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B26-0502 • 2025

Porchfest Permitting Temporary Amendment Act of 2025

Porchfest Permitting Temporary Amendment Act of 2025

Enacted

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

Sponsor
Lewis George
Last action
2026-03-20
Official status
Official Law
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details about the specific changes to the policy regarding approval of block parties.

Porchfest Permitting Temporary Amendment Act of 2025

This act allows District residents to apply for block party permits to host porchfests on their property.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds the definition of 'porchfest' to the Block Party Act, meaning a neighborhood music festival where musicians perform on private or public property near homes without charging fees.
  • Allows District residents to apply for block party permits specifically for hosting porchfests by closing streets they live on.

Who It Names or Affects

  • District of Columbia residents who want to host musical performances as part of a porchfest.
  • The city government responsible for issuing permits and managing events.

Terms To Know

porchfest
A neighborhood music festival where musicians perform on private or public property near homes without charging fees.
block party permit
A permit issued by the city government allowing residents to close a street for an event like a porchfest.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This act is temporary and will expire after 225 days of taking effect.
  • The exact impact on local resources and budgets is not detailed in this summary.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-20 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Law L26-0099, Effective from Mar 06, 2026 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 004485, Expires on Oct 17, 2026

  2. 2026-01-22 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Transmitted to Congress

  3. 2026-01-16 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Act A26-0243 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 000448

  4. 2026-01-14 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Enacted without Mayor's Signature with Act Number A26-0243

  5. 2026-01-13 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Returned from Mayor

  6. 2025-12-29 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Jan 13, 2026

  7. 2025-12-16 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  8. 2025-12-12 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Notice of Intent to Act on B26-0502 Published in the District of Columbia Register

  9. 2025-12-02 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council

  10. 2025-12-02 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  11. 2025-12-01 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    B26-0502 Introduced by Councilmember Lewis George at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Porchfest Permitting Temporary Amendment Act of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
AN ACT
D.C. ACT 26-243
INTHE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
JANUARY 14,2026
Toamend,onatemporarybasis,theBlockPartyActof2012toenableresidentshostingamusicalperformanceontheirpropertyaspartofa porchfesttoapplyforblockpartypermits.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
actmaybecitedasthe“PorchfestPermittingTemporaryAmendmentActof2025”.
Sec.2.TheBlockPartyActof2012,effectiveOctober23,2012(D.C.Law19-190;D.C.OfficialCode§9-631etseg.),isamendedasfollows:(a)Section2 (D.C.OfficialCode§9-631)isamendedbyaddinganewparagraph(5)to
readasfollows:
“(5)“Porchfest”meansadistributedneighborhoodmusicfestivalwheremusiciansperformonaresident’sprivateproperty,suchastheirporchoryard,oranyabuttingpublicproperty,andnofeeischargedtoparticipantsorattendees.”.
(b)Section3(D.C.OfficialCode§9-632)isamendedbyaddinganewsubsection(b-1)toreadas follows:
“(b+l)A Districtresidentmaysubmitablockpartyapplicationrequestingthatastreetonwhichtheyresidebeclosedforthepurposeofholdingaporchfest.
(©)Section5(a)(D.C.OfficialCode§9-634(a))isamendedtoreadasfollows:(a)ItisthepolicyoftheDistricttoapproveblockparties,includingporchfests.”.

Sec.3.Fiscalimpactstatement.TheCounciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementoftheBudgetDirectorasthefiscalimpactstatementrequiredbysection4aoftheGeneralLegislativeProceduresActof1975,approvedOctober16,2006(120Stat.2038;D.C.OfficialCode§1-301.47a).
Sec.4.Effectivedate.

ENROLLED ORIGINAL,
(a)ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto)anda30-dayperiodofcongressionalreviewasprovidedinsection602(c)(1)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approvedDecember24,1973(87Stat.813;D.C.OfficialCode§1-206.02(c)(1)).
(b)Thisactshallexpireafter225daysofitshavingtakeneffect.
VC
Chairman
Councilof theDistrictof Columbia
UNSIGNED
Mayor
Districtof Columbia
JANUARY 12, 2026

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COUNCILOF THEDISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
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FirstReading
December2,2025

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[X]VOTEDATE December16,2025
[X] VOICE VOTE Approved
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