DCRA inspects buildings to make sure they are legal and safe. The agency's job is to keep all DC residents safe—no matter what their legal status.
Under DC law, a rooming house is generally a building that provides sleeping accommodations for a month or more for three or more people who are not immediate family members. If a home or a part of a home is being rented out, and it is not licensed, it probably does not have a certificate of occupancy or a basic business license (BBL).
When an owner applies for a certificate of occupancy or a BBL, DCRA is required to perform housing and building code inspections. Those inspections help ensure that the property has proper life safety equipment and facilities, such as smoke detectors; fire extinguishers in common areas; ceiling heights at least 6 feet, 8 inches tall; at least two doors or windows; and required distance between sleeping spaces and heating facilities. DCRA also strongly encourages using carbon monoxide detectors.
