Fair Housing Law in the District ("Know Your Rights in the District of Columbia") is an informational notice, published through the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), that summarizes the housing protections of the District of Columbia Human Rights Act of 1977. It lists the traits on which housing providers may not discriminate, gives examples of illegal conduct and says where to file a complaint. It is a rights notice, not a business license or an application. On FillingPDF you can open the PDF online and download or print it; the document itself is published by DLCP at the official link.
Last updated
What is Fair Housing Law in the District – Washington, DC?
Fair Housing Law in the District is a one-page rights notice, subtitled "Know Your Rights in the District of Columbia," that explains what the District of Columbia Human Rights Act of 1977, as amended, prohibits in housing. The DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) publishes it.
The notice states that the District and housing providers cannot discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, religion, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, disability, source of income, status as a victim of an intra-family offense, or place of residence or business.
It also says that sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination prohibited by the Act, that harassment based on any listed category is prohibited, and that discrimination is unlawful in the rental or sale of housing accommodations and commercial space. Similar prohibitions apply to "blockbusting," "steering" and financing.
The document lists examples of illegal conduct, such as refusing housing, falsely saying housing is unavailable, advertising a preference, setting different terms or services, refusing a loan, giving inaccurate information and retaliating against someone who files a complaint or acts as a witness. It closes with the Office of Human Rights contact details for filing a complaint.
It contains no entries to complete and does not license or register anything.
Who needs to file Fair Housing Law in the District – Washington, DC?
The notice is written for people in the District of Columbia who rent, buy, sell, finance or provide housing or commercial space.
- Renters, buyers and applicants use it to check whether the treatment they received is on the list of prohibited practices.
- Housing providers, the group the notice says cannot discriminate, use it to see which traits and practices the Act covers, including steering, blockbusting, financing and retaliation.
- Anyone who thinks a violation occurred will find where to take a complaint: the Office of Human Rights, not DLCP.
The document does not say who may file on behalf of someone else, and it sets no eligibility conditions or exclusions. It is not a license application, so businesses looking for DC business licensing information will not find it here.
When to file Fair Housing Law in the District – Washington, DC
Nothing is filed with this document. You consult it when you believe a housing provider has discriminated against you or when you need to know which practices the DC Human Rights Act prohibits. If you decide to file a complaint, the notice directs you to the Office of Human Rights; it prints no time limit for doing so, so ask that office about any deadline when you contact it.
How to fill out Fair Housing Law in the District – Washington, DC
Open the PDF
Open Fair Housing Law in the District online; it is an informational notice, so there are no fields to complete.
Check the covered traits
Read the list under DC Human Rights Act to see whether your situation involves a protected trait, actual or perceived.
Compare with the examples
Review Examples of Illegal Discrimination to see whether what happened matches a listed practice, such as steering or retaliation.
Note the complaint details
Write down the Office of Human Rights channels under Filing a Complaint of a Violation: ohr.dc.gov, 441 4th Street NW, Suite 570N, or (202) 727-4559.
Download or print the PDF
Download or print the notice from FillingPDF to keep or post; any complaint goes to the Office of Human Rights.
How to submit Fair Housing Law in the District – Washington, DC
The notice itself is not submitted. To file a complaint about a violation of these laws, the notice gives these channels at the Office of Human Rights:
- Online: ohr.dc.gov.
- In person: 441 4th Street NW, Suite 570N, Washington, DC 20001.
- By phone (questions): (202) 727-4559.
The notice also prints a fax number, (202) 727-9589, in its footer. Its footer shows the ZIP code as 20010, while the complaint section gives 20001, so confirm the address at ohr.dc.gov before you visit. FillingPDF lets you open and download the PDF; any complaint follows the Office of Human Rights channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating the notice as an application or license form; it is a rights summary and has no entries to complete.
- Sending a housing discrimination complaint to DLCP; the notice directs complaints to the Office of Human Rights, online at ohr.dc.gov or in person at 441 4th Street NW, Suite 570N.
- Assuming the protections cover only rentals; the notice says discrimination is unlawful in the rental or sale of housing accommodations and commercial space.
- Overlooking retaliation; the notice lists retaliating against someone for filing a complaint or acting as a witness as illegal.
- Assuming only a few traits are covered; the list includes source of income, familial status, matriculation, personal appearance and status as a victim of an intra-family offense.
- Leaving out harassment; the notice says sexual harassment and harassment based on any listed category are prohibited.
- Relying on the footer ZIP code 20010 for the Office of Human Rights when the complaint section gives 20001.
Frequently asked questions
What is Fair Housing Law in the District?
It is a notice, published through the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), that summarizes the housing protections of the DC Human Rights Act of 1977. It lists the protected traits, examples of illegal discrimination and where to file a complaint.
Is this a DC business license form?
No. It is a fair housing rights notice with nothing to complete and no license or registration attached. It mentions commercial space only because the Act bars discrimination in renting or selling commercial space as well as housing.
Who can discriminate in housing under DC law?
No one. The notice says the District and housing providers cannot discriminate on the listed traits, and that it is unlawful for any person to practice discrimination in the rental or sale of housing accommodations and commercial space.
Where do I file a housing discrimination complaint in DC?
File with the Office of Human Rights online at ohr.dc.gov or in person at 441 4th Street NW, Suite 570N, Washington, DC 20001. Questions can be answered by phone at (202) 727-4559. The notice itself is not submitted.
Is source of income a protected category in DC housing?
Yes. Source of income is on the list of actual or perceived traits in the notice, alongside race, disability, familial status, sexual orientation and others. Refusing housing or setting different terms because of a listed trait is illegal.
Is retaliation for filing a housing complaint illegal in DC?
Yes. The notice lists retaliating against someone for filing a complaint or acting as a witness among the examples of illegal discrimination.
Can I fill out Fair Housing Law in the District on FillingPDF?
It is an informational notice with no entries to complete. FillingPDF lets you open the PDF online and download or print it, but FillingPDF is independent of DLCP and the Office of Human Rights and does not file complaints.
Ready to fill out Fair Housing Law in the District – Washington, DC?
Fill out Fair Housing Law in the District – Washington, DC now