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Free notice · District of Columbia · updated 2026

District of Columbia Landlord Notice of Entry Template

The notice District of Columbia requires before a landlord enters an occupied unit — 48 hours under D.C. Code § 42-3505.51 — with the reason, the window and the delivery record filled in from the tenant's record.

Free forever · delivered and time-stamped · reviewed against D.C. Code, Title 42, Chapter 35 (Rental Housing Act of 1985)
48 hoursNotice required48 hours
No noticeEmergency entryAllowed without notice
CustomaryPermitted reasonsRepairs, inspections, showing the unit to prospective tenant...
StatuteDistrict of Columbia referenceD.C. Code § 42-3505.51

When does a District of Columbia landlord need to give notice?

Pick the situation. The period on each card is District of Columbia's minimum — your lease can require more, never less.

48hours
Repairs & inspections48 hours. State the reason and a window of a few hours, at a reasonable time of day.Sent from the tenant record
48hours
Showing the unitProspective tenants, buyers, appraisers or contractors — same notice as repairs.Sent from the tenant record
No notice
EmergencyAllowed without notice. Burst pipe, fire, gas, a threat to health or safety — enter, then tell the tenant what happened and why.Reference
Never
Tenant refuses entryA tenant cannot refuse a proper notice for a permitted reason; repeated refusal is a lease violation. Never enter by force — document and use the violation notice.Reference

What a District of Columbia notice of entry must contain

Tenant name(s) and the unit addressName each person on the lease; the notice binds all of them.
The date and a time windowAt least 48 hours ahead, as District of Columbia requires; a window of a few hours at a reasonable time of day.D.C. Code § 42-3505.51
The reason for entryRepairs, inspection, showing the unit, or a service you agreed to supply. Name the one that applies.
Who will enterYou, your manager, a contractor, or a prospective tenant — the tenant is entitled to know.
How it was deliveredWritten notice: hand delivery, posting on the door, mail, or email/text if the lease allows electronic notices. Keep the date.auto-logged
Your name and a contactSo the tenant can ask to reschedule; a reasonable request to move the time is usually worth granting.

How it works

1 · Open the tenant's recordResidents → the tenant → Messages. Write the notice with the date, window and reason; the address and names are already on the record.
2 · Send itDelivered by email and in the tenant portal (and by text where the tenant has opted in), time-stamped.
3 · Keep the recordThe message thread is the proof of notice if entry is ever disputed; add a note after the visit.

District of Columbia entry notice FAQ

How much notice must a District of Columbia landlord give before entering?

48 hours (D.C. Code § 42-3505.51).

Can I enter without notice in an emergency?

Allowed without notice. Tell the tenant afterwards what happened and what was done.

What reasons allow entry?

Repairs, inspections, showing the unit to prospective tenants, buyers or contractors, and supplying agreed services.

Can the tenant refuse?

Not a proper notice for a permitted reason. Repeated refusal is a lease violation; never enter by force — document it and use the lease-violation notice.

Does a text or email count as notice?

Only if the lease allows electronic notices. The in-app message is emailed and shown in the tenant portal, time-stamped; print it for hand delivery where paper is required.

Send a District of Columbia notice of entry in two minutes

Date, reason and delivery record on the tenant's file. Free.

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Notice periods are District of Columbia's statutory minimums as of 2026, reviewed against D.C. Code, Title 42, Chapter 35 (Rental Housing Act of 1985). General information for landlords, not legal advice; local ordinances can add requirements.