(Washington DC) Recently, the DC Department of Buildings (DOB) issued 2,021 Notices of Infraction and $2,285,374 in fines against 81 District properties associated with Sam Razjooyan, a landlord known to be noncompliant with the DC housing code, as the result of a multi-day inspection initiative.
“The Department of Buildings believes that all District tenants deserve safe and livable housing and will take aggressive enforcement action against property owners such as Sam Razjooyan who choose to abdicate their responsibilities,” said DOB Director Brian J. Hanlon. “The majority of property owners want to do the right thing and fix their housing violations and should know they can work closely with our agency to make that happen.”
Over a seven-year period, more than 100 properties have been associated with Razjooyan—a number that fluctuates due to multiple ownership structure changes, according to agency records. From 2018 through May 21, 2025, DOB has assessed nearly 7,200 violations at those properties—with approximately 80% remaining unabated—representing $6,423,904 in fines. In comparison, violations from Fiscal Year 2024 citywide generally have a greater than 50% abatement rate. DOB Notices of infractions (NOIs) provide that violations be fixed within 60 days for non-emergencies, and within 24 hours for emergencies.
DOB continues to inspect problematic properties—proactively or by tenant request—to find any new violations and confirm the status of existing ones. The agency intensified inspections at Razjooyan properties beginning in April, with a more concentrated push between April 11 and May 21.
The results of the May inspections are as follows:
- 81 properties
- 802 units
- 1,328 total inspections
- 2,021 violations (about 12% of the all-time total)
- 879 NOIs issued
- 68 abated (about 5% of the all-time total)
“Our data-driven approach to assessing housing violations allows us to prioritize agency resources toward property owners like Razjooyan who have persistent problems,“ said DOB Strategic Enforcement Administrator Keith Parsons. “Our work doesn’t end here. We will continue to re-inspect and monitor these properties to assess if violations are being abated—and finalize notices of infractions and their associated fines.”
Some Razjooyan-associated properties were in court receivership due to lawsuits by his creditors or the Office of the Attorney General; others were sold to new owners possibly unaware of the properties’ poor condition. This shows how important it is for potential purchasers of residential rental buildings to visit the “Violations and Abatement” tab of DOB’s public dashboard and learn about the DOB-inspected conditions. Purchasers have an obligation to abate violations existing at the time of sale.
"I want to emphasize that we do work collaboratively with property owners who desire to resolve their housing code problems,” Parsons added.
For other property owners with large numbers of outstanding violations, DOB’s new Outreach Abatement and Reconciliation (OAR) program directly engages with them to help increase their abatement levels. This program has shown positive results, with an increase of 42% in the abatement rate. More details on the agency’s overall work in improving abatement rates can be found in its FY2024 Strategic Enforcement Report.
If the OAR process is unsuccessful, cases are reviewed for escalated enforcement through prosecution partners such as the Office of Administrative Hearings and the Office of the Attorney General.
DOB encourages District tenants to work with property owners to resolve suspected housing and property maintenance issues. However, when those issues remain unresolved, tenants should contact DOB at dob.dc.gov or 202-671-3500 so the agency can schedule an inspection as soon as possible.
A complete list of Razjooyan-associated properties inspected April 11 - May 21 is below.
|
Address |
# Units |
# Violations Cited |
# NOIs |
Sum of Original Fines |
# of Inspections |
Ward |
|
101 41ST STREET NE |
15 |
83 |
26 |
77,347.00 |
52 |
7 |
|
102 WILMINGTON PLACE SE |
12 |
25 |
11 |
19,743.00 |
17 |
8 |
|
104 WILMINGTON PLACE SE |
6 |
18 |
7 |
11,246.00 |
7 |
8 |
|
106 WILMINGTON PLACE SE |
12 |
48 |
13 |
61,850.00 |
22 |
8 |
|
108 WILMINGTON PLACE SE |
14 |
13 |
9 |
12,243.00 |
11 |
8 |
|
109 WAYNE PLACE SE |
4 |
8 |
6 |
8,120.00 |
8 |
8 |
|
121 VICTOR STREET NE |
8 |
7 |
4 |
8,119.00 |
4 |
5 |
|
1416 EASTERN AVENUE NE |
6 |
35 |
16 |
47,601.00 |
15 |
7 |
|
1521 V STREET SE |
6 |
30 |
15 |
36,482.00 |
27 |
8 |
|
1600 28TH PLACE SE |
11 |
68 |
24 |
82,840.00 |
28 |
7 |
|
1608 28TH PLACE SE |
11 |
22 |
15 |
28,856.00 |
12 |
7 |
|
1613 17TH PLACE SE |
6 |
30 |
16 |
33,732.00 |
21 |
8 |
|
1620 21ST PLACE SE |
4 |
12 |
5 |
12,742.00 |
10 |
8 |
|
1644 W STREET SE |
15 |
61 |
26 |
71,838.00 |
46 |
8 |
|
1650 W STREET SE |
14 |
52 |
16 |
61,220.00 |
17 |
8 |
|
1656 W STREET SE |
7 |
17 |
10 |
25,611.00 |
9 |
8 |
|
1717 17TH STREET NW |
26 |
89 |
42 |
107,077.00 |
61 |
2 |
|
1827 GOOD HOPE ROAD SE |
12 |
104 |
34 |
117,700.00 |
30 |
8 |
|
1850 KENDALL STREET NE |
12 |
1 |
1 |
625.00 |
31 |
5 |
|
1853 KENDALL STREET NE |
4 |
10 |
5 |
8,122.00 |
7 |
5 |
|
1854 KENDALL STREET NE |
12 |
2 |
1 |
1,250.00 |
15 |
5 |
|
215 NEWCOMB STREET SE |
6 |
9 |
4 |
12,617.00 |
7 |
8 |
|
217 NEWCOMB STREET SE |
10 |
3 |
3 |
3,747.00 |
11 |
8 |
|
219 NEWCOMB STREET SE |
7 |
14 |
8 |
26,236.00 |
8 |
8 |
|
221 NEWCOMB STREET SE |
9 |
5 |
5 |
6,245.00 |
9 |
8 |
|
223 NEWCOMB STREET SE |
9 |
5 |
5 |
6,245.00 |
11 |
8 |
|
225 NEWCOMB STREET SE |
7 |
4 |
4 |
4,372.00 |
8 |
8 |
|
2440 S STREET SE |
11 |
20 |
10 |
20,240.00 |
13 |
8 |
|
2501 NAYLOR ROAD SE |
6 |
48 |
10 |
53,972.00 |
24 |
7 |
|
2608 BOWEN ROAD SE |
3 |
17 |
7 |
19,991.00 |
13 |
8 |
|
2812 POMEROY ROAD SE |
3 |
2 |
2 |
3,124.00 |
7 |
8 |
|
2840 LANGSTON PLACE SE |
14 |
16 |
15 |
18,736.00 |
15 |
8 |
|
2844 LANGSTON PLACE SE |
11 |
9 |
8 |
11,243.00 |
25 |
8 |
|
2850 LANGSTON PLACE SE |
14 |
42 |
17 |
34,108.00 |
41 |
8 |
|
2908 LANGSTON PLACE SE |
10 |
51 |
16 |
61,219.00 |
31 |
8 |
|
2912 LANGSTON PLACE SE |
8 |
27 |
12 |
27,611.00 |
20 |
8 |
|
2920 LANGSTON PLACE SE |
11 |
21 |
11 |
23,237.00 |
12 |
8 |
|
304 34TH STREET SE |
4 |
7 |
4 |
8,247.00 |
6 |
7 |
|
3205 D STREET SE |
4 |
4 |
3 |
3,748.00 |
5 |
7 |
|
3615 B STREET SE |
8 |
3 |
1 |
1,875.00 |
9 |
7 |
|
3639 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR AVENUE SE |
9 |
23 |
9 |
25,611.00 |
11 |
8 |
|
3968 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR AVENUE SW |
4 |
7 |
4 |
6,247.00 |
5 |
8 |
|
400 CHESAPEAKE STREET SE |
13 |
9 |
6 |
7,623.00 |
32 |
8 |
|
4001 1ST STREET SE |
8 |
30 |
5 |
37,110.00 |
16 |
8 |
|
4010 9TH STREET SE |
12 |
33 |
6 |
43,231.00 |
13 |
8 |
|
4069 MINNESOTA AVENUE NE |
6 |
1 |
1 |
1,249.00 |
7 |
7 |
|
4071 MINNESOTA AVENUE NE |
32 |
37 |
35 |
44,341.00 |
33 |
7 |
|
4073 MINNESOTA AVENUE NE |
10 |
20 |
13 |
22,612.00 |
20 |
7 |
|
4075 MINNESOTA AVENUE NE |
6 |
30 |
10 |
33,486.00 |
7 |
7 |
|
4077 MINNESOTA AVENUE NE |
12 |
17 |
11 |
21,361.00 |
13 |
7 |
|
4079 MINNESOTA AVENUE NE |
6 |
17 |
6 |
16,369.00 |
7 |
7 |
|
4081 MINNESOTA AVENUE NE |
6 |
12 |
5 |
18,114.00 |
7 |
7 |
|
4083 MINNESOTA AVENUE NE |
6 |
21 |
8 |
21,989.00 |
7 |
7 |
|
4085 MINNESOTA AVENUE NE |
6 |
11 |
8 |
13,867.00 |
7 |
7 |
|
4087 MINNESOTA AVENUE NE |
6 |
12 |
4 |
13,368.00 |
7 |
7 |
|
4089 MINNESOTA AVENUE NE |
12 |
15 |
10 |
19,987.00 |
13 |
7 |
|
423 BURBANK STREET SE |
5 |
7 |
4 |
6,871.00 |
6 |
7 |
|
4259 6TH STREET SE |
3 |
11 |
7 |
13,743.00 |
5 |
8 |
|
4263 6TH STREET SE |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3,747.00 |
3 |
8 |
|
4301 WHEELER ROAD SE |
8 |
5 |
4 |
3,123.00 |
17 |
8 |
|
4305 WHEELER ROAD SE |
14 |
37 |
9 |
37,359.00 |
13 |
8 |
|
4309 WHEELER ROAD SE |
8 |
24 |
4 |
19,994.00 |
17 |
8 |
|
4313 WHEELER ROAD SE |
14 |
24 |
15 |
33,104.00 |
15 |
8 |
|
4318 HALLEY TERRACE SE |
4 |
5 |
5 |
5,621.00 |
5 |
8 |
|
4400 HUNT PLACE NE |
15 |
70 |
20 |
81,834.00 |
16 |
7 |
|
4480 C STREET SE |
12 |
47 |
18 |
55,103.00 |
18 |
7 |
|
4559 BENNING ROAD SE |
12 |
30 |
13 |
30,984.00 |
13 |
7 |
|
4641 HILLSIDE ROAD SE |
5 |
8 |
6 |
9,994.00 |
7 |
7 |
|
4647 HILLSIDE ROAD SE |
6 |
7 |
6 |
8,119.00 |
6 |
7 |
|
4725 MINNESOTA AVENUE NE |
12 |
28 |
16 |
29,862.00 |
14 |
7 |
|
4935 NANNIE HELEN BURROUGHS AVENUE NE |
4 |
21 |
5 |
19,619.00 |
6 |
7 |
|
5012 BASS PLACE SE |
9 |
17 |
9 |
22,613.00 |
9 |
7 |
|
5058 ASTOR PLACE SE |
13 |
44 |
20 |
52,100.00 |
15 |
7 |
|
5320 8TH STREET NW |
39 |
82 |
40 |
100,566.00 |
42 |
4 |
|
700 51ST STREET NE |
8 |
18 |
11 |
26,234.00 |
21 |
7 |
|
704 51ST STREET NE |
10 |
24 |
16 |
28,984.00 |
21 |
7 |
|
724 31ST STREET SE |
3 |
6 |
2 |
3,374.00 |
4 |
7 |
|
726 31ST STREET SE |
3 |
2 |
1 |
1,374.00 |
4 |
7 |
|
741 LONGFELLOW STREET NW |
41 |
84 |
25 |
70,226.00 |
63 |
4 |
|
760 CHESAPEAKE STREET SE |
13 |
61 |
22 |
66,721.00 |
28 |
8 |
|
945 LONGFELLOW STREET NW |
13 |
19 |
10 |
26,363.00 |
30 |
4 |
|
Grand Total |
802 |
2,021 |
879 |
2,285,374.00 |
1,328 |
|
On May 27, Mayor Bowser presented her FY26 Budget: Grow DC, which presents a bold, proactive growth agenda to generate new economic activity, create new jobs for DC residents, and increase revenue to support services and programs.
DOB will play a crucial role implementing the Mayor’s priorities, as the proposed budget includes investing $1.8 million in DOB’s abatement fund to help address residential code violations and increased funding to support upgrades to the agency’s eRecords system. The budget will also make it easier to do business in DC by reforming zoning procedures to streamline reviews of new development projects and pausing Building Energy Performance Standards and Net Zero requirements; and will make multi-million dollar investments in Capital One Arena improvements, Chinatown, Gallery Place and the future Washington Commanders site