{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-42-3131.06","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 42-3131.06","heading":"Registration of vacant buildings; renewal.","body":"(a)\nExcept as provided in § 42-3131.06a, the owner of a vacant building shall, within 90 days after it becomes vacant, register the building and pay the registration fee. The Mayor may extend the time for good cause.\n\n(b)\n(1)\nEach application for the registration of a vacant building shall be in a form prescribed by the Mayor and shall contain the following information:\n(A)\nThe street address of the vacant building;\n(B)\nThe date on which the building became vacant;\n(C)\nThe name, street address, telephone number, and electronic mailing address of the owner of record;\n(D)\nThe name, address, telephone number, and electronic mailing address of a person based in the District who is responsible for the security and maintenance of the property, if other than the owner of record; and\n(E)\nA signed vacant building maintenance plan required pursuant to § 42-3131.12.\n(2)\nIf at any time the information provided pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection is no longer valid, the owner shall file a new registration within 10 days containing current information. There shall be no additional fee to provide current information pursuant to this paragraph.\n\n(c)\nAt the time of application for the initial registration or renewal of registration of a vacant building, the owner shall arrange with the Mayor for the inspection of the building. On receiving an application for the initial registration or renewal of registration of a vacant building, the Mayor shall thereafter inspect the building. The Mayor shall approve the initial registration or the renewal of registration for one year if:\n(1)\nThe application for registration contains all of the information required pursuant to subsection (b) of this section;\n(2)\nThe building has been maintained in accordance with the requirements of § 42-3131.12;\n(3)\nThe vacancy of the building will not:\n(A)\nBe detrimental to the public health, safety, and welfare;\n(B)\nUnreasonably interfere with the reasonable and lawful use and enjoyment of the other premises within the neighborhood; or\n(C)\nPose a hazard to police officers or firefighters entering the building in an emergency;\n(4)\nThe building complies with the fire, building, and housing codes of the District of Columbia;\n(5)\nThe continuance of any maintenance work or condition of occupancy is not dangerous to life or property;\n(6)\nNo false statements or misrepresentations have been made upon the registration application;\n(7)\nOrders on a building have been complied with and the building complies with any applicable occupancy requirements; and\n(8)\nThe Mayor is permitted to inspect the building before initial registration, during the registration period, and before a renewal of registration.\n\n(d)\nIf the owner of a vacant building fails to comply with the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, both initially and throughout the registration period, the Mayor may deny or revoke the owner's registration and may subject the owner to the penalties provided in § 42-3131.10.\n\n(e)\n(1)\nAfter the initial designation of a property as vacant or blighted vacant, the Mayor shall not be required to perform additional inspections or surveys to sustain that classification.\n(2)\nAfter the Mayor has made a final determination that a building is a vacant building or a blighted vacant building, that final determination shall remain in effect until the owner submits information to the Mayor sufficient to warrant a change to that classification.\n\n(f)\n(1)\n(A)\nExcept as provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, no person except the owner of record or an authorized agent of the owner of record, with proof of authorization from the owner of record, may register a building as vacant.\n(B)\nThe Mayor, upon a showing that the owner of record is physically unable to register the property, may allow a relative of the owner of record to register the building as vacant; provided, that the relative can show proof of being a relative and, to the satisfaction of the Mayor, that the owner of record is physically unable to register the property.\n(2)\nThis subsection shall not in any way limit the Mayor's authority to register as vacant any property for which the owner failed to register it as required by this chapter.","path":["Title 42. Real Property.","Chapter 31A. Abatement of Nuisance Property.","Subchapter II. Registration of Vacant Buildings."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/42-3131.06","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"94df7acf2e33c00d9f6da6134e6a05bcbe7019d2da5114d3b2589223cd2cfc44","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-42-3131.05b","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-42-3131.06a"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}