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Rental Application Fee Laws in the District of Columbia

In the District of Columbia, the application fee is capped at $50 adjusted each year for inflation ($54 for 2026), and the fee must be refunded within 14 days if the applicant is not screened.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

District of Columbia at a glance

Fee limit
$54 in 2026 ($50 base, CPI-adjusted)
Only one fee may be charged when an applicant applies to several units of the same provider within 30 days, unless more than one screening is required.
Dollar cap
$54 (2026)
The Rental Housing Commission set the 2026 maximum at $54 based on CPI-U.
Refund required
Yes, if not screened, within 14 days

Sources

Last checked

The rules in the District of Columbia

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

Fee limit in the District of Columbia: $54 in 2026 ($50 base, CPI-adjusted). Only one fee may be charged when an applicant applies to several units of the same provider within 30 days, unless more than one screening is required.

Is there a fixed dollar cap on rental application fees in the District of Columbia?

Dollar cap in the District of Columbia: $54 (2026). The Rental Housing Commission set the 2026 maximum at $54 based on CPI-U.

Does a landlord in the District of Columbia have to refund an unused application fee?

Yes, if not screened, within 14 days. Refund required in the District of Columbia: yes, if not screened, within 14 days.

Where do the the District of Columbia rental application fee laws come from?

The rules above come from D.C. Code 42-3505.10. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

The statute lets the $50 fee be adjusted each year for inflation starting January 1, 2024, and bars any other fee before a lease is signed.

What this means in practice

Before collecting a fee, landlords can tell applicants in writing how much it is, what it pays for, and the screening criteria that will be used. Several statutes require some of this disclosure, and it also reduces disputes when an application is denied.

Keep a copy of the invoice or receipt from the screening company. Where the law ties the fee to actual cost or requires an itemized receipt, that record shows the fee was lawful.

Check local law as well as state law. In many states a city or county ordinance can set a lower limit or add refund and notice rules, and the stricter rule usually applies. A few states bar local rules on application fees.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.