September 2024 Edition
Dear Customers,
We are coming to the end of September, which means the end of Fiscal Year 2024—and what a year it has been!
DOB has been hard at work under Mayor Bowser's direction, keeping the District's built environment safe and dynamic:
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55,000 permits issued—a 7.6% increase from Fiscal Year 2023
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85,000 inspections performed—a 10% increase from FY23
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Pop-Up Permits (PUPs) have introduced a new streamlined path to activate vacant spaces in the District
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DOB's new digital request forms for customers to request housing, illegal construction, and vacant property inspections introduced dynamic self-scheduling functionality to speed up the process
These accomplishments are a direct result of the agency's commitment to our mission: protect the safety of residents, businesses, and visitors and advance the development of the built environment. Our work is informed by my vision for what DOB should be focused on: keep the District safe, keep it green, and keep it moving forward.
Our work is certainly not finished; our team continues to strive forward in improving our service delivery and making it more efficient for you, our customers.
As we head into the start of a new fiscal year in a new budgetary environment, we are confident that our work will continue to matter—and we will remain steadfast in our commitment to fulfill our responsibility to you. Thank you for your trust in us, and for continuing to hold us to a high standard.
Onward,
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 Brian J. Hanlon, AIA LEED AP®
Director
Brightwood's Newest Net Zero Home
 In our "The Future is Green: Building Toward a Better Tomorrow" segments, DOB promotes sustainable building technology as part of our role in achieving the District's climate goals. An excellent example of this is found in net-zero homes. Net-zero (also known as zero energy) refers to high-performance homes that are so air-tight, well insulated, and energy efficient that they produce as much renewable energy as they consume over the course of a year, leaving the occupants with a net zero energy bill, and a carbon-free home.
In the District's Brightwood neighborhood, homeowners Kim and Charlie have completed a remarkable journey to achieve net-zero residential energy consumption in their 1950s ranch home. With the help of DOB, the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE), and a local non-profit called Electrify DC, Kim and Charlie have reduced their environmental footprint and created a model for practical, eco-friendly living. Read more here.
DOB is launching an automated Abatement Reminder Email initiative to encourage property owners to come into compliance with housing code violations. Our goal is to incentivize them to fix these violations quickly. The reminder emails will have
information on how to document the abatement of violations and settle the case. All customers have to do to stop the email reminders is to prove violations have been fixed. Learn more at dob.dc.gov/page/enforcement-action.
 The District government has a great deal of job opportunities, and that includes within DOB! As we work on transformative changes within our agency, now is an exciting time to work here. We applaud those who embrace change and are seeking to grow their careers by taking on new challenges.
We are currently seeking talented professionals who possess a relevant skill set and a strong desire to serve District residents and businesses and increase our ability to better serve our customers. Please check out our open positions at careers.dc.gov.
 DOB Director Brian Hanlon speaks to attendees at NAOIP DC chapter meeting
DOB has been hard at work with both internal and external intiatives as part of our mission. Part of our work is tied to being visible and getting out in the community; here's some of our outreach from this month:
- DOB Director Brian Hanlon held an engaging discussion with real estate professionals at the first Seat at the Table Lunch and Learn, sponsored by the DC/MD chapter of NAOIP
- Director Hanlon was the featured guest on Doug Foster's Today's Senior Living Radio Show on September 21, 2024.
 Most new construction or renovation projects in the District must comply with either the Green Building Act or the Green Construction Code. To help project teams understand their green code requirements, the Building Innovation Hub collaborated with DOB and the DOEE to develop a tool called the DC Green Code Guide. The tool is a step-by-step guide to understanding green code requirements for your project. Check it out and send any feedback to info@buildinginnovationhub.org.
The tool is intended to help teams with project planning and discussions with local authorities. It does not replace the Energy and Green Worksheet required by DOB, as code officials will make final determination of project requirements.
For more information about the tool, what it’s for, and how to use it, check out the guide on the Hub’s website. If you have further questions, please reach out to the Hub at info@buildinginnovationhub.org.
 DOB has a lot going on—more that can fit into a monthly newsletter! So the best way to quickly learn about our work, new initiatives, job postings, and general news is to follow DOB on social media! Don’t delay—sign up today!
Twitter/X: x.com/DC_DOB
Instagram: instagram.com/deptofbuildings
Facebook: facebook.com/deptofbuildings
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/departmentofbuildings
- Contact DOB via email at dob@dc.gov, through our online inquiry form or during normal business hours using the live chat available on dob.dc.gov or at 202.671.3500, and we will get back to you in three business days or less.
- DOB's updated Customer Service hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:30 am-4:30 pm and Thursday 9:30 am-4:30 pm.
- If you want to report illegal construction, vacant property concerns, or property maintenance issues after hours, you can always report them via DC311. You can call 311 at any time day or night. You also can visit the online portal at 311.dc.gov.
- If you live in a residential zone and plan on doing work on your home, please reach out to DOB to ensure your proposed work is properly permitted under District law. This especially goes for those larger projects that you are considering. DOB wants to ensure that all involved parties are on the same page regarding District regulations to ensure safety for all.
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