District of Columbia HOA & Condominium Law
9 active District of Columbia statutes govern homeowners associations and condominiums in the state. The corpus encodes 31 specific requirements across governance, finance, reserves, disclosure, and enforcement.
Estoppel Disclosure Workflow
13 standard items
DC
CommunityPay has not verified a state-specific statutory resale certificate regime in District of Columbia. Disclosure follows a non-statutory estoppel workflow. The 13 items below reflect standard title company and lender expectations, not legal requirements specific to any particular association.
- Current periodic assessment amount and any unpaid or delinquent assessments
- Pending or approved special assessments
- Reserve fund balance and designated projects
- Most recent balance sheet and income/expense statement
- Current operating budget
- Insurance coverage provided for the benefit of owners
- Pending lawsuits, unsatisfied judgments, or threatened litigation
- Board composition, meeting frequency, and governance status
- Declaration, bylaws, and rules and regulations
- Capital expenditures approved or anticipated for current and next two fiscal years
- Transfer fees, move-in/move-out fees, or other charges upon sale
- Known violations of the governing documents or applicable codes
- Right of first refusal or other restraints on transfer
Industry incumbents (HomeWiseDocs, CondoCerts) charge residents $250–$400 per resale certificate.
District of Columbia does not cap RC preparation fees by statute. With CommunityPay, the board issues the certificate directly from live ledger data — eliminating the third-party fee entirely. Residents typically save $250–$400 per closing.
What District of Columbia Law Requires
Governance (16)
- Substantially amended by the Condominium Amendment Act of 1990 and the Condominium Owner Bill of Rights and Responsibilities Amendment Act of 2016 (Law 21-241). D.C. Code §42-1901.01
- Code §42-1901.01 et seq.) governs the creation, management, and governance of condominiums in the District of Columbia. D.C. Code §42-1901.01
- The Condominium Act of 1976 (D.C. D.C. Code §42-1901.01
- Definitions for the DC Condominium Act, including condominium, unit, common elements, declarant, executive board, unit owners' association, and condominium instruments. D.C. Code §42-1901.02
- Establishes requirements for bylaw content, amendment procedures, and the association's responsibility for insurance on common elements. D.C. Code §42-1903.01
- Governs the bylaws of the unit owners' association and the powers and duties of the executive board and its officers. D.C. Code §42-1903.01
- No such authorization is valid after units representing three-fourths of the undivided interests in common elements have been conveyed, or after the time set in the condominium instruments, whichever occurs first. D.C. Code §42-1903.02
- Authorizes the declarant to appoint and remove officers of the association or executive board members during the period of declarant control. D.C. Code §42-1903.02
- At least 7 days in advance of any other meeting D.C. Code §42-1903.03
- At least 21 days in advance of any annual or regularly scheduled meeting D.C. Code §42-1903.03
- At least 21 days' advance notice is required for annual or regularly scheduled meetings. D.C. Code §42-1903.03
- Executive board meetings must be open for observation by unit owners with reasonable notice. D.C. Code §42-1903.03
- Meetings of the unit owners' association must be held at least once per year and are open to all unit owners in good standing. D.C. Code §42-1903.03
- At least 7 days' advance notice is required for all other meetings. D.C. Code §42-1903.03
- Grants the unit owners' association powers to adopt and amend a budget for revenues, expenditures, and reserves; collect assessments from unit owners; hire and discharge managing agents, employees, and contractors; and institute, defend, or intervene in litigation and administrative proceedings on behalf of the association or unit owners. D.C. Code §42-1903.08
- Permits power-of-sale foreclosure with 31 days' notice. D.C. Code §42-1903.13
Financial (1)
- Governs special assessments, installment payment of assessments, when assessments become past due, and interest charges on delinquent assessments. D.C. Code §42-1903.12
Assessment (5)
- Establishes how common expenses are assessed against individual condominium units in proportion to their undivided interest. D.C. Code §42-1903.12
- The lien for assessments shall lapse and be of no further effect if not discharged or if foreclosure proceedings are not instituted within 3 years D.C. Code §42-1903.13
- DC permits power-of-sale foreclosure for condominium assessment liens with 31 days notice D.C. Code §42-1903.13
- Establishes a lien for assessments against condominium units from the time the assessment becomes due. D.C. Code §42-1903.13
- The common expense assessments based on the periodic budget which would have become due in the absence of acceleration during the 6 months immediately preceding D.C. Code §42-1903.13 (a)(2)
Disclosure (6)
- Purchaser shall have the right for a period of 3 business days following the purchaser's receipt to cancel the contract D.C. Code §42-1904.11
- Documents must be provided within 10 business days after contract execution. D.C. Code §42-1904.11
- Association must respond within 10 days of request. D.C. Code §42-1904.11
- Purchaser has a 3-business-day cancellation period after receipt. D.C. Code §42-1904.11
- On or prior to the 10th business day following the date of execution of the contract of sale D.C. Code §42-1904.11
- Upon resale of a condominium unit, the seller must obtain from the association and furnish to the purchaser: the condominium instruments and a certificate containing the statement of unpaid assessments per §42-1903.13(h), capital expenditure plans, reserve fund status and amounts, most recent financial statement, current operating budget, pending litigation, insurance coverage, compliance with condominium documents, leasehold terms, and certificate date. D.C. Code §42-1904.11
Enforcement (3)
- Covers declarations, common elements, unit owners' associations, board powers, assessment liens, insurance, and purchaser protections. D.C. Code §42-1901.01
- Lien is extinguished if not enforced within 3 years. D.C. Code §42-1903.13
- The lien has super-priority of 6 months of common expense assessments over first mortgages or deeds of trust recorded after March 7, 1991. D.C. Code §42-1903.13
Sourced from CommunityPay's living legal corpus. Each requirement traces to a primary statute snapshot verified by a subject-matter expert.
Topic Coverage
Assessment Collection
5
Fiduciary Duty
2
Foreclosure and Liens
2
Governance Documents
2
Insurance Requirements
2
Resale Disclosure
2
Collections & Delinquency
1
Developer Transition
1
Meetings and Notice
1
Reserve Requirements
1
Each chip links to the District of Columbia statutes addressing that topic. Counts reflect distinct statute assignments.
Applicable Statutes
All District of Columbia authorities →
DC Condominium Act — Short Title
The Condominium Act of 1976 (D.C. Code §42-1901.01 et seq.) governs the creation, management, and governance of condominiums in the District of Columbia. Covers declarations, common elements, unit owners' associations, board powers, assessment liens, insurance, and purchaser protections. Substantially amended by the Condominium Amendment Act of 1990 and the Condominium Owner Bill of Rights and Responsibilities Amendment Act of 2016 (Law 21-241).
DC Condominium Act — Definitions
Definitions for the DC Condominium Act, including condominium, unit, common elements, declarant, executive board, unit owners' association, and condominium instruments.
DC Condominium Act — Bylaws; Executive Board Powers and Duties
Governs the bylaws of the unit owners' association and the powers and duties of the executive board and its officers. Establishes requirements for bylaw content, amendment procedures, and the association's responsibility for insurance on common elements.
DC Condominium Act — Declarant Control; Limitations; Transition
Authorizes the declarant to appoint and remove officers of the association or executive board members during the period of declarant control. No such authorization is valid after units representing three-fourths of the undivided interests in common elements have been conveyed, or after the time set in the condominium instruments, whichever occurs first.
DC Condominium Act — Meetings; Electronic Notice
Meetings of the unit owners' association must be held at least once per year and are open to all unit owners in good standing. At least 21 days' advance notice is required for annual or regularly scheduled meetings. At least 7 days' advance notice is required for all other meetings. Executive board meetings must be open for observation by unit owners with reasonable notice. Minutes must be recorded and available for inspection.
DC Condominium Act — Unit Owners' Association Powers and Rights
Grants the unit owners' association powers to adopt and amend a budget for revenues, expenditures, and reserves; collect assessments from unit owners; hire and discharge managing agents, employees, and contractors; and institute, defend, or intervene in litigation and administrative proceedings on behalf of the association or unit owners.
DC Condominium Act — Liability for Common Expenses; Special Assessments
Establishes how common expenses are assessed against individual condominium units in proportion to their undivided interest. Governs special assessments, installment payment of assessments, when assessments become past due, and interest charges on delinquent assessments.
DC Condominium Act — Lien for Assessments; Statement of Unpaid Assessments
Establishes a lien for assessments against condominium units from the time the assessment becomes due. The lien has super-priority of 6 months of common expense assessments over first mortgages or deeds of trust recorded after March 7, 1991. Permits power-of-sale foreclosure with 31 days' notice. Lien is extinguished if not enforced within 3 years. Unit owners or purchasers may request a recordable statement of unpaid assessments; the association must respond within 10 days or the lien is extinguished. A reasonable fee may be required if the condominium instruments so provide.
DC Condominium Act — Resale by Unit Owner
Upon resale of a condominium unit, the seller must obtain from the association and furnish to the purchaser: the condominium instruments and a certificate containing the statement of unpaid assessments per §42-1903.13(h), capital expenditure plans, reserve fund status and amounts, most recent financial statement, current operating budget, pending litigation, insurance coverage, compliance with condominium documents, leasehold terms, and certificate date. Documents must be provided within 10 business days after contract execution. Association must respond within 10 days of request. Purchaser has a 3-business-day cancellation period after receipt.
Source: District of Columbia state legislature. Statutes verified by CommunityPay.
Pending & Recent District of Columbia HOA Legislation
Last action: Oct 22, 2026
Last action: Oct 14, 2026
Last action: Oct 6, 2026
Last action: Oct 6, 2026
Last action: Sep 24, 2026
Last action: Jul 13, 2026
Last action: Jul 13, 2026
24 HOA-relevant bills tracked for District of Columbia · refreshed Oct 3, 2026 · Source: LegiScan
Frequently Asked Questions — District of Columbia HOA Law
How long does a District of Columbia HOA have to deliver a resale certificate?
Under D.C. Code §42-1904.11, a District of Columbia association must deliver the resale certificate within 10 calendar days of a written request from the unit owner, prospective purchaser, or their representative. Missing the deadline carries statutory consequences — including, in many states, release of the buyer from any unpaid amounts the seller owed at the time of the request.
Source: D.C. Code §42-1904.11
How much advance notice must a District of Columbia HOA give for meetings?
Under D.C. Code §42-1903.03, a District of Columbia association must give unit owners at least 21 days advance notice of meetings. The notice must specify the date, time, place, and agenda items to be considered. Actions taken at a meeting that violates the notice requirement may be voidable on owner challenge.
Source: D.C. Code §42-1903.03
Does a District of Columbia HOA assessment lien have priority over a first mortgage?
Yes — District of Columbia is a 'super-priority' state. Under D.C. Code §42-1903.13, the association's lien for 6 months of unpaid assessments takes priority over a first-recorded mortgage. When the HOA forecloses, the first mortgage lender must either pay the 6 months of super-priority assessments or risk losing its lien — a significant collection tool for the association.
Source: D.C. Code §42-1903.13
Answers derived from the District of Columbia legal corpus. Every numeric value (fee caps, deadlines, percentages) is pulled from a primary-source statutory threshold record verified by CommunityPay.
District of Columbia HOA Fee Benchmark
$507
Avg Median Monthly Fee
$507 – $507
County Range
41505
Units Paying HOA Fees
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-Year Estimates (PUMS). 1 counties with data.
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Download the District of Columbia HOA & Condo Compliance Checklist
One PDF — every active District of Columbia statute we track, statutory fee caps and time limits, recent legal changes from the last 12 months, and the resale-certificate disclosure profile. Built from CommunityPay's living legal corpus, the same data that drives our resale certificates, reserve reports, and CARI scoring.
- Statutory fee caps and time limits (resale, late fees, lien priority)
- Recent law changes with effective dates
- Resale & estoppel disclosure profile, item by item
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Data sourced from District of Columbia Secretary of State public registrations. Legal corpus maintained by CommunityPay's editorial team and traced to primary statute snapshots.
United States Payments and Accounting Governance Infrastructure for Community Associations