2026-09-09 · District of Columbia · Compliance

If a District of Columbia association falls behind on its water bill, DC Water must now tell every unit in the building — by name, by dollar amount, and 30 working days before the water goes off. The requirement took effect on August 14, 2026 under the DC Water and Sewer Authority Billing and Disconnection Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2025, and it is the first time District law has written condominium and community associations into the shutoff notice chain.¹

What the measure does

The Act amends 21 DCMR § 431 by statute, and retitles it to speak of “occupants” rather than “tenants” — the change that pulls owner-occupied buildings inside it.

Where the notice goes. “At least thirty (30) working days prior to terminating water and sewer services to the premises, the General Manager shall post notice outside of the premises, and at each unit if publicly accessible and where practicable.” Notice must be given in English, Spanish, or another language occupants are likely to speak.

What the notice must say. This is the operative change. The notice must inform occupants that “the owner, condominium association, community association, or other common interest development is delinquent in the payment of water and sewer service charges, including the current amount owed and the number of days the account is past due.”²

Occupant remedies became mandatory. Where the prior text said the Authority “may permit” occupants to act to prevent termination, it now says “shall permit.” The provision also cross-references receivership under § 34-2304(a)(1).

Reporting. DC Water must report disconnections monthly to the Council, the Office of the Attorney General, the Office of the People's Counsel and the Office of the Tenant Advocate.

The late-charge cap moved too

The same Act rewrites D.C. Code § 34-2202.16(d). The Authority may impose “a charge of 10% for any charges or bills remaining unpaid for more than 30 days, and a penalty at the rate of 1% per month compounded monthly for any charges or bills that remain unpaid for more than 60 days.”³ Section 34-2407.01 was rewritten as well, setting a penalty for unlawful self-restoration of service of not less than 20% of the delinquent charges or $100, whichever is greater.

One procedural fact matters for how long this lasts. The Act is a temporary measure — the DC Law Library's note records the amendments as expiring March 27, 2027 — and it is the second in a chain: an identical temporary act, D.C. Law 26-50, ran from October 1, 2025 and lapsed, with emergency acts covering the gaps.

1. D.C. Law 26-165, the DC Water and Sewer Authority Billing and Disconnection Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2025 (Bill 26-680; D.C. Act 26-352; 73 DCR 9216; effective Aug. 14, 2026) ↩
2. D.C. Law 26-50, the predecessor temporary act (Bill 26-322; D.C. Act 26-136; 72 DCR 8941; effective Oct. 1, 2025) ↩
3. D.C. Code § 34-2202.16, Rates and charges (late charge and penalty provisions) ↩