District of Columbia Rental Application (2026)

A landlord's tenant application with lawful screening questions, fee disclosure and FCRA consent, adjusted to your state's rules.

Updated September 2026≈ 10 minReviewed against D.C. Code § 42-3505.10 · D.C. Code § 42-3541.01–.09 · D.C. Code § 2-1402.21

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What you'll get

Sample first page of the Rental Application. Your answers fill in the blanks; the clauses required in District of Columbia are added automatically.

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What this document covers

Property, rent and desired move-in date
Application fee within the state cap and receipt
Pre-screening notice where the state requires it
Applicant identity and co-applicants
Residence history for 3 years
Employment and income, including lawful sources
Eviction and bankruptcy questions where allowed
Fair-chance criminal-history rules
Tenant selection criteria and equal-housing statement
FCRA consent and adverse-action notice

District of Columbia rules that this document follows

Application fee limit	$50.00 maximumSource: D.C. Code § 42-3505.10(b) ($50, CPI-adjusted annually from 1/1/2024)
Refund rule	Must refund any portion not used for screening; fee may not be charged before disclosures are givenSource: D.C. Code § 42-3505.10(b) ($50, CPI-adjusted annually from 1/1/2024)
Must give applicant a copy of screening report	Yes
Criminal-history questions	Prohibited before a conditional offer. Fair Criminal Record Screening for Housing Act: no inquiry into criminal history before a conditional offer; may not consider arrests, sealed records, or convictions older than 7 years; withdrawal of offer requires written notice with reasons and a copy of the record.Source: D.C. Code § 42-3541.01–.09
Source of income protected	Yes — vouchers and other lawful income must be consideredSource: D.C. Code § 2-1402.21(a); § 2-1401.02(29)
Additional protected classes	age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, source of income, place of residence or business, status as a victim of an intrafamily offense, genetic information, sealed eviction record, homeless status
Holding deposit	Not permittedSource: D.C. Code § 42-3505.10(d)
Written notice before screening	Required — this application contains itSource: D.C. Code § 42-3505.10(c)

Rules current as of 2026-10-27. Statutes change; verify before relying on them.

How to use this Rental Application in District of Columbia

Use one application per adult. Collect the Social Security number only on the signed paper copy, never by email. Apply the same written criteria to every applicant and keep denied applications for at least two years in case of a fair-housing inquiry. Give the applicant this form — it contains the written notice District of Columbia requires BEFORE you obtain any screening report.

Charge only a fee that District of Columbia permits, give a receipt, and if you deny based on a consumer report send the FCRA adverse-action notice within a few days.

Frequently asked questions

Can a landlord charge an application fee in District of Columbia?

Yes, up to $50.00 (D.C. Code § 42-3505.10(b)).

What questions are illegal on a rental application?

You may not ask about race, religion, national origin, sex, familial status or disability, nor about arrests without conviction. District of Columbia adds: age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, source of income, place of residence or business, status as a victim of an intrafamily offense, genetic information, sealed eviction record, homeless status. Criminal-history questions are barred before a conditional offer. This form omits those questions automatically.

Do I have to give the applicant a copy of the screening report?

Yes — District of Columbia requires it on request or with a denial, in addition to the federal FCRA adverse-action notice.

Other names

tenant application form
apartment application
lease application
rental application form
tenant screening form
renter application
housing application

Other states

FormsByState provides self-help document templates and general information, not legal advice. We are not a law firm. For advice about your situation consult a licensed attorney in your state.