Housing (Building Codes)

The One Front Door Act of 2025 directs DC's Construction Codes Coordinating Board to amend building codes within two years to allow single entrance/egress stairways in multifamily residential buildings up to six stories. This change would replace the current requirement for two stairwells, which the bill states consumes valuable building space and increases construction costs. The bill requires the Board to consider fire safety factors like water supply, fire department response times, and best practices from cities like Seattle and New York that already permit single-stair buildings. It aims to make multifamily housing more affordable and feasible, particularly for smaller lots and infill projects, without compromising safety. The policy change would directly affect DC developers, builders, and future residents of multifamily housing.

The Housing with Integrity Amendment Act of 2025 targets landlords of properties with 10 or more rental units that repeatedly fail to address serious health and safety violations. It prevents the issuance of new basic business licenses to landlords owning properties where 30% or more units have unresolved Class 1 (e.g., lack of heat, electrical hazards) or Class 2 (e.g., defective plumbing) violations for 90+ days. The bill also establishes a new Tier 1 inspection category requiring twice-yearly checks for properties meeting these violation thresholds. This shifts enforcement responsibility from tenants to landlords, aiming to hold negligent owners accountable for maintaining habitable housing.

This bill creates a new process for property owners to change tax classification when converting commercial buildings to residential use. Owners must apply with documentation before the tax change takes effect, and tax benefits apply based on when the application is submitted (full year for Oct-Mar applications, second half for Apr-Sep). If the property isn't actually used residentially within 3 years (or by certificate of occupancy date), the tax authority can claw back benefits with penalties. The bill also adds an appeal process for denied applications and clarifies tax rules for mixed-use properties.

This resolution declares an emergency to adjust property tax classification rules for commercial-to-residential conversions in Washington, D.C. It allows developers to change a property's tax classification from commercial (Class 2) to residential (Class 1A) after obtaining a building permit for residential conversion, rather than waiting until construction is 100% complete and the building is in use. This directly affects developers converting commercial properties (like office buildings) to residential use, reversing a recent policy that required full completion before tax rate changes. The change aims to support the Housing in Downtown Program by reducing tax burdens during conversion projects, which can take years to complete.

This bill requires large residential and mixed-use construction projects (50,000+ square feet) receiving Housing Production Trust Fund assistance to meet net zero energy standards under the Enterprise Green Communities Criteria (specifically elements 5.4 or 5.5b). It mandates the Department to submit biannual reports starting March 2026 detailing progress on developing net zero energy building code regulations and challenges to implementation. The bill also removes conflicting net zero energy compliance requirements from the Green Building Act of 2006 that previously applied to residential/mixed-use projects. It expires after 90 days or upon final regulations from the Clean Energy DC Building Code Amendment Act.

This resolution amends housing and building codes to adjust net zero energy standards for large residential and mixed-use projects receiving funding from the District's Housing Production Trust Fund. It removes requirements that previously applied through building permits, instead directing these standards to be enforced via the funding solicitation and award process. This change primarily affects developers and housing providers seeking District funding for new construction or major renovations, aiming to prevent delays in housing projects. The resolution also streamlines processes for the DC Housing Authority (DCHA) to implement energy improvements without extending project timelines. It takes immediate effect as an emergency measure.