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Statement of Introduction Porchfest Permitting Amendment Act of 2025 October 7, 2025 Today, alongside Councilmembers Allen, Frumin, Bonds, and Nadeau, I am proud to introduce the Porchfest Permitting Amendment Act of 2025. This legislation would make a simple but meaningful change to the Block Party Act of 2012 to support community-based music events and the residents who make them possible. Porchfest events are volunteer-led neighborhood music festivals that take place on porches, lawns, and front yards throughout the District—including in Petworth, which proudly hosts one of the largest Porchfest celebrations in the city. These events bring neighbors together through the joy of live music, strengthen community connections, and highlight local artists and businesses. What makes Porchfest special is its accessibility: musicians perform for free, residents volunteer their spaces, and the audience is made up of neighbors walking from one porch to the next. Under current law, however, residents who host a Porchfest performance can face unnecessary barriers when applying for a block party permit. Some applicants have been denied because their event was associated with Porchfest, even when the music occurred entirely on private property. This bill clarifies that residents participating in a Porchfest or other distributed neighborhood festival may apply for a block party permit, provided that performances take place on personal property and no fees are charged to attendees. It also makes clear that the Department of Transportation cannot deny a permit simply because multiple Porchfest applications are submitted for the same day. By updating the Block Party Act to recognize Porchfest as a permitted neighborhood event, this legislation aligns District policy with the reality of how residents use these gatherings to build community. It acknowledges that the same spirit of cooperation and creativity that makes a traditional block party successful also defines Porchfest—just expressed through music rather than food and games. The Porchfest Permitting Amendment Act ensures that city regulations support, rather than hinder, residents who invest their time and talent in bringing people together. It reaffirms the District’s commitment to the arts, local musicians, and the community connections that make our neighborhoods strong. I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this legislation and to ensure that Porchfest events continue to thrive in every corner of the city.
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___________________________ _____________________________ 1 Councilmember Charles Allen Councilmember Janeese Lewis George 2 3 4 _____________________________ _____________________________ 5 Councilmember Matthew Frumin Councilmember Anita Bonds 6 7 8 9 _____________________________ 10 Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau 11 12 13 14 A BILL 15 16 17 _________ 18 19 20 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 21 22 __________________ 23 24 25 To amend the Block Party Act of 2012 to enable residents hosting a musical performance on 26 their property as part of a Porchfest or other distributed musical festival to apply for 27 block party permits. 28 29 BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 30 act may be cited as the “Porchfest Permitting Amendment Act of 2025”. 31 Sec. 2. The Block Party Act of 2012, effective October 23, 2012 (D.C. Law 19-190, D.C. 32 Official Code § 9-631 et seq.), is amended as follows: 33 (a) Section 2 (D.C. Official Code § 9-631) is amended by adding a new paragraph (5) to 34 read as follows: 35 “(5) “Porchfest” means a distributed neighborhood music festival where 36 musicians perform on residents’ porches or yards.”. 37
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(b) Section 3 (D.C. Official Code § 9-632) is amended by adding a new subsection (b-1) 38 to read as follows: 39 “(b-1) A District resident may submit a block party permit as part of a Porchfest or other 40 distributed neighborhood festival; provided, that the application meets the requirements of 41 subsection (b) of this section, section 5(b), and: 42 “(1) Any musical activities take place on personal property, such as a porch or 43 lawn, and not in the street; 44 “(2) No fee shall be charged to participants or attendees.”. 45 (c) Section 5(a) (D.C. Official Code § 9-634(a)) is amended to read as follows: 46 “(a) It is the policy of the District to approve block parties. The Department shall not 47 deny a block party application because it is part of a Porchfest or other distributed neighborhood 48 festival occurring on the same date.”. 49 Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement. 50 The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 51 impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 52 approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 53 Sec. 4. Effective date. 54 This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 55 Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto) and a 30-day period of congressional review 56 as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 57 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)). 58