District of Columbia 10-Day Dangerous-Crime Notice to Vacate
District of Columbia 10-Day Dangerous-Crime Notice to Vacate
Before you use this: This narrow notice concerns an illegal act within a rental unit or housing accommodation that qualifies as a dangerous crime or crime of violence under D.C. Code § 23-1331(3) or (4), and that was not committed in self-defense or defense of another. Confirm a final court determination of the illegal act with no pending appeal or remaining appeal time under 14 DCMR § 4300.11, and confirm that the case falls under the 10-day route of D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(c)(2)(A). Serve matching English and Spanish versions under 14 DCMR § 4300.22 and any additional required language. The definitions in § 23-1331 are scheduled to change after December 31, 2026; check the law again for a later notice.
Notice date: [__/__/____]
To tenant(s): [FULL LEGAL NAME(S)]
Rental unit and housing accommodation: [STREET ADDRESS, UNIT, WASHINGTON, DC ZIP]
From housing provider: [FULL LEGAL NAME AND NOTICE ADDRESS]
Court determination and qualifying act
Court and case number: [COURT; CASE NUMBER]
Order or judgment date: [__/__/____]
Appeal status: [NO APPEAL PENDING; TIME FOR APPEAL EXPIRED / EXPLAIN]
Person found to have performed the act: [NAME AND RELATIONSHIP TO TENANCY]
Act, date, location, and precise court finding: [FACTS CONSISTENT WITH THE COURT RECORD]
Qualifying offense and subsection of D.C. Code § 23-1331(3) or (4): [OFFENSE; SUBSECTION]
Court record attached or identified: [ORDER OR JUDGMENT; DATE; PAGE]
Facts showing the act was not committed in self-defense or defense of another: [SPECIFIC FACTS]
Relevant court finding concerning tenant knowledge, if the actor was another occupant: [FINDING AND PAGE / NOT APPLICABLE]
If the person was an occupant other than a tenant, state the facts supporting the housing provider's position that the tenant knew or should have known the act was taking place: [SPECIFIC FACTS].
Housing preservation review
Before giving this notice, the housing provider considered in good faith reasonable available ways to preserve the housing of nonoffending occupants. The following measures were considered and the outcome of each was: [IDENTIFY MEASURES, INCLUDING WHETHER THE OFFENDING PERSON COULD BE BARRED OR AN ELIGIBLE OCCUPANT COULD TAKE OVER THE LEASE; EXPLAIN OUTCOMES].
Ten-day notice to vacate
Under D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(c)(2)(A), the housing provider gives 10 days' notice to vacate. Vacate and deliver possession of the rental unit by [DATE, NO EARLIER THAN 10 DAYS AFTER SERVICE].
The housing provider may seek possession through the court after the notice period. The tenant may contest the allegations and applicable defenses in that action.
A copy of this notice is being filed with the Rent Administrator at the Rental Accommodations Division, [CONFIRM CURRENT STREET ADDRESS], Washington, DC [ZIP], telephone (202) 442-9505. The provider must file the copy and service certification no later than five business days after tenant service under 14 DCMR § 4300.8.
The tenant may have a defense if the alleged act relates to an intrafamily offense against the tenant or the tenant's minor child. The D.C. Office of Human Rights may assist; call (202) 727-4559. The tenant may also contest the action in court; only a court can order eviction. For help, contact the Office of the Tenant Advocate at (202) 719-6560 or the Landlord Tenant Legal Assistance Network at (202) 780-2575.
Aviso en español (entregar junto con la versión en inglés)
Fecha del aviso: [__/__/____] Inquilino(s): [NOMBRES]
Vivienda: [DIRECCIÓN Y UNIDAD] Proveedor de vivienda: [NOMBRE Y DIRECCIÓN]
Tribunal, número de caso y fecha de la orden final: [TRIBUNAL; NÚMERO; FECHA]. Estado de la apelación: [NO HAY APELACIÓN PENDIENTE Y VENCIÓ EL PLAZO PARA APELAR / EXPLICAR].
Persona que cometió el acto y relación con la vivienda: [NOMBRE; RELACIÓN]. Acto, fecha, lugar y hechos establecidos por el tribunal: [HECHOS Y PÁGINA DE LA ORDEN]. Delito y disposición aplicable del Código del D.C. § 23-1331(3) o (4): [DELITO; DISPOSICIÓN]. Hechos que muestran que el acto no fue en defensa propia ni de otra persona: [HECHOS]. Si otra persona cometió el acto, hallazgo del tribunal sobre el conocimiento del inquilino: [HALLAZGO Y PÁGINA / NO APLICA].
Antes de dar este aviso, el proveedor consideró de buena fe maneras razonables de conservar la vivienda de quienes no cometieron el acto, incluso impedir el acceso de la persona responsable o transferir el contrato a un ocupante elegible. Medidas consideradas y resultados: [DETALLES].
De conformidad con el Código del D.C. § 42-3505.01(c)(2)(A), el proveedor le da 10 días de aviso para desocupar. Desocupe y entregue la vivienda a más tardar el [FECHA, NO ANTES DE 10 DÍAS DESPUÉS DE LA ENTREGA]. Después de ese plazo, el proveedor puede presentar una demanda judicial de desalojo. Usted puede impugnar las alegaciones y presentar sus defensas. Solo un tribunal puede ordenar su desalojo.
Se está presentando una copia de este aviso al Administrador de Alquileres en la División de Viviendas de Alquiler, [CONFIRMAR DIRECCIÓN ACTUAL], Washington, DC [CÓDIGO POSTAL], teléfono (202) 442-9505. Si el acto se relaciona con violencia intrafamiliar contra usted o su hijo menor de edad, podría tener una defensa; la Oficina de Derechos Humanos del D.C. puede ayudarle al (202) 727-4559. Para obtener ayuda, llame a la Oficina del Defensor del Inquilino al (202) 719-6560 o a la Red de Asistencia Legal para Arrendadores e Inquilinos al (202) 780-2575.
Firma del proveedor o representante: ____________________ Nombre y cargo: [NOMBRE; CARGO] Fecha: [__/__/____]
Housing provider signature
Signature: ______________________________
Printed name and capacity: [NAME AND CAPACITY]
Address for response: [ADDRESS]
Phone or email: [CONTACT]
Date signed: [__/__/____]
Service record
Tenant served: [NAME]
Date and method of service: [DATE; METHOD; LOCATION]
Person serving: [NAME AND SIGNATURE]
Date and method of service on the Rent Administrator: [DATE; METHOD; DELIVERY RECORD]
English and Spanish copies served together: [YES; RECORD]. Additional required language, if any: [LANGUAGE AND VERSION / NOT APPLICABLE]. If posting was necessary after diligent attempts at personal or substitute service, record the attempts, dated photograph, and first-class mailing within three calendar days under 14 DCMR § 4300.25: [RECORD].
If posted, photograph with readable timestamp retained for court: [FILE OR RECORD REFERENCE / NOT APPLICABLE]
Sources and References
- D.C. Code § 42-3505.01 — grounds, timing, defenses, and notices
- D.C. Code § 23-1331 — qualifying-offense definitions
- 14 DCMR § 4300 and § 4302 — final determination, notice contents, languages, and service
About this template
- Last updated
- October 29, 2026
- Jurisdiction
- District of Columbia
- Category
- Landlord & Tenant
Legal authority
- D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a)(1)-(3), (c)(1)-(2)
- D.C. Code § 23-1331(3)-(4)
Landlord-tenant paperwork governs who can stay in a property, on what terms, and what happens when something goes wrong. Leases, notices to quit, security deposit demands, and habitability complaints all have state and often city-specific requirements for timing, content, and service. Getting the paperwork right is what makes an eviction actually succeed or a security deposit actually come back, because judges regularly dismiss cases over small procedural mistakes.
Not legal advice
This template is provided for informational purposes. We recommend having an attorney review any legal document before signing, especially for high-value or complex matters.
Checked against the law it cites
The statutes this template relies on are listed under Legal authority.
D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(c)(2)(A) (checked October 27, 2026): "In each case pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection filed after [December 31, 2025], in which the alleged illegal act within the rental unit or the housing accommodation would constitute a dangerous crime as defined in § 23-1331(3) or a crime of violence as defined in § 23-1331(4) and was not committed in self-defense or defense of another: (i) The housing provider, after considering in good faith all reasonable available means to preserve the housing of non-offending occupants, such as barring the offending individual from the property or assessing whether the lease can be transferred to an eligible occupant, shall serve on the tenant a 10-day notice to vacate;"
D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(c)(1) (checked October 27, 2026): "A housing provider may recover possession of a rental unit where a court of competent jurisdiction has determined that the tenant, or a person occupying the premises with or in addition to the tenant, has performed an illegal act within the rental unit or the housing accommodation."
D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(c)(2)(B) (checked October 27, 2026): "it shall be a defense to an action for possession under this subsection based on allegations of a dangerous crime or crime of violence if:"
D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a)(1) (checked October 27, 2026): "Notices for all reasons other than for nonpayment of rent shall be served upon both the tenant and the Rent Administrator."
Draft your District of Columbia 10-Day Dangerous-Crime Notice to Vacate in the editor
Answer a few questions, let the AI editor draft each section from your answers, review it, and download Word and PDF. $99 one time, or $249 per month for every document and every Ezel app.