{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-50-1541.05","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 50-1541.05","heading":"Certificate of title required.","body":"(a)\nExcept as otherwise provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, the owner of a vessel for which the District is the state of principal use shall deliver to the Harbor Master an application for a certificate of title for the vessel, with the applicable fee, not later than 20 days after the later of:\n(1)\nThe date of a transfer of ownership; or\n(2)\nThe date the District becomes the state of principal use.\n\n(b)\nAn application for a certificate of title is not required for:\n(1)\nA documented vessel;\n(2)\nA foreign-documented vessel;\n(3)\nA barge;\n(4)\nA vessel before delivery if the vessel is under construction or completed pursuant to contract; or\n(5)\nA vessel held by a dealer for sale or lease.\n\n(c)\nThe Harbor Master may not issue, transfer, or renew a certificate of number for a vessel issued pursuant to the requirements of 46 U.S.C. § 12301 unless the Harbor Master has created a certificate of title for the vessel, or an application for a certificate of title for the vessel and the applicable fee have been delivered to the Harbor Master.","path":["Title 50. Motor and Non-Motor Vehicles and Traffic.","Chapter 15B. Uniform Certificate of Title for Vessels."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/50-1541.05","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"108b055a730603e8e641d1cf05e8bc1f4063f1cd3b2071806d76e257a313b4c2","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-50-1541.04","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-50-1541.06"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}