Municipality, District of Columbia · population 670,050 · official website

Generated by lexflow from the state statutes (open-us-law, government publisher text) and checked by Claude: every quoted phrase was matched word for word against the statute text, and the process passed the BPMN/DMN schemas, bpmnlint and a Petri-net soundness check. Information, not legal advice.

In DC, anyone can ask a District agency for public records under the DC Freedom of Information Act (DC Code §§ 2-531 to 2-539). The easiest way is the DC Government Public FOIA Portal (myfoia.dc.gov). You can also send your request to the agency's FOIA Officer by mail, fax or email. Requests to the Office of the Chief Financial Officer go through a separate OCFO portal. It costs nothing to submit a request, but agencies can charge for searching, reviewing and copying under 1 DCMR § 408, and you can ask for a fee waiver or reduction. Agencies must answer within 15 business days and can add 10 more business days. If you are denied, you can file an administrative appeal with the Mayor through the portal, by email to foia.appeals@dc.gov, or by mail to the Mayor's Office of Legal Counsel. After that you can file a civil action in DC Superior Court.

Confidence 1.00: state law 1.00, local 1.00, contact 1.00. Full state model: records

• Request record, reasonably describing it — Requester (§ 2-532©(1))
• Decide whether to extend the time limit — D.C. public body (§ 2-532(d)(1))
• Send written notice of reasons and expected date — D.C. public body (§ 2-532(d)(1))
• Grant access or give written reasons for denial — D.C. public body · within 15 business days (§ 2-532©(1))
• Grant access or give reasons by extended date — D.C. public body · within 25 business days (§ 2-532(d)(1))
• Request deemed denied — D.C. public body (§ 2-532(e))
• Provide segregable portion; mark and explain deletions — D.C. public body (§ 2-534(b))
• Set fees within the statutory limits — D.C. public body (§ 2-532(b))
• Provide record in the requested format — D.C. public body (§ 2-532(a-1))
• Petition the Mayor to review the denial — Requester (§ 2-537(a))
• Decide in writing whether record may be withheld — Mayor (FOIA appeals) · within 10 business days (§ 2-537(a))
• Mayor did not decide in time — Mayor (FOIA appeals) (§ 2-537(a)(1))
• Order public body to disclose immediately — Mayor (FOIA appeals) (§ 2-537(a)(2))
• Sue in D.C. Superior Court — Requester (§ 2-537(a)(1))
• Sue to compel production of the record — Requester (§ 2-537(a)(2))

• Submit a FOIA request online through the DC Public FOIA Portal — Any person; directed to the DC public body holding the records. Go to https://myfoia.dc.gov (it redirects to a GovQA portal at myfoiadc.govqa.us), choose the agency and describe the records reasonably. Requests for the Office of the Chief Financial Officer go to the OCFO's own portal (foia-ocfo.arkcase.com), which dc.gov/foia links to. (source)
• Or submit by mail, fax or email to the agency FOIA Officer — FOIA Officer of the public body. Mark the outside of the envelope, or the subject line of the fax or email, 'Freedom of Information Act Request' or 'FOIA Request'. Include a daytime phone number, email address or mailing address. (source)
• Address fees, or ask for a fee waiver — Requester. Submitting is free. Search, review and copying fees can apply under 1 DCMR § 408, and you may have to pay search or review fees even if no records are found. To ask for a waiver or reduction, include it in your request letter. Under 1 DCMR 408.10, the letter should explain how the records will be used to benefit the general public. You can also say up front how much you are willing to pay. (source)
• Wait for the response (15 business days, with a possible 10-business-day extension) — Public body. Weekends and legal holidays are not counted. The agency can extend the deadline by 10 more business days. Under D.C. Code § 2-532(e), a missed deadline counts as a denial, which you can appeal. (source)
• Appeal a denial to the Mayor — Mayor's Office of Legal Counsel. File through myfoia.dc.gov, by email to foia.appeals@dc.gov, or by mail to Mayor's Office of Legal Counsel, FOIA Appeal, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 407, Washington, DC 20004. Include a copy of the original request and any written denial. You must also send a copy of the appeal to the public body whose denial you are appealing. (source)
• Seek judicial review if needed — DC Superior Court. File a civil action under the Superior Court's rules. (source)

• Submit and track FOIA requests and appeals (redirects to myfoiadc.govqa.us): DC Government Public FOIA Portal
• Requests to the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (linked from dc.gov/foia): OCFO FOIA portal
• FOIA administrative appeals to the Mayor: foia.appeals@dc.gov
• Mailing address for FOIA appeals: Mayor's Office of Legal Counsel, FOIA Appeal, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 407, Washington, DC 20004
• DC FOIA overview page: dc.gov/foia

• D.C. Code § 2-532 (Freedom of Information; right to inspect public records): Any person may inspect and copy public records, subject to the exemptions in § 2-534. A public body must respond within 15 days, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and legal public holidays. It can extend that time in unusual circumstances, and a missed deadline counts as a denial.
• D.C. Code §§ 2-531 to 2-539: The DC Freedom of Information Act as a whole, which dc.gov/foia cites as the governing law, including exemptions, appeals to the Mayor and judicial review.
• 1 DCMR § 408 (FOIA fees): Lets public bodies charge for searching, reviewing and reproducing records. It also covers fee waivers and reductions when the records serve the public interest.

Fees. No fee to submit. Agencies may charge for search, review and copying under 1 DCMR § 408. According to dc.gov/foia, search or review fees can apply even if no responsive records are found. A 2013 copy of 1 DCMR 408 hosted by the Office of the People's Counsel (not an official current source) lists these rates: $0.25 per page for photocopies; search at $4, $7 or $10 per quarter hour after the first hour, for clerical, professional or supervisory staff respectively; initial review at the same rates; and $1 per certified true copy. An agency may waive all or part of a fee when that is in the agency's or the public's interest, and a requester asking for a waiver must explain how the records will benefit the general public.

• The per-page and hourly FOIA rates come from a 2013 copy of 1 DCMR 408 hosted by opc-dc.gov, not the current official text on dcregs.dc.gov. Individual agencies (for example DCPS and OCFO) may publish their own fee schedules.
• The 2013 text of 408.5 says no fee is charged for review to decide whether a record can be disclosed. dc.gov/foia says review fees may apply even when no records are found. Check the current rule.
• myfoia.dc.gov currently redirects to myfoiadc.govqa.us, and I did not fetch the portal's content. The OCFO portal page loaded only the title 'Public Portal', so I confirmed it only through the dc.gov/foia link.
• Some independent bodies (for example OCFO) use separate portals, and the DC Council and courts may have their own records processes. I did not verify those.
• The 15-day clock is in business days. The extension is up to 10 more business days; § 2-532(d) limits it to unusual circumstances.

DC is both the 'state' and the city, so the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) handles both entity registration and the local license. DLCP lists four steps. (1) If you operate as a corporation, LLC or partnership, register the entity, and any trade name, through BOSS (the old CorpOnline address now redirects there). (2) Get an EIN from the IRS and register it with the DC Office of Tax and Revenue by filing the FR-500 on MyTax.DC.gov. A Clean Hands check runs during the license application; DC will not issue a license if you owe it more than $1,000, unless you are on a payment plan. (3) Get zoning clearance from the Department of Buildings: a Home Occupation Permit if you work from home, or a Certificate of Occupancy for a commercial space. (4) Apply for a Basic Business License online through BOSS (boss.dc.gov). For help, visit the DLCP Business License Center at 1100 4th Street SW, 2nd Floor, where staff will direct you to a kiosk. DC law requires anyone doing business in DC to keep a basic business license, with some exemptions such as activities earning $2,000 a year or less.

Confidence 1.00: state law 1.00, local 1.00, contact 1.00. Full state model: business

• Sign and deliver formation filing to Mayor — Founder (organizer or incorporator) (§ 29-802.01(a))
• Pay filing fee in permitted manner — Founder (organizer or incorporator) (§ 29-102.01©)
• Check filing satisfies Title 29 — Mayor (entity filing office) (§ 29-102.06(a))
• Record filing as of delivery time — Mayor (entity filing office) (§ 29-102.06(b))
• Return or notify with recorded reason for refusal — Mayor (entity filing office) · within 15 business days (§ 29-102.06©)
• Petition Superior Court to compel filing — Founder (organizer or incorporator) (§ 29-102.06(d)(1))
• Deliver corrected filing without fee — Founder (organizer or incorporator) · within 60 days (§ 29-102.06©)
• Summarily order filing or other action — Superior Court (§ 29-102.06(d)(2))
• Deliver filed copy with acknowledgment — Mayor (entity filing office) (§ 29-102.06(b))
• Admit at least one member — Founder (organizer or incorporator) (§ 29-802.01(d))
• Apply for basic business license per location — Founder (organizer or incorporator) (§ 47-2851.02(a))
• Issue license to complying applicant — Department (business licensing) (§ 47-2851.02(b))
• Register trade name, executed by proprietor or governor — Founder (organizer or incorporator) (§ 47-2855.02©)
• Check trade name is distinguishable — Department (business licensing) (§ 47-2855.02(d))

• Register the entity and any trade name with the DLCP Corporations Division — DLCP Corporations Division (BOSS; CorpOnline now redirects to boss.dc.gov). Corporations, LLCs and partnerships register online. If you will use a fictitious or shortened version of the corporate name, register the trade name too. The DLCP page addresses only corporate entities; it does not say what sole proprietors need to do. (source)
• Get an EIN and register for DC taxes (FR-500) — IRS; DC Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR). Get an EIN from the IRS. Then file the FR-500 New Business Registration on MyTax.DC.gov or at the OTR Customer Service Center, 1101 4th Street SW, Suite W270. (source)
• Clean Hands check — DLCP / OTR. The check runs during the online BBL application. Under D.C. Code § 47-2862, DC will not issue a license to anyone who owes it more than $1,000 in past-due taxes, fines or certain other debts. Exceptions apply for debts under a pending appeal and for applicants keeping to an agreed payment schedule. (source)
• Home-based business: get a Home Occupation Permit (HOP) before the license — DC Department of Buildings (DOB). Apply online and upload the supporting documents. Most home-office uses get an automatically issued HOP; uses such as childcare and lodging need staff review. (source)
• Commercial location: get a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) — DC Department of Buildings. Apply through Certifi (certifi.dob.dc.gov). Approval typically takes about seven business days. The application is invoiced after approval, and the C of O is issued once payment is received. DOB is at 1100 4th Street SW, (202) 671-3500. (source)
• Apply for the Basic Business License (BBL) — DLCP Business Licensing Division. Submit the application, supporting documents and payment through BOSS (boss.dc.gov). The license category depends on your business activities. (source)
• Use the in-person Business License Center if needed — DLCP Business License Center. Visit the center and staff will direct you to a kiosk to apply through BOSS. All applications must still be submitted online. For questions about license requirements or categories, call (202) 671-4500. (source)

• DLCP online business licensing and corporate registration (CorpOnline redirects here): BOSS (boss.dc.gov)
• OTR FR-500 new business tax registration: MyTax.DC.gov
• Certificate of Occupancy applications: Certifi (DOB)
• In-person business licensing help (kiosk): DLCP Business License Center, 1100 4th Street SW, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20024
• DLCP Business Licensing Division: (202) 671-4500
• Tax registration help: OTR Customer Service Center, 1101 4th Street SW, Suite W270, Washington, DC 20024
• OTR (727-4TAX): (202) 727-4829
• DC Department of Buildings: (202) 671-3500

• D.C. Code § 47-2851.02 (basic business license required): Anyone doing business in DC must maintain a basic business license, with a separate license for each location. Some activities are exempt, including those with gross annual revenue of $2,000 or less.
• D.C. Code § 47-2862 (Clean Hands: prohibition against issuing a license or permit): The District may not issue or reissue a license or permit to an applicant who owes it more than $1,000 in past-due taxes, fines, penalties or interest, or in certain other debts. Exceptions apply for debts under a pending appeal and for applicants complying with a payment schedule.

Fees. From DLCP's License & Corporate Filing Fees page: General Business license $49 for 6 months, $99 for 2 years, $198 for 4 years. Corporate initial registration: domestic for-profit $99, domestic non-profit $80, foreign for-profit $220, foreign non-profit $80. Biennial reports: $300 for-profit and $80 non-profit, with a late fee after April 1 of the year due of $100 for-profit or $50 non-profit. Fees for other license categories and endorsements vary by business activity. The DOB pages do not state HOP or C of O fees; the C of O is invoiced after approval. I found no FR-500 registration fee stated.

• The fee page lists only general business and corporate registration figures. Other BBL categories (for example food, home improvement or professional services) have different fees and may need endorsements, and I did not verify those. The full corporate fee schedule is at dlcp.dc.gov/node/1621901, which I did not fetch.
• Trade name fees are not listed on the DLCP fee page I checked.
• Third-party sources mention a 10% technology fee and $25-per-endorsement amounts under older law. D.C. Code § 47-2851.08 is now marked repealed, so I did not include those amounts.
• corponline.dlcp.dc.gov now redirects to boss.dc.gov, which suggests corporate registration has moved to BOSS. The BOSS, MyTax.DC.gov and Certifi pages did not render any content when fetched, so I confirmed them only through the agency pages that link to them.
• The DLCP steps page does not mention sole proprietors. Sole proprietors using their own legal name generally do not need corporate registration but still need tax registration, zoning clearance and a BBL; I did not verify this on an official page. Trade name registration applies if they use a different name.
• Some older DLCP pages reportedly cite a $100 Clean Hands threshold. The current D.C. Code § 47-2862 uses $1,000, apart from Department of Motor Vehicles licenses and permits.
• Certain uses (child development homes, regulated professions, alcohol, rental housing) have extra requirements that I did not research.
• According to the OTR page, businesses with a withholding account should also contact the Department of Employment Services (DOES) to register for unemployment insurance.

• Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) %%|%% DC
• DC Government Public FOIA Portal (redirects to myfoiadc.govqa.us)
• D.C. Code § 2-532
• 1 DCMR 408 (2013 copy hosted by Office of the People's Counsel)
• DLCP - Steps to Obtaining a Basic Business License
• DLCP Business Licensing Division
• DLCP License & Corporate Filing Fees
• OTR New Business Registration
• DOB Home Occupation Permit
• DOB Get a Certificate of Occupancy
• D.C. Code § 47-2851.02
• D.C. Code § 47-2862

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