2026-09-09 · District of Columbia · Legislation · Pending — not yet law

A bill pending before the Council of the District of Columbia would raise the amount a condominium unit owner must absorb of the association's property insurance deductible from $5,000 to $25,000 where damage originates in their unit — and would, for the first time, impose statutory minimum insurance requirements on every DC unit owner. Bill 26-495, the Condominium Insurance Amendment Act of 2025, is not law and has not been voted on.¹

It was introduced November 20, 2025 by Councilmember Anita Bonds, with no co-introducers, and referred to the Committee on Housing on December 2, 2025. A public hearing was held March 30, 2026. There has been no markup, no committee report and no first reading since.

What it would do

The bill rewrites subsections (d-1) and (j) of D.C. Code § 42-1903.10, the Condominium Act's insurance section.

Minimum unit-owner coverages. Every owner would have to carry dwelling and building property coverage of not less than $25,000 (or enough to repair or replace improvements and betterments the instruments make the owner's responsibility); personal property coverage adequate to replace contents; personal liability of not less than $500,000; loss-of-use coverage adequate for at least 12 months of alternative housing; loss assessment coverage of not less than $25,000; and coverage for the association's property insurance deductible. An executive board could raise those minimums at a properly noticed meeting.

Waiver of subrogation. Every unit-owner policy would have to waive subrogation in favour of the association.

Annual proof, and force-placement. Owners would furnish proof of insurance annually, or more often on request. An owner who failed to do so could have the association buy a policy on their behalf, take the proceeds toward the deductible, and charge the premium back as an assessment.

The deductible cap. Where damage originates in a unit, that owner would be responsible for the association's deductible or uncovered loss up to $25,000, in the aggregate or per unit, assessed against the unit — unless the governing documents allow a higher amount or impose the entire loss. Where damage originates in the common elements or outside the building, the deductible remains a common expense. Where the master policy carries a per-unit deductible, each damaged unit's owner absorbs that unit's deductible up to $25,000.

1. Bill 26-495, the Condominium Insurance Amendment Act of 2025 — Council of the District of Columbia legislative record ↩
2. Bill 26-495 as introduced — text and transmittal letter (PDF) ↩
3. D.C. Code § 42-1903.10, Insurance — the provision the bill would amend, including the current $5,000 deductible cap ↩