August 2025 Edition
Dear Customers,
As we close out the summer and look ahead to the fall, I want to take a moment to thank you for staying engaged with DOB and the work we do to keep our city safe, green, and moving.
This issue of our newsletter announces an exciting new initiative to make the permitting process easier for residential conversion projects. We also explain several key efforts underway to protect tenants across the District: our housing inspectors launched an initiative that resulted in hundreds of violations and more than $500,000 in fines to hold landlords accountable, and we continue to partner with the Office of the Attorney General to take strong action against landlords with persistent violations.
You’ll also read about Team DOB’s active role in the community — from helping a disabled veteran return safely home, to welcoming students back to school alongside fellow District agencies, to sharing our expertise on illegal dumping through DC Radio’s Inside DPW podcast.
And, looking ahead, we’re excited to soon reopen our Customer Service Welcome Center on the newly renovated second floor of 1100 4th Street SW and make some navigation improvements at dob.dc.gov so information is easier to find.
Together, these efforts reflect our commitment to service, safety, and collaboration. Thank you for your continued partnership as we move into a new season and a new year of progress for the District.
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Brian J. Hanlon, AIA LEED AP®
Director
Under Director Hanlon’s leadership, DOB is finding ways to streamline permitting and incentivize housing production, and is pleased to announce a lower cost permit fee to better support residential conversion projects! Effective September 3, 2025, the Building Conversion Permit Fee will significantly reduce the cost of permits for such projects.
The Building Conversion Permit fee is calculated at $0.003 per cubic foot, with an associated Green Building Fund fee of $0.002 per square foot. This new fee is on par with permit costs for new construction projects, which are significantly less expensive than renovation permits.
This targeted fee structure makes residential conversions, particularly office-to-residential, more financially feasible and supercharges Mayor Bowser’s efforts to expand the city’s housing supply through adaptive reuse. At DOB, we continue to keep it safe, green, and moving!
In July, DOB inspectors conducted a multi-day initiative at 15 properties linked to Rashid Salem/Petra Development. The inspections uncovered 486 violations and resulted in more than $546,000 in fines.
“Proactive inspections are one of the tools in our enforcement toolbox,” said DOB Director Brian Hanlon. “Our increased ability to target these properties helps advance our mission to ensure District residents have safe housing.”
DOB will continue to proactively and responsively inspect properties, working with owners to resolve violations and escalating enforcement when necessary to protect tenants.
DOB, in partnership with the DC Office of the Attorney General (OAG), is taking strong action to protect tenants at 5821 Dix Street NE and across the District. Recent inspections uncovered repeated violations of DC construction codes, including unpermitted and unsafe work, failure to pass required safety inspections, and hazardous living conditions that put residents at risk.
“We’re committed to protecting tenants and working with property owners to get buildings into compliance,” said DOB Director Brian Hanlon.
This collaboration with OAG underscores DOB’s ongoing mission: illegal construction and unsafe conditions have no place in our communities.
When neighbors noticed overgrown vegetation and unsanitary conditions at the vacant former Wendy’s site on Georgia Avenue NW, many wondered who stepped in to clean it up. The answer: DOB’s Abatement Team.
After repeated violations were documented, DOB’s Abatement Team acted quickly to clear the site and restore it to safe and sanitary conditions.
This effort highlights how DOB responds when property owners fail to maintain vacant or blighted properties, ensuring our neighborhoods remain safe, clean, and vibrant.
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Supporting Residents in Need
Team DOB recently joined forces with fellow DC government agencies to help a disabled veteran return to a safe home. After inspectors discovered a severe bedbug infestation, DOB coordinated treatment of his unit while the DC Department of Aging and Community Living, Mayor’s Office on Veterans Affairs, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provided housing, cleanup, and transportation support.
This multi-agency effort ensured Mr. Sindram could come back to a healthy and safe environment, showing the power of collaboration and care in serving District residents.
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Team DOB Welcomes Students Back to School
On August 25, Team DOB joined District agencies in welcoming DC students for the first day of the 2025-26 school year. Our staff greeted students and families at H.D. Woodson Senior High School in Ward 7, helping to create a warm and encouraging start to the year. The day was filled with school pride, cross-agency collaboration, and the unified cheering-on of students across the District.
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DOB’s Strategic Enforcement Administrator Keith Parsons was recently featured on a two-part episode of Inside DPW: Combating Illegal Dumping in the DMV. Joined by Steven Thompson (DC Department of Public Works) and Tiaa Rutherford (Prince George’s County Department of the Environment), the conversation highlights how education, enforcement, and collaboration are being used to keep our communities clean.
Listen to both episodes on DC Radio and your favorite podcast platform:
Finding what you need on dob.dc.gov will soon get simpler! On Monday, September 15, we will be updating part of our main menu so easier for residents, businesses, and industry professionals can more easily find the information they need. Key resources will be easier to spot, navigation will be streamlined, and accessibility will be improved so you can get where you’re going faster.
We will be replacing the “Residents” and Businesses” menus with the following categories:
Inspections and Enforcement
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Illegal Construction Form
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Vacant and Blighted Properties Form
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Submit Proof of Abatement
Look forward to our updated menu and a more user-friendly way to engage with DOB online on September 15.
We're excited to announce that the Walk-In Center (WIC) will return to the newly renovated second floor at 1100 4th Street SW on Monday, September 15!
The refreshed space has been designed with customers in mind, offering the same great services you depend on from multiple agencies:
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DOB’s WIC: Resources for residential and commercial permit applications, plan review, and vacant building inspections.
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DLCP’s WIC: Assistance with obtaining, renewing, and managing business and professional licenses, plus support for filing complaints and resolving consumer issues.
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DDOT’s Permit Center: Filing and processing permit applications related to the District’s public space.
We look forward to welcoming you back to the improved WIC next month!
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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.
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DOB's updated Customer Service hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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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.
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If you live in a residential zone and plan to work on your home, please get in touch with DOB to ensure your proposed work is properly permitted under District law. This especially applies to larger projects that you are considering. DOB wants to ensure all involved parties are on the same page regarding District regulations to ensure safety for all.
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