How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee in District of Columbia?

In District of Columbia, a housing provider may charge an application fee of no more than $50 — an amount the provider may raise each year since 1 January 2024 by the increase in the Consumer Price Index — and no other fee before the lease is signed. Before asking for any fee the provider must tell the applicant in writing the amount and purpose of each fee and deposit, the screening criteria and the right to a refund of any unused fee. Someone who applies for more than one of the same provider’s units within 30 days pays one fee unless more than one screening is needed, and a fee for a screening that was never done is refunded within 14 days. This is D.C. Code § 42-3505.10.

WhatDistrict of Columbia
Application fee$50 (inflation-adjusted since 2024); no other fee before the lease

Notes

Before asking for any fee the provider must tell the applicant in writing the amount and purpose of each fee and deposit, the screening criteria and the right to a refund of any unused fee. Someone who applies for more than one of the same provider’s units within 30 days pays one fee unless more than one screening is needed, and a fee for a screening that was never done is refunded within 14 days.

Source

D.C. Code § 42-3505.10

Read the statute in the Code of the District of Columbia (DC Council): code.dccouncil.gov.

Checked against the statute on November 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.

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