Washington DC Headlines
DCRA has posted the February 2012 inspection schedule on its website. Members may click on February 2012 to view the list of residential properties that DCRA plans to inspect during the month of February.
DC Water recently moved its permit operations to Southwest DC joining the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, Department of Transportation, and the Department of the Environment at 1100 4th Street, SW, 3rd floor. Members may contact DC Water’s Department of Permitting Operations at its new location by calling (202) 646-8600. Learn more about the move by clicking on: DC Water Press Release - New Location for Permit Operations.
Current law requires the District’s Attorney General to file a lawsuit to recover a maximum fine of $25 from owners who fail to remove snow and ice from the sidewalks near their property. This will change under Bill 19-16, the “Winter Sidewalk Safety Amendment Act of 2011” which proposes separate penalty schedules for residential and commercial property owners. Commercial property owners will be subject to the following fine schedule: (1) $125 for the first offense; (2) $250 for the second offense; and (3) $500 for each subsequent offense. A similar schedule will apply to residential property owners who will face fines ranging from $25 to $100. All property owners will receive a warning prior to being fined. Additionally, in order to afford property owners adequate time to clear any snow and ice, the District cannot fine owners more than once per day. The Council gave preliminary approval to the bill on Jan. 4. The legislation is expected to receive a final reading at the next legislative meeting. Look for more information in the next DC edition of At Issue.
DCRA has posted the January 2012 proactive inspection schedule on its website. Members may click on DCRA - JANUARY 2012 PROACTIVE INSPECTION SCHEDULE to view the list of residential properties that DCRA plans to inspect during the month of January.
The Mayor’s 2012 Sustainability Awards will recognize outstanding individuals, businesses, schools, institutions and organizations for their environmental leadership and contributions to the Mayor’s vision that the District become the greenest, healthiest, and most livable city in the nation. The application deadline is April 13, 2012. Members interested in participating, should visit the District Department of the Environment’s website at: 2012 Mayor's Sustainability Awards. For more info, contact marylynn.wilhere@dc.gov.
On Nov. 25, the DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs published an emergency rulemaking updating the fine structure for housing inspection division and vacant property infractions. The changes to the schedule of fines were necessary to reflect revisions in the District’s Fiscal Year 2011 budget. The rulemaking also implements penalties for the enforcement provisions of DCRA’s Summer Grass and Trash Program. To view the emergency rules click on the following: Nov. 25 DCRA Emergency Rulemaking. To view the schedule of fines as amended by the November rulemaking click on the following: Amended DCRA Enforcement Regulations.
DCRA has posted the December 2011 inspection schedule on its website. Members may click on DCRA - DECEMBER PROACTIVE INSPECTION SCHEDULE to view the list of residential properties that DCRA plans to inspect during the month of December.
On Nov. 16th, the Board of Real Property Assessments and Appeals (BRPAA) is relocating to a new office located at One Judiciary Square, Room 360 North, Washington, DC 20001. Please note that all phone numbers will remain the same. If members have any questions about the move, please contact BRPAA’s Administrative Officer Carlynn Fuller Jenkins, Esq. via e-mail at: carlynn.fuller@dc.gov or by calling (202) 727-3596.
AOBA hosted representatives of the District’s Department of the Environment (DDOE) who briefed members on the District’s Energy Star Benchmarking regulations for both commercial and multifamily buildings. DOE staff took questions and comments from members and offered the following contact information if further questions arise: Tel: 202.671.3042 or info.benchmark@dc.gov
For details on the regulations and a summary, click on the following links:
DCRA has posted the November 2011 inspection schedule on its website. Members may click on DCRA - NOVEMBER PROACTIVE INSPECTION SCHEDULE to view the list of residential properties that DCRA plans to inspect during the month of November.
The District’s Office of Tax and Revenue recently published the following statutory real property tax rates for Tax Year 2012 (Oct. 1, 2011 – Sept. 30, 2012) : (1) Class One -- $0.85/$100 of assessed value; (2) Class Two: (a) first $3 million in assessed value -- $1.65; and (b) any assessed value in excess of $3 million --- $1.85; (3) Class Three (indefinitely vacant buildings) -- $5.00/$100 of assessed value; and (4) Class Four (blighted/condemned buildings) -- $10/$100 of assessed value. For details, please see the October “At Issue” (posted on AOBA’s home page.)
On Sept. 29th, the DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agencyl hosted a forum on “The Business Community and Emergency Preparedness”. The program’s purpose was to provide attendees with a deeper understanding of how to maintain business continuity during major disasters, and at the same time, help the District’s efforts to create a safe and secure environment for DC residents. For further information about the program, please contact Theo Brown at (301) 589-1006.
The DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) has posted the October 2011 inspection schedule on its website. Members may click on DCRA - OCTOBER PROACTIVE INSPECTION SCHEDULE to view the list of residential properties that DCRA plans to inspect during the month of October.
AOBA encourages members, their employees and tenants to participate in DC Car Free Day on Thursday, Sept. 22. The purpose of DC Car Free Day is to encourage residents and workers to use the diverse alternative transportation options to driving in the District. AOBA members can participate in this initiative by encouraging their tenants to take the car-free challenge and use the Metro, carpool, walk, or even bike to work. Please share information with your employees and tenants, including the DC Car Free Day Poster. Learn more about DC Car Free Day by visiting: http://www.carfreemetrodc.com/.
Mayor Vincent Gray recently announced an ambitious initiative to create a comprehensive sustainability strategy for the District called “Sustainable DC.” The planning process for this initiative is kicking off with “Start in September,” a month-long intensive outreach campaign to hear how District residents envision a more sustainable future in the District. The Mayor, DC Office of Planning Director Harriet Tregoning and DC Department of the Environment director Christophe Tolou have created a “Start in September” website (www.sustainable.dc.gov ) where persons can discuss their “vision for a greener, healthier, more livable DC, see what others are saying, and vote for your favorite ideas.” The goal is to have dozens of community-led conversations gathering ideas and goals for a more sustainable DC, gathering ideas and goals in the areas of energy, climate change, water, transportation, waste, food, the built environment, nature, and the green economy. Read Mayor Gray's announcement »
The website also offers resources to help organizations like AOBA and its member companies host their own “Start in September” community discussions. Members are urged to check out the website; additional information about “Start in September” or Sustainable DC in general may be requested at sustainable.future@dc.gov or 202-281-3957.
The DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) has posted the September 2011 inspection schedule on its website. Members may click on DCRA - SEPTEMBER PROACTIVE INSPECTION SCHEDULE to view the list of residential properties that DCRA plans to inspect during the month of September.
The DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) has posted the August 2011 inspection schedule on its website. Members may click on DCRA - AUGUST PROACTIVE INSPECTION SCHEDULE to view the list of residential properties that DCRA plans to inspect during the month of August.
The District’s Department of the Environment recently published revised lead-based paint disclosure and tenants’ rights forms to comply with changes to the law resulting from passage of the “Lead Hazard Prevention and Elimination Amendment Act of 2010”. Please click on the following links to view the updated forms: (1) Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Form; (2) Lead Disclosure Form Instructions; and (3) Tenants’ Rights Form. If you have any questions about the Act or changes to the forms, please contact Nicola Whiteman at (202) 296-3390 or via e-mail at NWhiteman@aoba-metro.org.
The DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) has posted the July 2011 inspection schedule on its website. Members may click on DCRA - JULY 2011 PROACTIVE INSPECTION SCHEDULE to view the list of residential properties that DCRA plans to inspect during the month of July.
On June 7, the DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) released the first comprehensive study of rental units subject to rent control since the 2000 Nathan Associates report commissioned by the Control Board. At the time of the 2000 Nathan Associates report, an estimated 101,500 of the 160,900 rental housing units in DC were subject to rent control. Per DHCD’s "A Rent Control Report for the District of Columbia," there are currently 9,352 primarily multifamily rental apartment buildings with 119,288 units in the District. Of that total, 4,818 properties and 79,145 housing units are potentially subject to the rent control scheme. The report also includes a description of the rent-controlled housing stock by Ward, as well as property and owner characteristics.
