Washington, DC Lease Agreement: What to Include
January 20, 2025A Washington, DC residential lease should reflect the state's specific rules on security deposits, entry notice, late fees, and disclosures — a generic template often misses the details below.
Security deposit
Security deposit limit: 1 month rent. Interest requirement: Yes. Deposits are generally expected back within 45 days of move-out, with an itemized list of any deductions.
Entry notice and late fees
Entry notice: 48 hours. Late fees: Generally capped by DC law; commonly 5% of rent; confirm current DC Code, with a grace period of 5 days. Rent increase notice for month-to-month tenancies: 30 days.
Required disclosures
A Washington, DC lease should include or accompany:
- • Federal lead-based paint
- • Tenant Bill of Rights
- • rent control/exemptions
- • mold
- • bedbug
- • radon where applicable
Eviction notice
For nonpayment of rent, Washington, DC generally requires: 30 for nonpayment under current DC protections; verify before filing. Confirm the current specific requirement before relying on it for an actual notice.
The bottom line
See LeasePilot HQ's full Washington, DC landlord-tenant law summary for the complete breakdown with sources, or generate a lease with Washington, DC-specific clauses built in automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can I charge as a security deposit in Washington, DC?
1 month rent. Confirm current specifics before setting a deposit amount.
How much notice do I need to evict a tenant for nonpayment in Washington, DC?
30 for nonpayment under current DC protections; verify before filing. Notice requirements can change, so confirm the current statute before filing.
What disclosures does Washington, DC require in a lease?
At minimum: Federal lead-based paint, Tenant Bill of Rights, rent control/exemptions, mold, bedbug, radon where applicable. Requirements can be added by local ordinance on top of state law, so check your specific city or county as well.