§ 9-632 — Block party application and requirements.

*NOTE: This section includes amendments by emergency legislation that will expire on March 30, 2026. To view the text of this section after the expiration of all emergency and temporary legislation, click this link: Past Permanent Version .*

(a) The Department shall create a block party application and make it available for in-person pickup and online.

(1) Any District resident who is 21 years of age or older may submit a block party application requesting that a street on which they reside be closed for the purpose of holding a block party.

(2) The block party application shall, at a minimum:

(A) Be completed on the form provided by the Department;

(B) Identify the street name and cross streets of the block to be closed;

(C) The date and time of the closure; and

(D) Include either:

(i) A list of at least 51% of the residents, owners, or businesses abutting the section of the street requested to be closed who have consented to the block party, excluding any property that has been identified as a vacant building, as that term is defined in § 42-3131.05(5) ; or

(ii) Approval from all of the Advisory Neighborhood Commissions abutting the section of the street requested to be closed, in a manner to be determined by the Advisory Neighborhood Commission.

(b-1) A District resident may submit a block party application requesting that a street on which they reside be closed for the purpose of holding a porchfest.

(1) A street closure conducted pursuant to a block party permit shall:

(A) Not last longer than 12 hours; and

(B) End by 10:00 p.m.

(2) The Department may publish guidance on its website or issue rules limiting the physical length of block parties conducted pursuant to a block part permit.

Legislative History

Oct. 23, 2012, D.C. Law 19-190, § 3, 59 DCR 10163