B26-0542 • 2025

Powering Local Utility Guidance in Housing Act of 2025

Housing Land

Enacted

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

Sponsor: R. White
Last action: 2026-07-03
Official status: Under Congressional Review
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official bill metadata lists the status as 'Under Congressional Review' despite the text stating it was enacted and signed by the Mayor in June 2026. The effective date depends on budget inclusion.

Powering Local Utility Guidance in Housing Act of 2026

This law requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to provide expert consultants, administrative liaisons, and data access for qualifying affordable housing projects needing utility approvals.

What This Bill Does

Requires DHCD to offer experienced utility design consultants who know how to design buildings that meet local utility rules.
Assigns liaisons to help developers with paperwork, inspections, tracking corrections, and communication needed to get utility approval.
Mandates a data-sharing agreement between city agencies (DHCD, DOB, OCTO) and utility companies so developers can see permit updates online through the Department of Buildings' system or another centralized database.
States clearly that consultant advice is provided as a courtesy at the applicant's sole risk and does not replace the final decision made by the utility provider.

Who It Names or Affects

Developers building or fixing affordable housing projects in Washington, D.C. that meet specific funding or affordability rules.
The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), which must provide the new services.
Local utility providers for electricity, water, sewer, and fuel lines.

Terms To Know

Qualifying affordable housing proposal: A project where the developer shows they have secured government funds requiring income-restricted units for at least 15 years, plans to apply for such funds, or has a property covenant requiring more affordability than standard zoning rules.
Utility provider: Any business or government group that supplies electricity, water, sewer, or fuel lines to residential buildings in the District and whose authorization is required before building occupancy certificates are issued.

Limits and Unknowns

The law only takes effect after its cost is included in an approved city budget.
Consultant advice is provided at the developer's own risk if errors occur, as utility providers make final decisions on permits.
Specific rules about how deep affordability must go may change based on future Mayor-issued regulations.

Bill History

2026-07-03 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Act A26-0348 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 009203
2026-07-02 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Enacted without Mayor's Signature with Act Number A26-0348
2026-07-02 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Transmitted to Congress, Projected Law Date is Sep 04, 2026
2026-06-29 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Returned from Mayor
2026-06-16 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Jul 01, 2026
2026-06-02 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Legislative Meeting
2026-05-05 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Legislative Meeting
2026-03-30 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Committee Mark-up of B26-0542 by the Housing Committee
2026-01-13 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Public Hearing on B26-0542 View Public Hearing Record
2026-01-07 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Revised Notice of Public Hearing filed in the Office of Secretary by Housing
2025-12-19 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Notice of Intent to Act on B26-0542 Published in the District of Columbia Register
2025-12-19 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Notice of Public Hearing Published in the District of Columbia Register
2025-12-17 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Notice of Public Hearing filed in the Office of Secretary by Housing
2025-12-16 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Referred to Committee on Housing with comments from the Committee on Business and Economic Development
2025-12-12 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
B26-0542 Introduced by Councilmember R. White at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Powering Local Utility Guidance in Housing Act of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
AN ACT
ACT 26-348

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
JULY 2, 2026
Toprovideaffordablehousingdevelopersseekingutilityproviderclearanceinthebuilding
permittingprocesswithexpertconsultation,administrativecoordination,andinter~agencydatatransparency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
actmay be citedas the“Powering LocalUtilityGuidance in Housing Act of 2026”.
Sec,2.Definitions.
Forthepurposesofthisact,theterm:
(1)“DHCD”meanstheDepartmentofHousingandCommunityDevelopment.
(2)“DOB” means the Departmentof Buildings.
(3)“OCTO” means theOfficeof theChiefTechnology Officer.
(4)“Qualifyingaffordablehousingproposal”meansanaffordablehousing
constructionorrehabilitationprojectproposalforwhichthedevelopersubmitsatleastoneofthefollowingtoDHCD:
(A)Documentationdemonstratingthattheapplicanthassecuredfinancing
orfundsfromtheDistrictorfederalgovernmentthatisconditionedontheapplicant
providingincome-restrictedaffordablehousingunitsforaperiodofatleast15years;
(B) A swom certificationthattheapplicantintendstoapplyforfinancing
or fundsfrom theDistrictor federalgovernment thatwould be conditionedon theapplicant
providingincome-restrictedaffordablehousingunitsforaperiodofatleast15years;or
(C) A recordedpropertycovenantthatrequiresincome-restricted
affordablehousingunitsinamountsexceedingtherequirementsoftheInclusionaryZoning
Program,as thatterm isdefinedin section101(4)ofthe InclusionaryZoning Implementation.
Amendment Act of 2006,effectiveMarch 14,2007 (D.C.Law 16-275;D.C. OfficialCode § 6-
1041.01(4));except,thattheMayor,pursuanttoTitleIoftheDistrictofColumbia
AdministrativeProcedureAct,approved October 21, 1968 (82 Stat.1204;D.C. OfficialCode §
2-501etseq.),mayissuerulesspecifyingadeeperlevelofaffordabilitythataprojectmustmeet
1

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
tosatisfythissubparagraph.
(5)“Utilityprovider”meansabusinessorgovernmentinstrumentalitythatprovideselectric,water,sewer,orfuellineservicetoresidentialbuildingsintheDistrictandfromwhichDOBrequiresauthorizationbeforeissuingbuildingcertificatesofoccupancy.
Sec.3.Technicalconsultingforaffordablehousingutilitypermitting,administrativeassistance,anddatatransparency.
(a)(1)DHCD shalloffertheservicesofone ormore utilitydesignconsultants,who shall
beexperiencedindesigningprojectsincompliancewiththeresidentialdesignrequirementsof
thevariousutilityproviders,forqualifyingaffordablehousingproposals,
(2)DHCD shallclearlycommunicatetoeachapplicantusingtheservicesofa
DHCD utilitydesignconsultantthatsuch servicesarea courtesy,areusedattheapplicant’ssole
tisk,and willnotsupersedetheutilityprovider'sdeterminationintheeventofan erroror
disagreementon thepartofthe utilitydesignconsultant.Failuretocommunicatethelimitations
oftheutilitydesignconsultantshallnotconstitutegroundsforliabilitytoanyapplicantonthepartof the Districtor any utilitydesignconsultant.
(b)DHCD shalloffertheservicesofone ormore utilitypermittingliaisons,who shall
assistdeveloperswiththeadministrativerequirementsinvolvedinobtainingutilityprovider
constructionapprovalforqualifyingaffordablehousingproposals,includingbycoordinating
pre-constructionutilityproviderdisconnections,coordinatingutilityproviderinspections,trackingcorrectiveactionsnecessaryforobtainingfinalutilityproviderapproval,and
maintainingcommunicationwithkeyutilityproviderpersonnel,forqualifyingaffordablehousingproposals.
(c)Within60 days aftertheapplicabilitydateofthisact,DHCD, DOB, and OCTO shall
executea Memorandum ofUnderstandingand data-sharingagreement(collectively
“agreements”)amongthemselvesandwithutilityproviderstoimplementsubsections(a)and(b)ofthissection.These agreementsshallensurethatconsultantshave theaccessand prioritization
necessarytofulfilltheprovisionsofthis actand thatresidentialdeveloperscan view timely
utilityproviderinspectionandreviewupdatesthroughDOB’ssystemofrecordoranothercentralizedpermittingdatabase.DHCD shallconsultannuallywithresidentialbuildingindustry
stakeholderstoupdatetheseagreementsasnecessary.

Sec.4.Applicability.
(a)Thisactshallapplyuponthedateofinclusionofitsfiscaleffectinanapprovedbudgetandfinancialplan.
(b)TheChiefFinancialOfficershallcertifythedateoftheinclusionofthefiscaleffectinanapprovedbudgetandfinancialplan,andprovidenoticetotheBudgetDirectoroftheCouncilofthecertification.
(0\(1)TheBudgetDirectorshallcausethenoticeofthecertificationtobepublishedin
2

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ENROLLED ORIGINAL
theDistrictofColumbiaRegister.
(2)Thedateofpublicationofthenoticeofthecertificationshallnotaffecttheapplicabilityofthisact.
See.5.Fiscalimpactstatement.
‘TheCounciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementinthecommitteereportasthefiscalimpactstatementrequiredbysection4aoftheGeneralLegislativeProceduresActof1975,approvedOctober16,2006(120Stat.2038;D.C.OfficialCode§1-301.47a).
Sec.6.Effectivedate.
ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto)anda30-dayperiodofcongressionalreviewasprovidedinsection602(c)(1)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approvedDecember24,1973(87Stat.813;D.C.OfficialCode§1-206.02(c)(1)).
airman
Councilofthe Districtof Columbia
UNSIGNED
MayorDistrictof Columbia
JUNE 25, 2026

COUNCILOF THEDISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DC,20004

[X]ITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR

Daction FirstReading,CC
[<1VOTEDATE May5,2028,
[x1VOICEVOTE ‘Approved
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
ABSENT

[]ROLLCALLVOTE—Resuit

GouneiMember [Aye[Nay[Nv[AB[Rec|CounciMember[Aye[Nay[NV[AB[Rec[CouncMember[Aye[Nay[NV[AB[Rec
ChairmanMendelson]x Frumin x Pinto x
Allen x Henderson x RWhite x
Bonds x LewisGeorge| x TWhite x
Crawtord x Nadeau x
Felder x Parker x
X=IndicateVoto ‘AB~Absent NV.-Present,NotVoting Rec-Recused
CERTIFICATIONRECORD
‘SecretarytotheCouncil |
DocketNo,826.0542
[XTITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR
[x)acTion FinalReading,CC
[<]VOTEDATE June2,2028
[x]voicevoTE Approved
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
ABSENT

[JROLLCALLVOTEResult

CounciiMember|Aye|Nay|NV[AB|Rec[CouncilMember[Aye[Nay|NV[AB|Rec|CouncilMember_|Aye[Nay[NV[AB[Rec
ChairmanMendetson|x Frumin x Pinto
Allen x Henderson x White
Bonds x LewisGeorge_| x T.White
Crawford x Nadeau x
Felder x Parker x
X-IndicateVote AB~Absent NV--Present,NotVoting Roc-Recused
CERTIFICATIONRECORD
SS —__ 24 he‘SecretarytotheCouncil