§ 47-2851.04 — License application and fees.

District of Columbia § 47-2851.04

• Jurisdiction: District of Columbia
• Title 47: Taxation, Licensing, Permits, Assessments, and Fees. [Enacted title]
• Ch. 28: General License Law.
• Subch. I-A: General Provisions.

Text

*NOTE: This section includes amendments by temporary legislation that will expire on August 13, 2026. To view the text of this section after the expiration of all emergency and temporary legislation affecting this section, click this link: Permanent Version .*

(a) A person applying for an initial basic business license shall pay a license fee of:

(1) $49 for a 6-month license;

(2) $99 for a 2-year license; and

(3) $198 for a 4-year license.

(b) For the renewal of:

(1) An initial 6-month license, a person shall pay a license fee of $49 for a second 6-month license; provided, that only one $49 renewal of a 6-month license shall be permitted; thereafter, the person shall pay a renewal license fee according to paragraph (2) of this subsection;

(2) A 2-year license, a person shall pay a license fee of $99; and

(3) A 4-year license, a person shall pay a license fee of $198.

(1) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of this section, a business with expected or actual gross annual revenue of between $2,000 and $10,000 shall be exempt from the payment of basic business licensing fees.

(A) When applying for an initial basic business license or when applying to renew a basic business license, a person claiming an exemption pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection shall submit a statement certifying that the annual gross revenue for the person's business will not or does not exceed $10,000 ("self-certification statement").

(B) The self-certification statement submitted pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall be submitted on a form published by the Department. The form shall include a space for the person to enter his or her expected annual gross revenue for the next year or the gross annual revenue for the previous year.

(3) If circumstances change such that the business no longer qualifies for the exemptions provided by this subsection after the submission of a self-certification statement, the person who submitted the self-certification statement shall inform the Department within 30 days of the change of circumstances.

(4) An applicant who knowingly makes a false statement in a self-certification statement or who knowingly fails to inform the Department that a business no longer qualifies for the exemption shall be:

(A) Guilty of a Class 1 civil infraction and subject to fines pursuant to section 3201 of Title 16 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations; and

(B) Barred from receiving a basic business license for 5 years.

(1) A person applying for a temporary special event license pursuant to § 47-2851.03(b) shall pay a license fee of $158 per day.

(2) The Mayor may adjust the license fee set forth in paragraph (1) of this subsection to cover the costs to the District of providing police, fire, and other public services that are necessary to protect public health and safety.

(e) The Department may revise the fees established in this section through the promulgation of rules pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2 .

(f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to supersede the zoning regulations.

(1) The Department shall not charge a license fee to a charity.

(2) The Department may accept an affidavit of religious exemption in lieu of a certificate of registration.

Legislative History

Apr. 29, 1998, D.C. Law 12-86, § 101(b), 45 DCR 1172; Apr. 20, 1999, D.C. Law 12-261, § 2002(b), 46 DCR 3142; Oct. 28, 2003, D.C. Law 15-38, § 2(f), 50 DCR 6913; Sept. 24, 2010, D.C. Law 18-223, §§ 2030, 2054, 57 DCR 6242