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B26-0149 • 2025

Residential Building Permit Classification Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Residential Building Permit Classification Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Taxes
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Mendelson
Last action
2025-03-28
Official status
Enacted
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not provide detailed information about property tax rules or appeal processes.

Emergency Amendment for Residential Building Permits

This act changes the rules for classifying buildings that are being converted from commercial to residential use, including how property taxes are calculated and when appeals can be made.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the way properties are classified if they change from commercial to residential use during certain times of the year.
  • Requires owners to apply for a classification change to Class 1A Property and provide documentation to prove it.
  • Sets rules about how long property taxes will be based on the new classification after a building permit is issued.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Property owners who want to change their commercial properties to residential use.
  • The Chief Financial Officer of the District of Columbia.

Terms To Know

Class 1A Property
Residential property that is improved and used for non-transient dwelling purposes.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The act is only in effect for up to 90 days, after which it may need further action.
  • It does not change the requirement to file for mixed-use classification on time as per existing rules.

Bill History

  1. 2025-03-28 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Act A26-0033 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 003336, Expires on Jun 19, 2025

  2. 2025-03-24 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Returned from Mayor

  3. 2025-03-21 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0033, Expires on Jun 19, 2025

  4. 2025-03-11 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Mar 25, 2025

  5. 2025-03-04 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council

  6. 2025-03-04 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  7. 2025-03-03 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    B26-0149 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Residential Building Permit Classification Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
AN ACT

ACT 26-33
INTHE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
MARCH 21, 2025
‘Toamend,onanemergencybasis,section47-813oftheDistrictofColumbiaOfficialCodeto
provideformoretimelyclassificationchangesforcommercialpropertiesthataretobe
puttoresidentialuse,toprovideforanapplicationprocesstomakeclassification
changes,o provideforappealrightsifsuchapplicationisdenied,andtoprovidefora
clawbackintheeventtherealpropertyisnottimelyputtoresidentialuse.
BE ITENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICTOF COLUMBIA,Thatthis
actmaybecitedasthe“ResidentialBuildingPermitClassificationEmergencyAmendmentAct,
of2025”.
Sec.2.Section47-813oftheDistrictofColumbiaOfficialCodeisamendedtoreadas
follows:(a)Subsection(c-9)(2)isamendedasfollows:(1)Subparagraph(A)isamendedtoreadasfollows:*(2)(A)Exceptasotherwiseprovidedinthisparagraphandsubjecttoparagraphs(4)and(5)ofthissubsection,Class1 Propertyshallbecomprisedof:“(iResidentialrealpropertythatisimprovedanditslegaluseis,
fornontransientresidentialdwellingpurposes,andthatisnotClass1BProperty;provided,that
suchpropertymaybeusedtohosttransientguestspursuanttoanunexpiredshort-termrental
licenseendorsementissuedpursuantto§30-201.04;or“(ji)Realpropertyoraportionofrealpropertyforwhichabuildingpermithasbeenissued:“(1)Toconstructanewimprovementforpredominantly
nontransientresidentialdwellingpurpose;or
“(I1)To substantiallyrehabilitatethatportionor allof an
existingimprovementforexclusivelynontransientresidentialdwellingpurposes.”(2)Subparagraph(C)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“designatedas”andinsertingthephrase“designatedsolelyas”initsplace.
ENROLLED ORIGINAL,
(b)Thelead-inlanguageofsubsection(d-2)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“Class3
PropertyorClass4Property,”andinsertingthephrase“Class2Property,Class3Property,or
Class4Property,”initsplace.
(c)Anew subsection(d-3)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(d-3)(1)IfrealpropertychangesclassificationtoClass1APropertyasdefinedin
subsection(c-9)(2)(A)(ii)duringtheperiod:
“(A) October | throughMarch 31of the taxyear,thenewly reclassified
Class1AProperty,ortheportionthereofusedexclusivelyforresidentialpurposesifalready
improvedorassessedunder§47-829,shallbetaxedattheClass1APropertytaxratefortheentiretaxyear;or
“(B)April1throughSeptember30ofthetaxyear,thenewlyreclassified
Class1AProperty,ortheportionthereofusedexclusivelyforresidentialpurposesifalready
improved or assessedunder § 47-829,shallbe taxedattheClass1A Propertytaxrateforthe
secondinstallmentonly.
“(2)TheownershallapplyforachangeofclassificationtoClass1APropertyas
definedinsubsection(c-9)(2)(A)(ii)ofthissectionandshallpromptlyprovidecomplete
documentationina manner prescribedby theChiefFinancialOfficertosubstantiateany such
classificationchange beforeitshallbe effective.
“(3)A change inclassificationtoClass 1A Propertyas definedinsubsection(c-
9)(2)(A)(ii)ofthissectionshallbeeffectivebeginninginthehalftaxyearforwhichapplication
ismadeunderparagraph(2)ofthissubsection.
“(4)IfchangeinclassificationtoClass1APropertyasdefinedinsubsection(c-
9)(2\(A)(ii)ofthissectionisdeterminedtobeerroneousbecausetherealpropertywasnotputto
predominantlyresidentialusebytheearlierofeithertheissuanceof anyneworamended
certificateofoccupancy(temporaryorpermanent)foranypartoftheimprovementthereon,or3
yearsfrom issuanceof thebuildingpermit,orthebuildingpermitexpiredand was not renewed
withinone year,theChief FinancialOfficershallreclassifyand taxtherealpropertywithout
limitationforeachtaxyearorhalftaxyearinwhichtherealpropertywasimproperlyclassified
as Class1A Property,subjectonlytosubsection(d-1)(5)(A-i)of thissection,ifthe propertyis
determinedtobeClass3PropertyorClass4Property,orsubsection(d-2)ofthissection,Inthe
eventofsuchreclassification,penaltyandinterestshallbeaddedbeginningfromthedaythe
correctamountoftaxshouldhavebeenduebutnotpaidifthepropertyhadbeenproperly
classified.
“(5)Within 45 days from thedateof thenoticeof denialof Class1A Property
reclassificationunder thissubsection,theowner may petitionforan administrativereviewof the
rescissionor denialand appealfrom afinal determinationthereofto thesame extentas ifthe
appealwerefiledunder§47-825.01a(d)(2).
“(6)Notwithstandingthetimelimitationsinparagraphs(4)and(5)ofthis
subsection,theChiefFinancialOfficer,inhisor herdiscretion,may grantan extensionof time to

ENROLLED ORIGINAL,
complyorwaivepenaltyandinterestassessedpursuanttoparagraph(4)ofthissubsectiontopreventanunduehardshiptotheowner.“(7)Theprovisionsofthissubsection,subsection(c-9)(2)(A)(ii)ofthissection,and§47-829shallnotsupersedetherequirementtotimelyfileformixed-useclassificationfortheupcomingtaxyearpursuanttosubsection(f)ofthissection,whentheannualassessmentforsuchupcomingtaxyearismadeunder§47-824andthecertificateofoccupancy(finalortemporary)wasissued.”.
Sec.3.Applicability.ThisactshallapplyasofApril1,2025.
Sec.4,Fiscalimpactstatement.TheCounciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementoftheBudgetDirectorasthefiscalimpactstatementrequiredbysection4aoftheGeneralLegislativeProceduresActof1975,approvedOctober16,2006(120Stat,2038;D.C.OfficialCode§1-301.47a).
Sec.5.Effectivedate.ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto),andshallremainineffectfornolongerthan90days,asprovidedforemergencyactsoftheCouneiloftheDistrictofColumbiainsection412(a)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approvedDecember24,1973(87Stat.788;D.C.OfficialCode§1-204.12(a)).
Jl‘Chairman
Councilof the Districtof Columbia

APPROVEDMARCH 21, 2025

[]ITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR
[DDGACTION
DX]VOTEDATE
[X1VOIcEvoTE
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
ABSENT
[ROLLCALLVOTE-Resutt
COUNCILOF THE DISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DC,20004
FinalReading
‘March4,2025
Approved

CouncitMember__|Aye[Nay|NV_|AB[Rec|CouncitMember[Aye|Nay|NV[AB|Rec|CounciiMember[Aye|Nay|NV[AB[Rec
ChairmanMendelson)x Henderson x Pinto
Allen x LewisGeorge_| X R White
Bonds x McDuttio x
Felder x Nadeau x
Frumin x Parker x
X-IndicateVote AB ~Absent NV--Present,NotVoting Rec-Recused
CERTIFICATIONRECORD
‘SecretarytotheColne”