The work of building a safer, stronger District happens in many ways. It happens when residents lend their voices to decisions that affect their communities, and when local businesses are connected to new opportunities, and when District agencies work together to protect the people we serve. This month’s newsletter reflects each of those commitments and the important role partnership plays in DOB’s work.  

Our Construction Code Development Listening Sessions continue in August with a conversation focused on the Residential Code. Whether you are a resident, builder, design professional, or simply interested in how our built environment takes shape, I encourage you to participate. The feedback we receive throughout this process will help inform proposed updates to the city’s construction codes and future opportunities for public comment.  

We are also seeing tremendous momentum around the future of the RFK Campus. This month, I had the opportunity to speak with local construction firms about how local businesses can prepare to participate in this historic redevelopment. At the same time, the draft RFK Campus Master Plan is open for public comment, giving residents, businesses, and visitors another important opportunity to help shape the future of this site.  

Just as important as building the future is protecting our communities today. Our continued partnership with the DC Office of the Attorney General demonstrates what coordinated enforcement can accomplish. From supporting legal action against landlords responsible for dangerous housing conditions to seeing a federal court order repairs of nearly 200 violations at Razjooyan-associated properties, DOB remains committed to using every tool available to hold property owners accountable and protect District residents across all eight wards.  

Thank you for staying informed, sharing your voice, and continuing to partner with us. Together, we are not only building what comes next for DC, we are working to ensure our city remains safe, accountable, and full of opportunity for everyone who calls it home.  

Starting a retail business takes more than finding the perfect location; it also means understanding permitting, zoning, and inspection processes that help bring a vision to life.   

Team DOB recently joined The Coalition DC for its Regulatory Roadmap: Retail Location Strategy and Leasing Basics event, where DOB staff shared practical guidance on permits, inspections, Certificates of Occupancy (C of Os), buildout considerations, and key compliance requirements.   

Through events like this, DOB continues to connect directly with entrepreneurs and business owners, providing the resources and expertise needed to help businesses navigate the development process with confidence and open their doors safely and successfully.

Team DOB joined the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), the DC Office of Tax and Revenue, and community partners earlier this month for DLCP’s General Business License Bootcamp, an in-person training designed to help entrepreneurs better understand the regulatory steps involved in starting and licensing a business in the District.  

As part of the panel discussion, DOB shared guidance on zoning regulations, C of Os, and the Enhanced Home Occupation (eHOP), helping participants understand how building and land-use requirements fit into the broader process of getting a business up and running.   

The DC Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has filed a lawsuit against the owners of two Ward 1 apartment buildings following years of dangerous housing conditions and more than 120 housing code violations. One property, located at 1433 Columbia Road NW, was severely damaged by a 2024 gas explosion that displaced dozens of residents and remains uninhabitable.  

DOB played a key role in the District’s response and subsequent enforcement efforts. Following the explosion, DOB evacuated and inspected the building, helped connect displaced residents with emergency accommodations and resources, and compiled evidence to support enforcement action against the property owners. DOB had also cited the two properties for a combined 124 housing code violations and more than $140,000 in fines since 2018. The OAG lawsuit now seeks repairs to address outstanding violations, relief for harmed tenants, reimbursement to the District, and civil penalties. 

A federal court has ordered Ali “Sam” Razjooyan and Houri Razjooyan to immediately address dangerous and illegal conditions at apartment buildings they continue to own and control in DC. The preliminary injunction, secured by the OAG, requires licensed contractors to repair nearly 200 housing code violations across five properties within 21 days. The ruling stems from the OAG’s first-of-its-kind civil RICO lawsuit filed earlier this year.  

DOB’s enforcement work helped lay the groundwork for the case. Through a targeted inspection initiative, DOB conducted 1,328 inspections across 81 Razjooyan-associated properties, identifying more than 2,000 housing code violations and assessing more than $2 million in fines. Those violations were later used by OAG to support its RICO action. The latest court ruling marks another step in DOB and OAG’s ongoing partnership to hold property owners accountable and protect District tenants from unsafe living conditions.