42-3502.17(e) 14 DCMR 309

• Send the notice in person, by email or by certified mail to the forwarding address. It may claim unpaid rent, damage beyond ordinary wear and tear, and the cost of removing items the tenant left behind. D.C. Code § 42-3502.17(e)(2)
• The tenant has 30 calendar days after the notice is served to dispute the amounts, and you must answer in writing within 10 days after receiving the tenant's information. D.C. Code § 42-3502.17(e)(3)
• Keep proof that the notice was served for at least 60 days before you send any unpaid amount to a debt collector. D.C. Code § 42-3502.17(e)(4)
• You may not keep any of the deposit to replace items damaged by ordinary wear and tear, meaning deterioration from intended use, age or worn condition. Damage from negligence, carelessness, accident or abuse by the tenant, family or guests is not ordinary wear and tear. D.C. Code § 42-3502.17(c)
• Unpaid late fees that were lawfully imposed and invoiced may be taken from the deposit at the end of the tenancy. D.C. Code § 42-3505.31(d) See Rent and late fees on the Washington, D.C. page
• Under the regulations, a deposit withheld in bad faith can cost treble damages; the regulation text was not reread for this page. 14 DCMR 309

Under the housing regulations, keep the deposit in an interest bearing escrow account, in trust, in a financial institution in the District that is insured by a federal or state agency, and pay the tenant interest at not less than the statement savings rate in effect each January 1 and July 1. The regulations are published only as Word files and were not reread for this page.

14 DCMR 308 14 DCMR 311

• At application, disclose the interest rate on the deposit and how it will be returned. D.C. Code § 42-3502.22(b)(1)(H)
• Complaints about a deposit that was not returned, or interest that was not paid, can be heard by the Office of Administrative Hearings. D.C. Code § 42-3502.17(b)

No move-in checklist rule appears in the D.C. Code sections read for this page. The housing regulation on inspecting the unit for the deposit is published only as a Word file and was not read.

14 DCMR 310

• Photographs or other documentation are required to support any amount you later claim from the tenant, so a dated move-in record helps. D.C. Code § 42-3502.17(e)(2)(B) See Returning the deposit on the Washington, D.C. page