District of Columbia Code
Subchapter IX - Miscellaneous Provisions
§ 42–3509.04. Service

*NOTE: This section includes amendments by temporary legislation that will expire on February 10, 2023. To view the text of this section after the expiration of all emergency and temporary legislation, click this link: Permanent Version.*
(a) Unless otherwise provided by Rental Housing Commission regulations, any information or document required to be served upon any person shall be served upon that person, or the representative designated by that person or by the law to receive service of the documents. When a party has appeared through a representative of record, service shall be made upon that representative. Service upon a person may be completed by any of the following ways:
(1) By handing the document to the person, by leaving it at the person’s place of business with some responsible person in charge, or by leaving it at the person’s usual place of residence with a person of suitable age and discretion;
(2) By telegram, when the content of the information or document is given to a telegraph company properly addressed and prepaid;
(3) By mail or deposit with the United States Postal Service properly stamped and addressed; or
(4) By any other means that is in conformity with an order of the Rental Housing Commission or the Rent Administrator in any proceeding.
(b) No rent increases, whether under this chapter, the Rental Accommodations Act of 1975, the Rental Housing Act of 1977, the Rental Housing Act of 1980, or any administrative decisions issued under these acts, shall be effective until the first day on which rent is normally paid occurring more than 30 days after notice of the increase is given to the tenant.
(c) No rent increase notice given to a tenant or rent increase implemented between January 1, 2022, and February 28, 2022, pursuant to this chapter, the Rental Accommodations Act of 1975, the Rental Housing Act of 1977, or the Rental Housing Act of 1980, that meets the requirements of District law shall be deemed null and void by operation of section 405(7) of the Coronavirus Support Temporary Amendment Act of 2021, effective June 24, 2021 (D.C. Law 24-9; 68 DCR 4824).
(July 17, 1985, D.C. Law 6-10, § 904, 32 DCR 3089; June 30, 2022, D.C. Law 24-141, § 2, 69 DCR 005065.)
1981 Ed., § 45-2594.
This section is referenced in § 42-3502.08, § 42-3502.09, and § 42-3502.16.
Rental Accommodations Act of 1975, and the Rental Housing Acts of 1977 and 1980, definitions, see § 42-3501.03.
Rent increases above base rent, notice of increase in compliance with this section, see § 42-3502.08.
See Historical and Statutory Notes following § 42-3509.01.
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2 of Rent Notice and Rent Increase Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2022 (D.C. Act 24-385, Apr. 25, 2022, 0 DCR 0).
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 3(u)(2) of Public Emergency Extension and Eviction and Utility Moratorium Phasing Emergency Amendment Act of 2021 (D.C. Act 24-125, July 24, 2021, 68 DCR 007342).
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 405(7) of Coronavirus Support Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2021 (D.C. Act 24-96, June 7, 2021, 68 DCR 006025).
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 405(a)(7) of Coronavirus Support Emergency Amendment Act of 2021 (D.C. Act 24-30, Mar. 17, 2021, 68 DCR 003101).
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 405(b)(7) of Coronavirus Support Second Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 (D.C. Act 23-405, Aug. 19, 2020, 67 DCR 10235).
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 405(b)(7) of Coronavirus Support Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 (D.C. Act 23-328, June 8, 2020, 67 DCR 7598).
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 405(b)(7) of Coronavirus Support Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 (D.C. Act 23-326, May 27, 2020, 67 DCR 7045).
For temporary (225 days) amendment of this section, see § 2 of Rent Notice and Rent Increase Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2022 (D.C. Law 24-141, June 30, 2022, 69 DCR 005065).
For temporary (225 days) amendment of this section, see § 3(u)(2) of Public Emergency Extension and Eviction and Utility Moratorium Phasing Temporary Amendment Act of 2021 (D.C. Law 24-39, Oct. 27, 2021, 68 DCR 009487).
For temporary (225 days) amendment of this section, see § 405(7) of Coronavirus Support Temporary Amendment Act of 2021 (D.C. Law 24-9, June 24, 2021, 68 DCR 004824).
For temporary (225 days) amendment of this section, see § 405(b)(7) of Coronavirus Support Temporary Amendment Act of 2020 (D.C. Law 23-130, Oct. 9, 2020, 67 DCR 8622).