The Department of Buildings is responsible for regulating construction activity in the District of Columbia and protecting the safety of residents, businesses, and visitors while advancing the development of the built environment through permitting, inspections, and code enforcement.
Energy and Green Building
The Green Building division is a part of the Office of Construction and Building Standards. The division is responsible for regulating construction in the District that falls under the regulations of the Green Building Act, Green Construction Code, and Energy Conservation Code.
- Location: 1100 4th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
- Phone: 202-671-3500
- Contact Us
Homeowner's Center
The Homeowner’s Center is devoted to helping homeowners get building permits for home improvement projects.
- Location: 1100 4th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
- Phone: 202-671-3500
- Contact Us
Illegal Construction
Any construction in the District of Columbia done without required building permits is illegal construction. Illegal construction is a public danger-- it can hurt people and property.
- Location: 1100 4th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
- Phone: 202-671-3500
- Contact Us
Inspections
The Department of Buildings' Office of Residential Inspection conducts housing code inspections, and Office of Construction and Building Standards conducts construction (and illegal construction) inspections, and also certifies Third-Party Inspection Agencies to conduct construction inspections on our behalf.
- Location: 1100 4th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
- Phone: 202-671-3500
- Contact Us
Permit Center
Are you building or modifying a structure or putting up a fence? Get your permits before you start.
- Location: 1100 4th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
- Phone: 202-671-3500
- Contact Us
Plan Review Services
- Location: 1100 4th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
- Phone: 202-671-3500
- Contact Us
Proactive Inspections
The Department of Buildings Office of Residential Inspections Proactive Inspections Program ensures all multi-unit rental properties in the District of Columbia are inspected. The Proactive Inspection Program is designed to ensure all rental units in the District of Columbia meet all residential property maintenance and building codes.
- Location: 1100 4th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
- Phone: 202-671-3500
- Contact Us
Surveyors
Located within the Office of Construction and Building Standards, the Surveyor of the District of Columbia maintains the legal records of all land plats and subdivisions of private and District government property within the District of Columbia. The existing records cover a period of more than two centuries.
- Location: 1100 4th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
- Phone: 202-671-3500
- Contact Us
Vacant Buildings
The Office of Residential Inspections is charged with investigating and classifying vacant and blighted buildings within the District of Columbia. Below you will find the information you require in reference to vacant buildings in the District of Columbia.
- Location: 1100 4th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
- Phone: 202-671-3500
- Contact Us
Zoning
The Office of Zoning Administration (OZA) enforces the provisions of the DC Zoning Ordinances (“zoning regulations”), as adopted by the DC Zoning Commission (ZC). Enforcement of the zoning regulations within the District of Columbia is primarily complaint-driven.
- Location: 1100 4th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
- Phone: 202-671-3500
- Contact Us
