Washington, D.C. security deposit law: the 45-day deadline and your rights
Within 45 days after termination the housing provider must return the deposit plus interest or give written notice of intent to withhold (14 DCMR 309.1); an itemized statement must follow within 30 days of that notice.
What Washington, D.C. law says
- Return deadline
- 45 days
- Statute
- 14 DCMR §§ 308–311; D.C. Code § 42-3502.17
Liable for the amount withheld, or treble damages for bad faith — defined as a frivolous or unfounded refusal motivated by a fraudulent, deceptive, misleading, dishonest, or unreasonably self-serving purpose (14 DCMR 309–310).
Verification pending. Our attorney-reviewed deep-dive for Washington, D.C. — with the full case builder, damages calculator, and demand letter generator — isn't live yet. The summary above is drawn from the statute but hasn't completed our legal review; always confirm against the current text of 14 DCMR §§ 308–311; D.C. Code § 42-3502.17.
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