Washington DC Building Permit Guide
Section: Everyone Guides
Author: Susan Isaacs, Washington DC Real Estate Strategist
What Is A DC Building Permit?
A building permit is an authorization to build according to a specific scope of work, including approved plans. You are required by law to get a permit for construction in the District of Columbia. Any modification of permit scope or approved plans must be specifically approved.
What Kinds of Work A Residential Building Permit Covers
For interior renovations (kitchen or bathroom remodels), an Alteration and Repair is the correct permit type.
All projects require a cost estimate to assess the total permit fee and some will require floor plans (depending on the scope of work).
Here’s the shortlist from the DC Dept. of Building:
New construction and foundations
Additions, alterations, or repair of existing buildings (decks qualify as additions)
Demolition
Razes
Construction of retaining walls, fences, sheds, garages, or vault construction
Erection of signs, awnings or canopies
Layout changes to interior space in new buildings (e.g. remodeling; changing the floor plan of a building from ten one-bedroom units to five two-bedroom units)
Water or sewer excavation
Mechanical permits for supplemental systems installation (electric, plumbing, and HVAC)
Public Space permits if a dumpster(s), fencing or retaining walls are installed between the structure and the curb.
Commercial buildings have additional requirements. Find more detail on DC DOB
Take Note
The DC Department of Buildings has an online Permit Wizard
Always obtain a required permit before starting work
Have your information and materials ready for your permit application
Updates To DOB Permitting
Key 2026 Permitting Changes
Expanded Instant Permits:
Eligible residential solar panel installations up to 15 kilowatts and in-kind replacements of up to 15 windows are included in the fast online process.
Construction Code Updates:
The DOB is transitioning local building codes toward modern International Code Council (ICC) standards
A series of public virtual listening sessions run through June to September 2026 to gather feedback on residential, commercial, electrical, and mechanical codes before formal rules are proposed.
Mandatory Pre-Submission Checklists:
All ProjectDox plan submissions require an online pre-submission checklist, ensuring you upload the exact minimum required documents for your specific project scope.
Streamlined Portals and Accounts:
All applications require an AccessDC login, routing single-family projects through the Permit Wizard and larger commercial or solar jobs through the Citizen Access Portal.
Questions & Answers
What Doesn’t a DC Building Permit Cover?
A DC building permit does not give you the authority to build in or occupy public space, remove or prune trees greater than 55” in circumference (18” in diameter) on public or private property & occupy your building after construction.
How Much Does a DC Building Permit Cost?
That depends on what you’re building. Here’s a link to the DC Building Permit Fee Schedule
How Long Is A DC Building Permit Valid?
Any issued DC building permit will become invalid if the authorized work is not begun within one year after the permit is issued, or if the authorized work is suspended or abandoned for a period of one year, after the date work is begun.
Is It Ok To Start Work Before Obtaining A Permit?
Absolutely not. You will be fined if you start construction before you get a DC building permit or work after it expires. DCRA can also require that all permitted work be removed. Work must be inspected on completion for the final approval to be issued.
In fact, there’s a special department at the DOB just for folks who think that’s a good idea. It’s called DOB Targeted Enforcement. District law now allows DOB to deny issuing a building permit to individuals or entities who have received more than five Stop Work Orders (SWOs) in a 12-month period.
They also compile a publicly-posted list of those who may be subject to heightened enforcement for potentially violating the Construction Code and jeopardizing safety. This list identifies individuals or entities associated with permits issued, and who have large numbers of SWOs. Check it out: VIOLATORS LIST
When Is A DC Building Permit Necessary?
Unless your property is located in a DC historic district, the following work does not require a DC building permit:
Brick pointing
Caulking
Patching and plaster repair
Installation of cabinets and architectural millwork
Installation of window screens and storm windows
Repair of existing fences with ‘like’ materials
Retaining walls 18″ (0.46m) or less in height
Construction of garden storage sheds complying with DC Code Section 105.2.6
Painting (exception: painting with fire-retardant paint)
Replacement of non-rated windows & doors
Siding, gutters & downspouts
Private sidewalks, driveways & patios
Non-rated suspended ceiling tile
Floor coverings up to 160 SF (9.3m) of gypsum board
Duct work of up to 10 linear feet (3.05m) in non-hazardous and commercial kitchen exhaust systems.
Information on permits in historic districts.
Permit requirements can change. Please check with the DOB for definitive answers on permit requirements.
The DC Permit Wizard
When the Department of Building was created from the restructured DCRA a few years ago, it undertook streamlining of the permitting process. The Permit Wizard is their ‘customer-friendly’ application designed to be intuitive, simple, and easy to use.
The “wizard” guides you through a series of questions. In response, the program will:
Identify the permits needed for your entire project, eliminating guesswork;
Estimate the total cost of permits;
List anticipated plan reviews by DoB and sister agencies, required documentation, anticipated inspections, and;
Provide advisories and notifications about your property.
Use the Permit Wizard for all new DC residential building permit applications, including trade, solar, raze and demolition permits. The Permit Wizard has also been expanded to include trade permits for commercial projects if no building permits are required, or for projects having already obtained building permits.
All other commercial permit applications are handled through the Citizen Access Portal.
Applying For a Residential Permit
Select Permit Wizard on dob.dc.gov and use your single sign-on, Access DC, account to log in;
Name the project, identify the professionals associated with the project, enter the project detail. The following materials and information will be required to begin your project application:
The professional license numbers for any building professionals working on your project. This may include permit expediters, architects, interior designers and landscape architects, professional engineers, etc.;
Have business license numbers available for any general or home improvement contractors that you expect will complete work on the project;
Electronic copies of any drawings or plans for your project;
Contracts with building or design professionals, and cost estimates associated with your project.
3. Submit your application.
Disclaimer
We are not attorneys, legal experts, investment counselors, or CPAs. The content on this channel is presented for informational purposes only and derived from reliable sources, but should not be considered legal, financial, investment, transaction or real estate practice advice. Susan Isaacs and Compass, their principals and/or representatives, do not guarantee or warrant its accuracy, completeness, or applicability to any specific real estate transaction. Homebuyers should read applicable D.C. law and code as part of their due diligence, and seek help from licensed, qualified professionals for interpretation and application to their specific transaction.