District of Columbia2025Active
B26-0757
Illegal Occupancy Enforcement Amendment Act of 2026
Last scannedAug 25, 2026, 4:28 AM
In one sentence
This bill updates District laws to state that guests who stay past their agreed time in hotels or short-term rentals have no legal right to remain and can be removed.
What it does
- Amends the law for hotels, motels, and similar places to say that staying beyond a rental term means having no lawful authority on the property.
- Updates the Short-Term Rental Regulation Act of 2018 to include vacation rentals in its rules.
- Requires transient guests in short-term or vacation rentals to leave when their stay ends unless the host gives permission to stay longer.
- Clarifies that individuals who remain without paying required fees are considered to be on the property without lawful authority.
Who it affects
- Guests staying at hotels, motels, or similar lodging establishments in Washington, D.C.
- Transient guests of short-term rentals and vacation rentals in the District of Columbia.
Limits and unknowns
- The text does not list specific penalties or fines for guests who refuse to leave.
- The bill has an effective date that depends on approval by the Mayor, a congressional review period, and publication in the District of Columbia Register.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Short-term rental
- A place rented out to travelers for a brief period, which this bill says includes vacation rentals.
- Transient guest
- A person staying in lodging temporarily rather than living there permanently.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
Illegal Occupancy Enforcement Amendment Act of 2026
Official activity
Bill history
- Under Council Review