The Vacation Rental Exemption Application Form is the District of Columbia form that a short-term rental host uses to ask for an exemption from the 90-night yearly limit on operating as a vacation rental. It is published by the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) and reviewed by the DC Short-Term Rental Program. Hosts who must live outside the District for work or for medical reasons use it, together with a notarized affidavit and proof of travel. On FillingPDF you can fill out the form online and download or print the completed PDF; the agency publishes the original PDF at the official link below.
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What is Vacation Rental Exemption Application Form – Washington, DC?
The Vacation Rental Exemption Application Form is the District of Columbia form on which a short-term rental host asks the DC Short-Term Rental Program for an exemption from the 90-night limit on vacation rentals under 14 DCMR § 9904.2.
A short-term rental may operate as a vacation rental for no more than ninety (90) nights cumulatively in any calendar year, unless the host has received an exemption under Section 9904 of Title 14 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (DCMR). This form is how a host requests that exemption. It is a six-page packet:
- Steps 1 to 6 for the host, including the reason for the exemption, host and travel details, a host certification and an explanation of the need for travel.
- Part A, the Notarized Affidavit of Employer, completed by the employer.
- Part B, the Affidavit of Healthcare Provider, completed by the medical provider.
Completing the form does not grant the exemption. The DC Short-Term Rental Program reviews the request to decide whether the host qualifies, and the instructions state that all fields must be completed as directed in order to qualify. After approval, the host must notify the program within ten (10) days of returning to the District.
Who needs to file Vacation Rental Exemption Application Form – Washington, DC?
A host of a short-term rental in the District of Columbia who needs to operate it as a vacation rental for more than ninety (90) nights cumulatively in a calendar year uses this form, if one of the two grounds in 14 DCMR § 9904.2 applies:
- Employment: the host's employer, or the employer of the host's spouse or domestic partner, requires the host or that spouse or domestic partner to work outside the District for more than ninety (90) days cumulatively in the calendar year.
- Medical: the host leaves the District to receive treatment for a serious health condition, or to care for a family member receiving such treatment, for more than ninety (90) days cumulatively in the calendar year.
The host certifies that he or she owns the primary residence listed and will live at an address outside the District during the stated dates. The spouse or domestic partner section and the family member section are completed only when they are the basis of the request.
Other people complete parts of the packet. An authorized representative of the employer fills out and swears to Part A. An authorized representative of the healthcare provider does the same for Part B. The form states no other reason for an exemption.
When to file Vacation Rental Exemption Application Form – Washington, DC
Submit the form when you, as a host, need an exemption from the 90-night limit for a calendar year in which you will be outside the District for employment or medical reasons for more than ninety (90) days. Line 1 asks for the calendar year for which you request the exemption, and line 2e for the dates you will live outside the District. The form prints no separate filing deadline, so check the dates against your travel before you send it.
The instructions say the DC Short-Term Rental Program reviews the request and decides whether you qualify; they give no review time. If the exemption is approved, you must notify the program within ten (10) days of your return to the District.
Documents you need
- Notarized Affidavit of Employer (Part A), completed by an authorized employer representative, when the exemption is based on employment outside the District.
- Affidavit of Healthcare Provider (Part B), completed and sworn before a notary by an authorized provider representative, when the exemption is based on medical treatment.
- Proof of travel, such as airline tickets, hotel reservations outside the District, a copy of a lease outside the District, or other documentation showing you will reside outside the District.
How to fill out Vacation Rental Exemption Application Form – Washington, DC
Select your exemption reason
In Step 1, check Employment or Medical for the reason under 14 DCMR § 9904.2 that applies to you.
Enter the calendar year
On line 1, Calendar Year Requesting Exemption, enter the calendar year for which you ask for the exemption.
Complete host information
On line 2, enter your name (2a), primary residence address (2b), phone number (2c) and email address (2d). Add the dates you will live outside the District (2e) and your address outside the District during that period (2f).
Add spouse or family details
On line 3, give the name of your spouse or domestic partner if you are applying on that basis. On line 4, give the family member's name and your relationship to them if you are applying to care for that person.
Complete the employer section
For an employment exemption, line 5 asks for the employee name, employer name, employer address and the dates that require the host to reside outside the District for employment.
Complete the medical section
For a medical exemption, line 6 asks for the patient name, medical provider name and address, the location of treatment outside the District and the dates of the patient's treatment.
Gather proof of travel
In Step 3, attach proof of travel, such as airline tickets, hotel reservations, a lease outside the District or other documentation that shows you will reside outside the District.
Attach the notarized affidavit
In Step 4, attach the Notarized Affidavit of Employer (Part A) or the Affidavit of Healthcare Provider (Part B). The employer or provider representative completes it, signs it and has it sworn before a notary.
Complete the host certification
In Step 5, enter your name, the primary residence address you own, your address outside the District and the start and end dates of your stay.
Explain the need for travel
In Step 6, describe why you must travel. Then print your name, sign and date the statement that all information is true to the best of your knowledge.
Review and download the PDF
Check that every required field is complete and matches the affidavit and travel proof. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and assemble the package described under How to submit.
How to submit Vacation Rental Exemption Application Form – Washington, DC
Send the application by email. The instructions say to email the fully completed Vacation Rental Exemption Application Form, the required notarized affidavit from the employer or medical provider, and proof of travel to [email protected]. The DC Short-Term Rental Program then reviews the request to determine whether you qualify.
- Email: [email protected], with all three items in the same message.
- After approval: notify the DC Short-Term Rental Program within ten (10) days of your return to the District.
Before sending, check that every field the form requires has been completed as directed, because the instructions condition the exemption on that. The form names no mailing address, portal, fee or in-person option. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channel above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Sending the form without the notarized affidavit from the employer (Part A) or the healthcare provider (Part B), which the instructions require with the application.
- Leaving out proof of travel; Step 3 asks for documentation showing that the host will reside outside the District.
- Leaving required fields blank; the instructions say all fields must be completed as directed to qualify for the exemption.
- Skipping the section that applies to your reason, such as the employer section for an employment exemption or the medical provider section for a medical one.
- Filling in the spouse/domestic partner or family member sections when they are not the basis of the request; they are required only if used to apply.
- Submitting an employer or provider affidavit that is not sworn before a notary, with the notary seal, commission date and signature left blank.
- Not notifying the DC Short-Term Rental Program within ten (10) days of returning to the District after approval.
- Using the exemption for a medical reason without the provider stating a "serious health condition" as defined by D.C. Official Code § 32-541.01(20).
Frequently asked questions
What is the Vacation Rental Exemption Application Form?
It is the DC form a short-term rental host uses to request an exemption from the 90-night limit on vacation rentals. The DC Short-Term Rental Program reviews the request under 14 DCMR § 9904.2 and decides whether the host qualifies.
Who qualifies for a vacation rental exemption in DC?
A host whose employer, or whose spouse's or domestic partner's employer, requires work outside the District for more than 90 days in a calendar year qualifies, as does a host who leaves the District for more than 90 days for a serious health condition, their own or a family member's.
What is the 90-night limit for DC vacation rentals?
A short-term rental may operate as a vacation rental no more than ninety (90) nights cumulatively in any calendar year, unless the host has received an exemption under Section 9904 of Title 14 of the DCMR.
Where do I send the vacation rental exemption application?
Email it to [email protected]. Include the completed form, the notarized affidavit from the employer or medical provider, and proof of travel. The form lists no other submission channel.
What documents do I need with the exemption application?
You need proof of travel, such as airline tickets, hotel reservations outside the District or a lease outside the District, and a notarized affidavit from your employer (Part A) or your healthcare provider (Part B), depending on your reason.
What must I do after the exemption is approved?
You must notify the DC Short-Term Rental Program within ten (10) days of your return to the District. The instructions state this duty applies to the host once the request is approved.
Can I fill out the vacation rental exemption form online?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not send the form to DLCP; you email it to the DC Short-Term Rental Program yourself.
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