Skip to main content

District of Columbia law

Real Estate Laws in District of Columbia.

District of Columbia real-estate law is governed primarily by Title 42 of the D.C. Code. D.C. allows non-judicial foreclosure under power-of-sale deeds of trust, subject to detailed statutory notice requirements and borrower-protection measures enacted after the foreclosure crisis.

Last verified: 2026-04-17

State law

Key District of Columbia Statutes

D.C. Property CodeD.C. Code tit. 42

Title 42 is D.C.’s main property statute, covering conveyances, liens, recording, deeds of trust, and related property issues.

Non-Judicial ForeclosureD.C. Code § 42-815

D.C. allows non-judicial foreclosure under deeds of trust, subject to mandatory notice of default, mediation opportunities, and other borrower protections.

State law

Official Sources

Not Legal Advice

This page summarizes publicly available statutes and rules for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by viewing this content. Laws change — always verify with the primary source or consult a licensed attorney in District of Columbia.

Next step

Move from state law into guided help or attorney search.

If you want help applying this information to your situation, start with guided help or browse attorneys for this issue in District of Columbia.