A Washington, DC, eviction notice is essential for landlords or property management companies initiating the tenant eviction process. The document must be written according to District of Columbia regulations and give your tenant the legally required amount of time to respond or move out.
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Download a free eviction notice customized for Washington, DC law below in MS Word (.docx) or Adobe PDF format.
Eviction Laws & Requirements
- Eviction Lawsuit: DC Courts Landlord & Tenant Resource Center.
- Grace Period for Rent Payment: 5 days (§ 42-3505.01).
- Late or Non-Rent Payment Notice: 30 days (§ 42-3505.01).
- Notice of Non-Compliance: 30 days (§ 42-3505.01 (b)(c)).
- Lease Termination (Month-Month): 30 days (§ 42-3202).
How to Evict a Tenant in Washington, DC
In Washington, DC, eviction lawsuits are governed by Title 16, Chapter 15 of the Code of the District of Columbia.
Step 1: Give Tenant Written Notice
Depending on the reason for eviction, the tenant must be given time to correct the issue before the landlord can proceed with the eviction process.
Step 2: Landlord Files Complaint
If the tenant doesn’t fix the problem, the landlord may try to agree with the tenant upon a lease termination before going to court. If this doesn’t work, landlords can file a complaint with the Superior Court of Washington, DC, which costs $15.
An uninvested third party will legally serve the tenant at least 7 days before the hearing is scheduled. In drug-related evictions, the tenant only needs to be served 5 days before the hearing.
Step 3: Hearing and Writ of Restitution
The hearing will be set for at least 21 days after the complaint is filed with the courts. If the judge rules in favor of the landlord, a Writ of Restitution will be issued to the tenant, allowing them to leave the property before a US Marshal escorts them from the unit. A tenant has 3 days once the writ is served before the US Marshal arrives.
Related Washington, DC Court Forms
Below are a few of Washington, DC’s most common eviction court forms. You can find more landlord/tenant forms at the DC Courts official website.
- Complaint For Non-Payment of Rent: Use this form to file a non-payment complaint against a tenant.
- Protective Order Information Sheet: Use this form to apply for a protective order against a tenant or landlord.
- Writ of Restitution: This will be used once the court rules on the landlord’s side to evict the tenant.