D.C. Council Adopts 2 New Laws Impacting Construction

The D.C. Council adopted two new laws that impact construction in the District of Columbia.

The first law, known as the Protecting Adjacent and Adjoining Property Owners from Construction Damage Amendment Act of 2024 (D.C. Law 25-243), amends the D.C. Construction Code to require a property owner, contractor or person applying for specific permits to demonstrate that their permit insurance will insure adjacent property owners for loss or damage that arises from the proposed construction work. The types of permits to which this law applies are as follows: 1) alteration and repair permits pursuant to which the applicant will be engaging in underpinning or related construction activity, 2) foundation permits and 3) new building permits. The law will apply to permits issued 90 days after the adoption of emergency or final rules issued by the mayor to implement the law. Holland & Knight will provide an update once the law becomes fully effective.