March 2025
Dear Customers, Colleagues, and Friends,
The month of March, in which the world recognizes the contributions of women through Women's History Month, was filled with activities for the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP)!
As part of Women’s History Month, we celebrate the achievements of women from all backgrounds and acknowledge International Women’s Day. Visit our DLCP Hub for an exclusive look at inspiring stories of women making a difference in our business community.
This month, DLCP also celebrated National Weights and Measures Week and National Consumer Protection Week, highlighting the vital work we do to promote fair business practices and build consumer confidence. Additionally, DLCP participated in the 11th Annual March Madness event, where District agencies connected with local businesses to share opportunities and resources.
Mayor Bowser hosted a tele-town hall to address the impact of federal job losses on workers and families across the region. As job losses continue to affect residents across the District, DLCP and other DC Government agencies are committed to providing support for those in transition.
DLCP is dedicated to serving and supporting businesses, consumers, and workers across the District. We appreciate your engagement and look forward to staying connected.
Best regards,
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 Tiffany Crowe
Director
As of Monday, March 17, 2025, the Customer Service Center has temporarily relocated from the second floor to the sixth floor (Suite E630) at 1100 4th Street SW.
Customers continue to receive the same high-quality service from DLCP, the Department of Buildings (DOB), and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT):
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DLCP Walk-in Center: Assistance with obtaining, renewing, and managing business and professional licenses, as well as support for filing complaints and resolving consumer issues.
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DOB Walk-in Center: Resources for residential and commercial permit applications, plan reviews, and vacant building inspections.
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DDOT Permitting Center: Support for filing permit applications related to the District’s public space.
If you have any questions, please contact DLCP at dlcp@dc.gov, DOB at dob@dc.gov, and DDOT at ddot@dc.gov.
The DC Office of Planning is working alongside DC residents, community organizations, businesses, and elected officials to develop DC 2050, the District's next Comprehensive Plan.
DC 2050 will guide where and how we build new housing, grow job opportunities, connect neighborhoods, preserve our rich history, and invest in important services. As our city evolves, DC 2050 will align land use policies and investments to make the District more equitable, affordable, and resilient.
Get involved to help shape the District’s future!
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Sign up for emails and complete the Vision Survey at DC2050.com.
Contact the DC Office of Planning at DC2050@dc.gov, 202-442-7600, or follow our work on
The renewal period for DC Board of Architecture, Interior Design & Landscape Architects licenses is now open! All Landscape Architects and Professional Design Firms must submit their renewal applications by April 30, 2025 to maintain active licensure.
Renew Online Now: Click here to renew your license. If you don’t have an Access DC account, sign up here first.
Continuing Education Requirement:
Landscape Architect licensees must complete 24 hours of continuing education within the current license term, with at least 18 hours focused on health, safety, and welfare topics.
Important: Continuing education credits are subject to audit for up to five years. Keep proper documentation to verify the credits you report.
For more details, visit the dlcp.dc.gov.
With cherry blossoms set to bloom, it’s the perfect time to cultivate new opportunities in business. The BRC is here to assist both new and existing entrepreneurs in developing strong, sustainable business plans.
The BRC offers resources and guidance on business operations, licensing, and compliance in DC helping entrepreneurs build a solid foundation for success. We encourage you to take full advantage of the upcoming workshops to enhance your business knowledge and skills.
On Thursday, March 20, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) kicked off DMPED March Madness, the District’s annual business showcase highlighting real estate, housing, and workforce support initiatives.
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This year’s event began with a panel discussion on the economic impacts of sports. Following the discussion, Mayor Bowser cut the ribbon for the grand reopening of Fuddruckers at Gallery Place-Chinatown. During the event, Mayor Bowser also unveiled the FY25 Green Book and announced the newest awardees of the District’s Vitality Fund and Housing in Downtown programs.
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DLCP staff attended in support, with the BRC team providing information on business licensing. Events like these reflect our dedication to providing support and engagement for local businesses. |
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On Thursday, March 6, Mayor Bowser visited three newly opened Black-owned businesses in historic Anacostia: Sweet Tooth Cafe and Cakes, Sapodilla’s Caribbean Restaurant, and Grounded, all of which received support from the District’s Food Access Fund and Neighborhood Prosperity Fund. |
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Director Tiffany Crowe also attended, joining in on the festivities, connecting with business owners in the Anacostia area, and enjoying great food and fellowship. |
Events like these reflect DLCP’s commitment to supporting entrepreneurs and helping them access the resources needed to grow and succeed. DLCP is proud to participate and support initiatives that celebrate business growth and economic development in the District. |
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National Weights and Measures Week (March 1-7), led by the National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM), highlights the importance of accurate measurements in everyday transactions. The 2025 theme, “Building a Lasting Legacy,” focused on maintaining fairness and trust in commerce. National Consumer Protection Week (March 2-8), organized by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), aimed to educate consumers on their rights and how to avoid scams. |
To support these efforts, DLCP staff connected with District residents at multiple grocery store locations. The Consumer Protection Unit spoke with shoppers about recognizing and reporting fraud, while the Weights and Measures team checked pricing accuracy and shared information about measurement standards. |
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At each location, DLCP set up an information table with materials and giveaways. These outreach efforts helped residents better understand consumer protections and accurate pricing in their daily purchases. |
Look below for DLCP-related Council happenings and new laws
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Real Estate Appraiser Licensure Technical Amendments Notice of Proposed Rulemaking – Published in the D.C. Register on March 14, 2025, this proposed rulemaking seeks to update prelicensure and continuing education requirements for real estate appraisers. The changes would require aspiring appraisers to complete an eight-hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations Course, consisting of a seven-hour course and a one-hour exam, as part of their prelicensure education. For continuing education, licensees would be required to complete a seven-hour course the first time they renew their license, unless they have already completed the eight-hour prelicensure course, which satisfies this requirement. For subsequent renewals, licensees must complete a four-hour course every two years. The rulemaking proposes renaming the 7-Hour National USPAP Update Course to the 7-Hour National USPAP Continuing Education Course to better reflect its purpose. Conforming and technical amendments will align the District's requirements with the Real Property Qualification Criteria, which will take effect on January 1, 2026. DLCP encourages stakeholders to review the proposed changes and provide feedback.
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B26-0109, Farmers Market Support Amendment Act of 2025 – Introduced by Councilmember Christina Henderson, the bill would establish a farmers market support program within DC Health to provide technical assistance to farmers markets, farm stands, and mobile markets, streamline the licensing and regulatory process, and create a grant program to assist these business operators. The bill would require DLCP to publish the licensing process for farmers markets, farm stands, and mobile markets on its website and reduce licensing fees by 50% for those located in or planning to locate in low-food-access areas. The bill was co-introduced by Councilmembers Matthew Frumin, Robert White Jr, Brianne Nadeau, and Zachary Parker and referred to the Committee on Health, which held a hearing on March 17, 2025. DLCP submitted written testimony in support of the bill.
Contact DLCP via email, or our online inquiry form at any time. We’re also available through the live chat on dlcp.dc.gov or by phone at 202-671-4500 during normal business hours.
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