| DCRA Proactive Inspections Program
The Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) has kicked offf a new program aimed at inspecting all multi-unit rental properties in the District of Columbia. Until now, all residential building-wide inspections were completed only after receiving a series of complaints from tenants. Now all 4,000 multi-family rental properties in the District of Columbia will be inspected whether or not DCRA ever receives a single complaint.
The Proactive Inspections program does not mean you cannot request inspections for your unit or your building. For more information on requesting an inspection for your unit or building immediately, please go back to Residential Inspections.
To ensure your building is safe and meets city codes, it is essential that we get into as many units in your building as possible. If tenants cannot be present at the inspection, please complete the Proactive Inspection Consent Form*.
DCRA has also translated the Proactive Inspection form for property owners and managers:
All property owners will receive a letter and a proactive inspection date. The compliance inspection includes exterior, interior common area, and unit inspections. As a building owner, you or your agent, are required to provide inspectors entry into a percentage of your building's units.
View DCRA Proactive Inspections Pilot Program in a larger map
Interactive Map
You can also search the interactive proactive inspections map above. Red thumbtacks show properties that have already been inspected in May and June. The blue bubbles represent properties scheduled for inspection in July.
Percentage of Units to be Inspected
Refer to the table below to determine how many units inspectors must enter. Inspectors must visit at least one unit from each floor and the basement (if applicable). If inspectors cannot access all common areas and the required number of units, the building will not pass the compliance inspection.
| 3 to 4 |
50 percent |
| 5 to 49 |
30 percent |
| 50 + |
15 percent |
DCRA inspectors can only enter units for which building owners or managers have secured a tenant-signed Inspection Consent Form*. Building owners or managers are responsible for collecting signed tenant consent forms prior to unit inspections. Please call the Inspections Division at (202) 481-3524 between 9 am and 4 pm at least 15 days prior to your scheduled inspection to verify that you have signed consent forms for required unit inspections.
Compliance inspections are valid for up to four years depending on the condition of the rental property. For a guide to common code violations, minor violations, and the compliance inspection process, visit our Residential Inspection page.
An owner or agent must be on the premises during the inspection. If you cannot attend a scheduled compliance inspection, and do not reschedule the inspection within 24 hours of your appointment, your building will automatically fail the inspection and be placed on a 2 year proactive inspection cycle.
To reschedule your inspection or discuss tenant consent issues, please contact DCRA Inspection Division:
Inspections Division
Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs
1900 Massachusetts Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20003
(202) 481-3524 phone
(202) 478-5751 fax
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