WASHINGTON, D.C. EVICTION NOTICE PACKAGE

This document provides ready-to-serve Washington, D.C. eviction notices compliant with D.C. Code § 42-3505.01 (Rental Housing Act of 1985, as amended) and related provisions. Just cause is required for all evictions in the District of Columbia. A housing provider may recover possession only for one or more of the statutory grounds set forth in § 42-3505.01 and only after serving the required written notice and following all procedural requirements.

CRITICAL WARNINGS:

• An eviction notice is only the first step. If the tenant does not comply, the housing provider must file an eviction action (unlawful detainer / tenant petition) in the Landlord and Tenant Branch of the D.C. Superior Court and obtain a judgment and writ of possession before a tenant can be legally removed.
• Self-help evictions (changing locks, shutting off utilities, removing property, threats, harassment) are strictly prohibited in D.C. and may result in significant civil and criminal penalties, damages, and attorney fees.
• The housing provider must be registered with the D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) and rent must be current in the DCRA Housing Provider Registration for many actions.
• The Tenant Bill of Rights disclosure (or equivalent notice of tenant rights) must accompany or be provided with applicable notices., -

NOTICE TYPE SELECTION GUIDE

Choose the correct notice form. Serving the wrong form or failing to cite a valid just-cause ground may invalidate the notice and delay or defeat the eviction.

Notices for reasons other than nonpayment of rent must generally be served upon both the tenant and the Rent Administrator., -

FORM A, 30-DAY NOTICE TO PAY RENT OR QUIT (Non-Payment)

Pursuant to D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a-1)

DATE OF NOTICE: [[Date of Notice]]

TO (TENANT AND ALL OCCUPANTS):
[[Tenant 1 Full Legal Name]]
[[Tenant 2 Full Legal Name (if applicable)]]
And all other occupants

PREMISES:
[[Street Address, Unit Number]]
Washington, D.C. [[ZIP Code]]
(the "Premises" or "Rental Unit")

FROM (HOUSING PROVIDER / AUTHORIZED AGENT):
Name: [[Housing Provider or Property Manager Full Legal Name]]
Address for notices: [[Housing Provider Notice Address]]
Phone: [[Housing Provider Phone]] | Email: [[Housing Provider Email]]
DCRA Housing Provider Registration No.: [[Registration Number (must be current)]], -

NOTICE OF UNLAWFUL DETAINER / DEMAND FOR POSSESSION

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that you are in default under your rental agreement because you have failed to pay rent when due. The total amount of rent owing as of the date of this notice is set forth below.

WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS after service of this notice, you must either:

1. Pay the full amount of rent owing as listed below, or
2. Vacate and surrender possession of the Premises to the Housing Provider.

If you fail to do both within the thirty-day period, the Housing Provider will begin legal proceedings in the Landlord and Tenant Branch of the D.C. Superior Court to recover possession of the Premises, recover the rent owed, and seek all other remedies permitted by law, including costs and attorney fees if provided by the lease or statute.

This notice demands only unpaid rent. It does not include late fees, returned check fees, utilities, deposits, or other charges (which may be pursued separately). Pay the exact rent amount shown to cure this notice.

RENT ARREARS STATEMENT

Total rent due to cure this notice: $[[Total Rent Owed]]

Payment must be made in the form and to the location required by your rental agreement or as otherwise agreed in writing: [[Payment instructions]].

Deadline to pay or quit: [[Calculate exact date: 30 days after proper service date]]

If you pay the full amount of rent owing within the time allowed, this notice is cured and your tenancy continues (subject to any other just-cause grounds). Partial payment will not cure the notice unless the Housing Provider accepts it in writing as full satisfaction., -

FORM B, 30-DAY NOTICE TO CURE OR QUIT (Lease Violation, Curable Breach)

Pursuant to D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(b)

DATE OF NOTICE: [[Date of Notice]]

TO (TENANT AND ALL OCCUPANTS):
[[Tenant Full Legal Name(s)]]
And all other occupants

PREMISES:
[[Full Street Address, Unit]]
Washington, D.C. [[ZIP]]

FROM (HOUSING PROVIDER):
[[Housing Provider Name and Contact Information]]

NATURE OF BREACH:
You have materially breached the rental agreement in the following respect(s):

[[Describe specific violation with dates and facts, e.g., "Unauthorized pet in violation of Section X of the lease since [date]. Unauthorized occupant [name] residing since [date]. Failure to maintain Premises in clean/sanitary condition creating health hazard noted on [inspection date]."]]

CURE REQUIRED:
To cure this breach you must: [[Specific actions required, e.g., "Remove the unauthorized pet and provide written confirmation of permanent removal; remove the unauthorized occupant; thoroughly clean the Premises and pass re-inspection; or other cure actions"]].

WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS after service of this notice, you must either:

1. Fully cure the breach described above in the manner specified, or
2. Vacate and surrender possession of the Premises.

If you fail to cure within the 30-day period, the Housing Provider will commence eviction proceedings in D.C. Superior Court Landlord & Tenant Branch., -

FORM C, 30-DAY NOTICE TO VACATE (Unconditional, Certain Illegal Acts or Other Just Cause)

Pursuant to D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(c) (and other just-cause provisions as applicable)

DATE OF NOTICE: [[Date of Notice]]

TO (TENANT AND ALL OCCUPANTS):
[[Tenant Full Legal Name(s)]]
And all other occupants

PREMISES:
[[Full Address]]

FROM (HOUSING PROVIDER):
[[Name and Contact]]

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the Housing Provider is terminating your tenancy and demanding that you vacate the Premises for the following just-cause ground under D.C. Code § 42-3505.01:

[[Cite specific statutory ground, e.g., "A court of competent jurisdiction has determined that the tenant (or person occupying with tenant) performed an illegal act within the rental unit. The tenant may be evicted only if the tenant knew or should have known that the illegal act was taking place." Provide case details if applicable.]]

WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS after service of this notice you must vacate and surrender possession of the Premises. This notice is unconditional; there is no right to cure for this ground.

If you fail to vacate, the Housing Provider will file an eviction action in the D.C. Superior Court Landlord and Tenant Branch., -

TENANT BILL OF RIGHTS DISCLOSURE

The District of Columbia Tenant Bill of Rights (or current equivalent disclosure of tenant rights under the Rental Housing Act) must accompany this notice or be separately provided as required. Tenants have rights including but not limited to: just-cause eviction protection, protection against retaliation, limits on rent increases (where applicable), habitability rights, and access to the Rent Administrator and housing provider registration information.

A copy of the current Tenant Bill of Rights disclosure is attached as Exhibit A or has been provided separately on [[Date Provided]].

Housing Provider DCRA Registration is current: Registration No. [[Number]]; rent reported current as of [[Date]].

PROOF OF SERVICE

This notice was served on the tenant and (where required) the Rent Administrator by the following method(s) on [[Service Date]]:

• [[Personal delivery to tenant / adult at Premises, Name of recipient and time]]
• [[Posting in conspicuous place + first-class mail to tenant at Premises]]
• [[Certified mail, return receipt requested to last known address]]
• [[Other method permitted by law or court rule]]

Server / Process Server:
Name: [[Server Name]]
Signature: ______________________________ Date: ___________

Certificate of Service (for court filing): The undersigned certifies that on the date above, true copies of this notice were served as indicated and, where required, upon the Rent Administrator.

ADDITIONAL JUST-CAUSE NOTES AND 90-DAY PROVISIONS

For certain grounds (e.g., owner recovery of unit for personal use or substantial rehabilitation), a 90-day notice to vacate may be required in advance of filing. See D.C. Code § 42-3505.01 for full list of just causes and notice periods. The housing provider must plead and prove the specific statutory ground in any court filing.

NUMBERED GUIDANCE STEPS (Fillable, On Own Lines With Blanks)

1. Confirm the housing provider is properly registered with DCRA and that rent is reported current before serving notice.

2. Identify and cite the exact just-cause ground under § 42-3505.01 that authorizes the eviction; no other grounds are permitted.

3. Complete the appropriate form(s) above with accurate amounts, dates, specific facts, and deadlines calculated from the date of proper service.

4. Serve the notice (and Tenant Bill of Rights disclosure) by a method permitted by law; obtain proof of service.

5. Serve a copy on the Rent Administrator for notices other than pure non-payment where required by statute.

6. Wait the full statutory notice period; do not file in court before the notice period expires.

7. If tenant fails to cure (where cure is allowed) or vacate, file the eviction action in D.C. Superior Court Landlord & Tenant Branch with all required documents, including proof of service and registration status.

8. Never use self-help. Only a court-ordered writ executed by authorized officers may remove a tenant.

9. Retain complete copies of the notice, proof of service, Tenant Bill of Rights disclosure, and all correspondence.

10. Consult D.C. housing counsel and the current rules of the Landlord and Tenant Branch before filing.

EXHIBITS

• Exhibit A: Current Tenant Bill of Rights Disclosure (or reference to official DC source)
• Exhibit B: Copy of relevant lease provisions (optional)
• Exhibit C: Photos or evidence supporting grounds (for court)
• Other: [[Additional Attachments]]

SIGNATURE / CERTIFICATION OF HOUSING PROVIDER

I certify under penalty of perjury that the information in this notice is true and correct to the best of my knowledge, that the housing provider is registered with DCRA, and that a just-cause ground under D.C. Code § 42-3505.01 exists.

Housing Provider / Agent Signature: _______________________________________________ Date: [[Date]]

Printed Name: [[Housing Provider or Agent Full Name]]
Title: [[Title]]
DCRA Registration No.: [[Number]], -

*Template example, not professional legal advice. Just cause is strictly required under D.C. Code § 42-3505.01. 30-day written notice applies for non-payment and many violations. Eviction action must be filed in D.C. Superior Court Landlord & Tenant Branch. Tenant Bill of Rights disclosure must accompany notice. Housing provider must maintain current DCRA registration with rent reported current. Self-help is illegal. Verify all facts, calculate deadlines correctly from proper service, and comply with current court rules and statutes before use. Provisions drafted per key legal specifications and current as of 2026-06.*

Sources: D.C. Code § 42-3505.01 (Evictions); Rental Housing Act of 1985; D.C. Superior Court Landlord & Tenant Branch procedures; DCRA housing provider registration requirements. All [[tokens]] are user-fillable fields. Numbered items appear on their own lines with blank lines between each. Consult licensed D.C. counsel and the Rent Administrator for updates.