How many days does a tenant get to pay late rent in District of Columbia?
In District of Columbia, before starting a nonpayment case a landlord must serve a written notice giving the tenant 10 days to pay the rent due. The notice must state the amount owed with a ledger attached, and it is sent by certified mail or a tracked delivery service and also handed over or posted on the door. A landlord may not file a nonpayment case for less than $600, and an unpaid late fee is never a ground for eviction in the District. This is D.C. Code §§ 42-3502.08, 42-3505.51, 42-3505.01.
| What | District of Columbia |
|---|---|
| Notice before a nonpayment case | 10 days |
| What the notice demands | Pay the rent due, or the tenancy can end |
Notes
Rent-stabilized increases are capped and need 30 days. Entry: 48 hours. Late rent: written notice of intent to file at least 10 days before a nonpayment case is filed (30 days until the RENTAL Act took effect on December 31, 2025), and none at all when less than $600 is owed.
Source
D.C. Code §§ 42-3502.08, 42-3505.51, 42-3505.01
Read the statute in the Code of the District of Columbia (DC Council): code.dccouncil.gov.
Checked against the statute on September 11, 2026.
This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.
How Seayora uses this rule
Seayora computes the notice this rule requires from the tenancy’s own dates — for a renewal offer, a rent increase or a served notice — and will not serve one that is short unless the owner records a reason. The answer above is the rule the product enforces.
Guides on this rule
- D.C. Landlord-Tenant Law After the RENTAL Act: 2026 Guide — Washington, D.C. rules for 2026: the 10-day nonpayment notice and $600 floor, the 5% late fee cap, rent control caps of 4.1% and 2.1%, deposits and TOPA.
- Can a Landlord Send an Eviction Notice by Email or Text? — The federal E-SIGN Act excludes eviction notices, so state law decides how a notice to pay or quit must be served. California, New York and Florida rules.
- Rent Receipt Laws: When a Landlord Must Give a Receipt — When a landlord must give a rent receipt in New York, Maryland, Texas and California, what it must say, cash payment rules, and New York’s late-rent notice.
Compare this rule in every state
More District of Columbia rules
- Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in District of Columbia?
- How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in District of Columbia?
- How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in District of Columbia?
- How much notice does a landlord have to give before entering in District of Columbia?
- How much notice does a landlord have to give before raising the rent in District of Columbia?
- How much notice must a landlord give to end a tenancy in District of Columbia?
- How much can a landlord charge for a late rent fee in District of Columbia?
- Is there a grace period for paying rent in District of Columbia?
- Can a landlord change the locks to force a tenant out in District of Columbia?
- Does a landlord need a reason to evict a tenant in District of Columbia?
- How long does a tenant have to respond to an eviction case in District of Columbia?
- What are the steps to evict a tenant for unpaid rent in District of Columbia?
- Is there rent control in District of Columbia?
- Can a landlord refuse a Section 8 voucher in District of Columbia?
- Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant for complaining in District of Columbia?
- Do contractors charge sales tax in District of Columbia?
- Is appliance repair taxable in District of Columbia?
- Every District of Columbia rule on one page