Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. Local Guide

Settling In Guide

Living Here

From getting settled to caring for your home, find the right starting point for the task in front of you.

Settling In

A practical start for renters and homeowners. Work through the short checklist, then find more detail about the services at your address.

Your Settling in Checklist

View Your Guide to Settling Into Washington, D.C. (PDF) A helpful, print friendly checklist for your move by LizyTylerCo · www.lizytylerco.com

  • Arrange USPS mail forwarding and keep the confirmation.
  • Update your address directly with important accounts and contacts, including your employer, banks and insurers. USPS forwarding does not update their records.
  • Review DC DMV requirements for your license or ID, vehicle registration, inspection and parking needs. Check documents and applicable exceptions.
  • If eligible, register to vote or update your voter registration. Check current deadlines and proof of residence requirements.
  • Confirm Pepco, DC Water and Washington Gas arrangements as applicable, including building billing. Check internet availability for your exact unit.
  • Confirm DPW eligibility or building trash and recycling arrangements, collection locations and the current pickup schedule.
  • Choose AlertDC subscriptions and delivery preferences for emergency notices, weather and local disruptions.

Use the steps that apply to your move. Confirm building arrangements, provider coverage and any applicable exceptions. Check official sources for current requirements.

Settling in sources reviewed

Find the Right Office

Washington, D.C. is a federal district, not a county in Maryland or Virginia. Start with District agencies for local services. The District government overview explains how DC is governed. For a home purchase or renovation, use the complete street address, quadrant and unit, together with the property’s square, suffix and lot when available.

DC 311 can help locate the right agency and take service requests for concerns such as missed trash collection, potholes and streetlights. Save the request number to check progress. Use the Office of Tax and Revenue for property assessments and taxes, the Department of Buildings for permits and inspections, and the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection for contractor licensing.

Set Up Utilities

Confirm service and billing for the exact address and unit before moving. Pepco provides electric account service options, while Washington Gas handles requests to start or stop natural gas service where present. Check whether your home uses gas and whether utilities are included in rent or managed by the building. Ask each provider about current requirements and the available service date.

DC Water handles water and sewer accounts. Owners remain responsible for the account, and the title company manages the ownership change process when a property is sold. Tenants can be added with owner approval. Confirm these arrangements with the owner or manager rather than opening a duplicate account. Coordinate access and any required active water or electric service before a gas appointment.

Internet Access

Use the FCC National Broadband Map guide to research providers reporting service at your address, then confirm availability directly with each provider for the precise unit. The map is a starting point, not an installation confirmation. Building wiring and available connection types can affect what you can order.

Compare the current broadband labels, upload and download speeds, equipment charges, installation needs and the price after any introductory offer. Ask whether the service is fiber, cable or fixed wireless and whether the building requires access arrangements. Confirm an installation date before relying on the connection for work or moving day.

Recycling and Household Waste

DPW’s trash and recycling guidance covers homes and residential buildings with three or fewer living units. Buildings with more than three units generally arrange their own collection. Confirm which arrangement serves your address with DPW or the building manager, then check the collection schedule and current holiday notices.

Before setting out bulky items or taking materials elsewhere, review DPW’s instructions for the particular item. Its household hazardous waste, electronics and shredding page lists current procedures, accepted materials and access conditions. Do not place special waste in ordinary recycling or rely on an old event schedule.

Owning & Improving a Home

Keep these resources close when you need property information, help caring for your home or a starting point for a project.

Find Property Records and Tax Bills

The Office of Tax and Revenue property database provides assessment and property information. Search the exact address or square, suffix and lot, then compare the listed details and assessment year with your records. For billing and payment, use OTR’s real property payment resources. Confirm the current bill and whether your mortgage servicer handles payment through escrow.

For recorded deeds and other land documents, start with the Recorder of Deeds. Its official page links to the public records search, including a service operated by an outside provider. Assessment entries and map lines are useful research tools, but they do not replace a title review or boundary survey.

Find Tax Information and Relief

Review OTR’s property tax relief, credits and deductions when buying a home or when your household circumstances change. Programs include the Homestead Deduction, relief for qualifying older homeowners and homeowners with disabilities, and benefits for eligible disabled veterans. Eligibility depends on the particular program and can include ownership, principal residence, income and application requirements.

Do not assume that a seller’s benefits will continue for a new owner. Check the current tax year, application instructions and supporting documents, and confirm how the benefit appears on your bill. Ask OTR about changes in occupancy or eligibility before relying on a deduction. Published amounts and income limits can change.

Plan a Renovation

Before committing to construction, discuss the complete scope with the Department of Buildings. Its Homeowner’s Center can help with permits, plan review and renovation questions. Explain proposed structural changes, systems work, changes in use and exterior alterations so the agency can identify the approvals involved. Check condominium or association requirements separately.

If the property is a landmark or in a historic district, consult the Historic Preservation Office early. Preservation review is part of the building permit process, rather than a separate preservation permit application. Work affecting a historic exterior may require review even when it seems minor. Some projects also involve public space approval or review by the Commission of Fine Arts. Ask which reviews apply before ordering materials.

Put your goals, priorities, questions and next steps in one place.View Home Project Planning Sheet (PDF) To keep completed entries, save a copy with your changes using the PDF viewer’s controls.

Understand Permits and Inspections

Use DOB’s permitting guidance to identify the correct application route and any approvals from other agencies. A project may need more than one permit or review. Keep the approved scope and drawings with the permit, and confirm the required inspection stages before work starts.

DOB’s inspection resources explain construction inspections, housing inspections and occupancy inspections. Construction inspections can be scheduled through Tertius, linked from the agency page. Coordinate inspection timing with the contractor before work is concealed, and retain final approvals. If you discover earlier work without clear permit records, ask DOB how to establish its status instead of assuming it was approved.

Repair and Housing Assistance

DHCD’s Single Family Residential Rehabilitation Program offers eligible homeowners assistance with roof work and accessibility modifications. Begin with the listed community organizations and confirm current ownership, occupancy, income and property requirements. Ask about funding availability and any covenant or other obligations before agreeing to work. Approval is not automatic.

The Department of Aging and Community Living’s Safe at Home program supports qualifying older residents and adults with disabilities through adaptations that reduce fall risks. Homeowners and renters may qualify, subject to program rules. Renters seeking information about landlord disputes or housing rights can also start with the Office of the Tenant Advocate.

Check a Contractor

Use the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection’s license verification resources to check the exact business and relevant professional license. Corporate registration alone is not the same as a contractor license. DLCP’s contractor and construction services page describes contractor license categories and requirements.

Match the licensed name to the estimate and contract, and confirm that the license is current and appropriate for the work. Request proof of insurance and a written scope covering materials, payments, permits, inspections and changes. A license search is a useful screening step, not a guarantee of workmanship. Resolve unclear responsibility for permits before construction begins.

Keep useful questions and conversation notes together as you compare your options.View Questions Before Hiring a Contractor (PDF)

General information to help you find the right starting point. Requirements, eligibility, service areas, and application processes can change. Confirm details with the office or provider serving your exact address. Official links open in a new tab. Found a broken link or a changed office? Contact LizyTylerCo and include “Washington, D.C. Guide,” the link name, and what happened. Return to All Resources.