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Washington, DC lead rules for landlords

Short answer: For every DC rental built before 1978, give the tenant the DC Lead Disclosure Form before the lease is signed (on top of the federal disclosure) and DC’s tenant lead-rights form at signing, renewal and with rent-increase notices. When a child under 6 or a pregnant person will live in or regularly visit the unit, you also need a clearance report issued within the past 12 months, given before signing, or within 30 days after a current tenant tells you in writing. Penalties reach $25,000 per day.

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Who it covers

Every rental unit built before 1978 needs the DC lead disclosure form before the lease is signed. A clearance report issued within the past 12 months is also required when a child under 6 or a pregnant person will live in or regularly visit the unit.

How long it lasts

Clearance report: must be under 12 months old when you hand it over. Lead-free unit report: no expiry.

What it costs

No DC fee found. Clearance exams are paid to a DC-certified risk assessor, inspector or dust sampling technician.

If you don’t comply

Civil penalty up to $25,000 per day for each offense (D.C. Code § 8-231.15), or civil infraction fines instead. Knowing or willful violations can bring a criminal fine up to $25,000 per day, up to one year in jail, or both (§ 8-231.16).

What you need and when

What you need	When	Cost
Lead clearance report (when a child under 6 or pregnant person will live or visit) Must be issued within the previous 12 months and given to the tenant before the lease is signed, if a person at risk (child under 6 or pregnant person) will occupy or regularly visit the unit. If a current tenant notifies you in writing that such a person lives in or regularly visits the unit, you have 30 days to provide a clearance report issued within the past 12 months.	at each new tenant, if the last one is more than 1 years old; only when: a child under 6 or a pregnant person lives in or regularly visits	Paid to a private DC-certified risk assessor, inspector or dust sampling technician; no DC fee found
DC Lead Disclosure Form Required for every pre-1978 lease, on DOEE's form, before the tenant is bound by the lease. Lists known lead paint, lead hazards and any pending DC lead orders. Use it in addition to the federal disclosure.	before each new tenant moves in	-
Tenant lead-rights notice Give tenants DC's lead-rights form whenever they sign or renew a lease and with every notice of a rent increase.	before each new tenant moves in	-

Not covered

Built in 1978 or later
Clearance report not needed if a risk assessor or inspector has certified the unit lead-free
Clearance report not needed if the owner has three clearance reports at least 12 months apart within the past 7 years and no housing code violations in the past 5 years (or still open)
Hotel/motel or transient units (unless a child under 6 or pregnant person stays more than 30 days), elderly- or disability-only housing (unless a person at risk lives or visits), and units awaiting demolition are not 'dwelling units' under the law

Certificate types

Clearance report: A DC-certified risk assessor, lead-based paint inspector or dust sampling technician found the unit free of lead-based paint hazards (deteriorated paint, lead dust, lead soil). must be issued within the previous 12 months when given to the tenant
Lead-free unit report: A risk assessor or inspector certified that the unit's interior and exterior surfaces have no lead-based paint. no expiry; replaces the clearance requirement

How to get inspected

A DC-certified risk assessor, lead-based paint inspector or dust sampling technician

What to give tenants

DC Lead Disclosure Form for rentals, before the lease is signed (all pre-1978 units).
A clearance report issued within 12 months, when a child under 6 or pregnant person will live in or regularly visit the unit.
DC tenant lead-rights form at every lease signing or renewal and with every rent-increase notice.
If you find lead paint, tell tenants within 10 days and give them the federal Lead Warning Statement and lead pamphlet.

The federal lead disclosure rule applies on top of this for nearly every rental built before 1978. What it requires.

Where sources disagree: The task brief said a clearance is needed before every new tenancy (within 30 days?). Under § 8-231.04, a clearance report at lease signing is required only when a child under 6 or pregnant person will live in or regularly visit the unit. The 30-day deadline applies when a current tenant notifies the owner in writing. No 2022–2024 amendment to § 8-231.04 was found; the section was last rewritten by D.C. Law 18-348 (2011). code.dccouncil.gov

Keep every certificate on time

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Questions landlords ask

Do DC landlords need a lead clearance report for every new tenant?

Only when a child under 6 or a pregnant person will live in or regularly visit a pre-1978 unit. Then the clearance report must be less than 12 months old and given before the lease is signed.

What is the DC lead disclosure form?

A DOEE form every landlord of a pre-1978 unit must give before the lease is signed. It lists known lead paint, lead hazards and any pending District lead orders, on top of the federal disclosure.

How fast must a DC landlord give a clearance report after a tenant asks?

Within 30 days after a tenant notifies the owner in writing that a child under 6 or pregnant person lives in or regularly visits the unit.

Can I skip the DC clearance report?

Yes, if the unit is certified lead-free, or if you have three clearance reports at least 12 months apart within the past 7 years and no recent housing code violations.

What are the penalties for violating DC's lead law?

Civil penalties up to $25,000 per day per offense. Knowing violations can also bring criminal fines and up to a year in jail.

Last checked November 6, 2026. Law: Lead-Hazard Prevention and Elimination Act of 2008 (D.C. Law 17-381), as amended by D.C. Law 18-348 (effective March 31, 2011); D.C. Code § 8-231.01 et seq. (disclosure and clearance: § 8-231.04). Agency: DC Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE), Lead-Safe and Healthy Housing Division.

This page sums up published rules as of November 6, 2026. It is not legal advice, and myleadsafe is not a government site. Rules and fees change, and local offices add their own steps, so confirm with the city before you rely on a date or a fee.

Sources (6)

D.C. Code § 8-231.04 Disclosure and risk reduction requirements · disclosure form, 12-month clearance when person at risk, 30-day clearance on notice, exemptions, tenant rights notice, 10-day notice after finding lead paint, last amended 2011
D.C. Code § 8-231.01 Definitions · clearance report and dust sampling technician definitions, dwelling unit exclusions
D.C. Code § 8-231.15 Civil penalties · $25,000/day civil penalty
D.C. Code § 8-231.16 Criminal penalties · $25,000/day fine and up to 1 year for knowing violations
DOEE: Lead Related Regulatory and Legislative Affairs · summary of the Act, person at risk = child under 6 or pregnant woman, pre-1978 presumption, turnover rules
DOEE Lead Disclosure Form for DC Rental Properties (2020) · current disclosure form