Go to the Inspection Portal:

👉 inspections.dcra.dc.gov

Click “Schedule an Inspection”

It’s right there on the homepage — your gateway to getting licensed.

Choose Your Inspection Type:

Pick “Housing Code Proactive Inspection” or “BBL Housing Inspection.”

(Either is fine — both get your rental checked out.)

Enter Your Info:

Property address (must match your license app)

Contact info

Select preferred date and time (DC lets you choose — how nice!)

Confirm & Submit

You’ll get an email confirming the time and inspector.  Then hope everything with the DC government goes smoothly.  

Let's keep making progress!

Go to MyTax.DC.gov

Click "Sign Up for MyTax.DC.gov" (top right corner)

If you already have an account, just log in.

Choose "Start a New Business Registration (FR-500)"

You’ll find this option under “Register a New Business.”

Select “Rental of Real Property” as your business activity

Choose this under the General Business Activities section.

Enter the property address

Be sure to enter the DC rental property address (not your home if it’s different).

Complete owner information

If you own as an individual, use your name and SSN.

If it's through an LLC, enter your business name and EIN.

Select “Sales and Use Tax” and “Unincorporated Franchise Tax” (if applicable)

Most rental property owners will not collect sales tax, but select "Rental of Residential Real Property" to be safe.

Submit the registration

Once submitted, you’ll receive a Confirmation Number and a Notice of Business Tax Registration by email or mail.

Log in at My DC Business Center using Access DC credentials 

Choose "Apply for new Basic Business License".

Select the correct type:

• One-Family Rental
• Two-Family Rental
• Apartment House (3+ units) 

Provide property and owner details; upload required documents:

Self‑certification form

Pay the fee:

One-family: $198

Two-family: $283.80

Multi-unit: varies (e.g., 3 units ~$450 +)

What does a RAD form do?  It adds your property to the DC rental housing database

Allows you to claim rent control exemptions (e.g. if you own fewer than 4 units)

Ensures tenants and the city know who’s managing the property.

Download the RAD Registration Form

Form name: RAD Registration / Claim of Exemption Form

Download it from DHCD’s official website:

https://dhcd.dc.gov/page/rental-accommodations-division

Download the RAD Form Here

3. Complete the Form

You’ll be asked to provide:

Rental property address

Owner or company information

Type of exemption you are claiming (if any)

Most individual landlords use the “Exempt – Fewer Than Four Rental Units” option.

4. Submit the Form

You can submit the form one of two ways:

By email:

Send completed form to: rad.registration@dc.gov

By mail:

Rental Accommodations Division (RAD)

Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)

1800 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE

Washington, DC 20020

5. Save Your Confirmation

Once submitted, RAD staff will review the form and send confirmation.

Save this confirmation for your records.

If you need help completing the form or determining your exemption type, contact RAD at https://dhcd.dc.gov or call (202) 442-9505.

NOTE: If you prefer to hire an expediter, we recommend Jean Poitevien at BBL Processors. Rather than go through their website, you may fill out this form to get started with them. Please email the form to info@bblprocessors.com, and they will contact you for payment (Nest clients receive 10% off).