Short-term rental rules in Washington, DC
Licence required. Yearly night limit: 90 nights per year, applies to entire-home rentals.
Rules covered: Short-Term Rental Regulation Act of 2018 (14 DCMR 9901.6) - DLCP Short-Term Rental / Vacation Rental License. The table shows what the official pages state, with the wording and the date we read it. A row marked "Not stated" means the pages we read do not say; it does not mean there is no rule.
What the official pages state
| Rule | What the official page states | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Permit or registration | Licence required Short-Term Rental or Vacation Rental License issued by DLCP; $99 for two years. Official wordingthe Short-Term Rental Regulation Act of 2018 (14 DCMR Section 9901.6) governs the licensure of short-term and vacation rentals in the District of Columbia. | dlcp.dc.gov read 2026-10-02 |
| Primary residence only | Primary residence only Property must be an individual owner's primary residence (Homestead Deduction eligible); investment and corporate properties are not eligible. Official wordingInvestment properties and those owned by corporate entities are not eligible. | dlcp.dc.gov read 2026-10-02 |
| Yearly night limit | 90 nights per year, applies to entire-home rentals Vacation rentals (host not present) capped at 90 nights per calendar year, each stay 30 or fewer nights; exemptions available for work/medical absences. No cap while the host is present. Official wordingCumulatively, vacation rentals cannot exceed 90 nights in any calendar year, and each rental is limited to 30 or fewer continuous nights. | dlcp.dc.gov read 2026-10-02 |
| Renting the whole home | Entire home allowed Allowed as a vacation rental at the host's primary residence, limited to 90 nights per year. Official wordingA vacation rental is a type of short-term rental that allows a host to offer fee-based lodging at their primary residence without being present on the property (e.g., the use of the entire home). | dlcp.dc.gov read 2026-10-02 |
| Lodging tax | Not stated Page says applicable transient lodging taxes are collected by booking services but gives no rate. | — |
| Number in listings | Number must appear in listings Listing sites must list the host's license number. Official wordingSites that list short-term and vacation rentals are also required to list the host | dlcp.dc.gov read 2026-10-02 |
| Penalties | Not stated Page only says failing to cancel ineligible bookings results in enforcement action; no amounts stated on the saved page. | — |
| How to register | Included in the $29 city report. See the report | — |