Can a landlord change the locks to force a tenant out in District of Columbia?
No. Self-help eviction is illegal in the District and only the U.S. Marshals Service may execute a writ. D.C. Code § 42-3505.01. In District of Columbia a tenant may be removed only through the court process, which is set by D.C. Code §§ 42-3505.01, 16-1501, 16-1502; D.C. Super. Ct. L&T R. 3.
| What | District of Columbia |
|---|---|
| Changing the locks, cutting a utility or removing belongings | Unlawful |
| Who may remove a tenant | Only a court officer acting on a court order |
Notes
Since the RENTAL Act took effect on December 31, 2025, a nonpayment case needs a written notice of intent to file served at least 10 days before filing (it was 30), and no case may be filed for less than $600. The District also requires a current Basic Business License and rent registration, and an unpaid late fee is never a ground for eviction.
Source
D.C. Code §§ 42-3505.01, 16-1501, 16-1502; D.C. Super. Ct. L&T R. 3
Read the statute in the Code of the District of Columbia (DC Council): code.dccouncil.gov.
Checked against the statute on October 23, 2026.
This is a summary of the published procedure, not legal advice. Courts, local rules and the facts of a tenancy change what applies, and a defect in a notice or a filing can end a case. Have a lawyer review anything before it is served or filed.
How Seayora uses this rule
Seayora does not file, serve or appear in an eviction, and is not anybody’s lawyer. When a tenant has stopped paying, it lays out these steps for the property’s own state and city with the statute beside each one, holds back any step that would come too early, keeps an append-only record of the case — and shows the resident what would end it, legal-aid links included.
Guides on this rule
- Can a Landlord Shut Off Utilities or Change the Locks? — Self-help eviction rules: utility shutoffs and lock changes in California, Florida, New York and Texas, the one narrow Texas exception, and the penalties.
Compare this rule in every state
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