District of Columbia Code Division I. Government of District. § 6-903. Condemnation procedure; occupancy of condemned buildings.

(a)(1) Whenever the Building Code Official, as defined in § 6-1401(1), finds that any building or a part of any building (“building”) is in such habitable or sanitary condition as to endanger the health or lives of the occupants or persons living in the vicinity, the Building Code Official is authorized to refer the building to the Board for the Condemnation of Insanitary Buildings (“Board”). Referral to the Board shall be in addition to, and shall not preclude the Building Code Official from pursuing, any other remedies, penalties, or corrective actions authorized by District law or regulation.

(2) A referral made pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection shall specify the basis for the Building Code Official's determination that the building is in a condition to endanger the health or lives of the occupants or persons living in the vicinity.

(c)(1) If within the time period specified in the show-cause notice, the owner fails to show sufficient cause, in the opinion of the Board, to prevent condemnation, the Board shall issue an order condemning the building and ordering, in accordance with subsection (d) of this section, that the building be put into a habitable and sanitary condition or be demolished and removed within the time specified in the order (“condemnation order”).

(2) The Board shall have the condemnation order served on the owner of the building and a copy affixed to the condemned building.

(3) After a copy of a condemnation order has been affixed to a building, no person shall occupy the building.

(d)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Board shall give an owner at least 30 days after service of the condemnation order to put the building in habitable and sanitary condition.

(2) If the Board finds that the condition of the building is such as to cause immediate danger to the health or lives of the occupants or of persons living in the vicinity, the Board may specify a shorter time period than set forth in paragraph (1) of this subsection.