Washington DC: DCRA License Requirements

[Eliza63]

Hello,

There seems to be broad consensus (per Airbnb guidance and local media reports) that a DCRA business license of some kind is required by DC law in order to operate a short-term rental in the District of Columbia (See article below).  Does anyone have insight into what the law actually says and where to find this information?  I have been unable to confirm if such a license is required outside of online message boards, Airbnb Help Center and the Urban Turf article below.  It seems to me that this is a grey area under current law.

https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/how_to_legally_list_on_airbnb_in_dc/12537

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/863/washington--d-c

Thanks!

Josh 

[Cynthia28]

I am searching for the same information. So far I found some info on Kenyan McDuffie's website. 

https://kenyanmcduffieward5.com/homesharing/

[Cari18]

I received a $3000 fine for not having a business license.

[Jake517]

Did you pay it?  

Jake Scott

202-329-3302

[Courtney244]

I was told by DCRA that you need a "one family rental license" in a situation where you are renting out a space in your home but you will be on the premise.  you can find that license here: https://dcra.dc.gov/node/514682

[Matt755]

Can't wait until the new regs kick in. Airbnb has done quite a bit of harm to this city.

[Neil-and-William0]

I have the B and B license for my basement rental.  I have that license because if I have a rooming house/boarding house license, people can stay for between 30-90 days.  I am a licensed realtor, and worry that if you get a one family rental license for the room in your house, any tenant (short term or long term, it is not defined) might have some rights of first refusal if you go to sell your home.  

[Lisa1933]

Yes, as indicated, only when you rent out your entire residence, not part of your residence. Do not get one for a room-basement rental only, as indicated above. 

[Andre11483]

Does anyone have a property owned by a entity?  If so, what’s your plan for AirBNB in DC?

[Steven1338]

Does anyone know how you would do *both* vacation rentals (which are by definition less than 30 days *and* stays longer than 30 days?   I called the DCRA hotline and they said yes, you would just need both a BBL (single family rental) and a vacation rental license...  Which is fine, but how then does the homestead deduction work?   It seems you need to be eligible for it to apply for the vacation rental license...  but then when you do that it's no longer "owner occupied," so do you lose it?

We fit into an exemption from the 90 day cap on vacation rentals since we'll be away from DC for 2 years for work.  Would like to rent for greater than 30 day increments during the slower months.  Don't really care if we need to give the homestead deduction up for the entire time; just want to do it correctly.