District of Columbia § 22-1321 Disorderly conduct.

District of Columbia Statutes

§ 22-1321 — Disorderly conduct.

District of Columbia § 22-1321

Title 22Criminal Offenses and Penalties.

Ch. 13Disturbances of the Public Peace.

This text of District of Columbia § 22-1321 (Disorderly conduct.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District of Columbia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

D.C. Code § 22-1321 (2026).

Text

(a)In any place open to the general public, and in the communal areas of multi-unit housing, it is unlawful for a person to:

(1)Intentionally or recklessly act in such a manner as to cause another person to be in reasonable fear that a person or property in a person’s immediate possession is likely to be harmed or taken;

(2)Incite or provoke violence where there is a likelihood that such violence will ensue; or

(3)Direct abusive or offensive language or gestures at another person (other than a law enforcement officer while acting in his or her official capacity) in a manner likely to provoke immediate physical retaliation or violence by that person or another person.

(b)It is unlawful for a person to engage in loud, threatening, or abusive language, or disruptive conduct, wi

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(a) In any place open to the general public, and in the communal areas of multi-unit housing, it is unlawful for a person to:

(1) Intentionally or recklessly act in such a manner as to cause another person to be in reasonable fear that a person or property in a person’s immediate possession is likely to be harmed or taken;

(2) Incite or provoke violence where there is a likelihood that such violence will ensue; or

(3) Direct abusive or offensive language or gestures at another person (other than a law enforcement officer while acting in his or her official capacity) in a manner likely to provoke immediate physical retaliation or violence by that person or another person.

(b) It is unlawful for a person to engage in loud, threatening, or abusive language, or disruptive conduct, with the intent and effect of impeding or disrupting the orderly conduct of a lawful public gathering, or of a congregation of people engaged in any religious service or in worship, a funeral, or similar proceeding.

(c) It is unlawful for a person to engage in loud, threatening, or abusive language, or disruptive conduct with the intent and effect of impeding or disrupting the lawful use of a public conveyance by one or more other persons.

(c-1) It is unlawful for a person to engage in loud, threatening, or abusive language, or disruptive conduct in a public building with the intent and effect of impeding or disrupting the orderly conduct of business in that public building.

(d) It is unlawful for a person to make an unreasonably loud noise between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. that is likely to annoy or disturb one or more other persons in their residences.

(e) It is unlawful for a person to urinate or defecate in public, other than in a urinal or toilet.

(f) It is unlawful for a person to stealthily look into a window or other opening of a dwelling, as defined in § 6-101.07 , under circumstances in which an occupant would have a reasonable expectation of privacy. It is not necessary that the dwelling be occupied at the time the person looks into the window or other opening.

(g) It is unlawful, under circumstances whereby a breach of the peace may be occasioned, to interfere with any person in any public place by jostling against the person, unnecessarily crowding the person, or placing a hand in the proximity of the person’s handbag, pocketbook, or wallet.

(h) A person who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01 , imprisoned not more than 90 days, or both.

Legislative History

June 29, 1953, 67 Stat. 98, ch. 159, § 211(a); redesignated § 211, May 21, 1994, D.C. Law 10-119, § 9(a), 41 DCR 1639; May 26, 2011, D.C. Law 18-375,§ 3(a), 58 DCR 731; June 11, 2013, D.C. Law 19-317, § 202(c), 60 DCR 2064; June 19, 2013, D.C. Law 19-320, § 103, 60 DCR 3390