Jurisdiction record

District of Columbia

Everything this record holds on District of Columbia: 61 fee cells, 7 verified registered-agent statute citations, 36 good-standing status strings, 7 governance rules, a state-level DBA regime, 12 official statute files in the verification corpus, and 7 monitored sources.

Filing agency: District of Columbia Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs. Official sites: agency home (opens the official source) · forms and fees (opens the official source) · fee schedule (opens the official source) · entity search (opens the official source) · annual report filing (opens the official source)

Filing fees

Statutory fee is the amount fixed by statute or the agency schedule. Effective remittance is what actually leaves the bank once any e-payment surcharge or bundled component is included. Partnership entity types are covered too: LP is a limited partnership, LLP a limited liability partnership, LLLP a limited liability limited partnership. A row reading not offered or no report required is a verified positive finding cited to the statute that proves it - not a gap.

District of Columbia filing fees by transaction and entity type
TransactionStatutory feeEffective remittanceComponents and changesStatus
Formation - LLC$99$99noneVerified
Formation - Corporation$99$99noneVerified
Formation - LP$99not yet publishednoneVerified
Formation - LLP$99not yet publishednoneVerified
Formation - LLLP$99not yet publishednoneVerified
Annual report - LLC$300$300noneVerified
Annual report - Corporation$300$300noneVerified
Annual report - LP$300not yet publishednoneVerified
Annual report - LLP$300not yet publishednoneVerified
Annual report - LLLP$300not yet publishednoneVerified
Certificate of good standing - Corporation$50not yet publishednoneVerified
Certificate of good standing - LLC$50not yet publishednoneVerified
Certificate of good standing - Nonprofit$40not yet publishednoneVerified
Change of registered agent - LLC$50not yet publishednoneVerified
Change of registered agent - Corporation$50not yet publishednoneVerified
Change of registered agent - Nonprofit$40not yet publishednoneVerified
Change of registered agent - lp_foreign$50not yet publishednoneVerified
Change of registered agent - llp_foreign$50not yet publishednoneVerified
Change of registered agent - lllp_foreign$50not yet publishednoneVerified
dissolution_by_incorporators - Corporation$220not yet publishedbecomes $5.00 on 2026-10-01Pending review
dissolution_by_incorporators - Nonprofit$80not yet publishedbecomes $5.00 on 2026-10-01Pending review
dissolution - Corporation$220not yet publishedbecomes $5.00 on 2026-10-01Pending review
dissolution - Nonprofit$80not yet publishedbecomes $5.00 on 2026-10-01Pending review
dissolution - LLC$220not yet publishedbecomes $5.00 on 2026-10-01Pending review
dissolution - statutory_trust$220not yet publishedbecomes $5.00 on 2026-10-01Pending review
revocation_of_dissolution - Corporation$220not yet publishedbecomes $5.00 on 2026-10-01Pending review
revocation_of_dissolution - Nonprofit$80not yet publishedbecomes $5.00 on 2026-10-01Pending review
amendment - Corporation$220not yet publishednoneVerified
amendment - Nonprofit$80not yet publishednoneVerified
amendment - LLC$220not yet publishednoneVerified
amendment - LP$220not yet publishednoneVerified
amendment - LLP$220not yet publishednoneVerified
merger - Corporation$220not yet publishednoneVerified
merger - Nonprofit$80not yet publishednoneVerified
merger - LLC$220not yet publishednoneVerified
merger - LP$220not yet publishednoneVerified
merger - LLP$220not yet publishednoneVerified
conversion - Corporation$99not yet publishednoneVerified
conversion - Nonprofit$80not yet publishednoneVerified
conversion - LLC$99not yet publishednoneVerified
conversion - LP$99not yet publishednoneVerified
conversion - LLP$99not yet publishednoneVerified
foreign_qualification - Corporation$220not yet publishednoneVerified
foreign_qualification - Nonprofit$80not yet publishednoneVerified
foreign_qualification - LLC$220not yet publishednoneVerified
foreign_qualification - LP$220not yet publishednoneVerified
foreign_qualification - LLP$220not yet publishednoneVerified
foreign_qualification - LLLP$220not yet publishednoneVerified
foreign_withdrawal - Corporation$220not yet publishednoneVerified
foreign_withdrawal - Nonprofit$80not yet publishednoneVerified
foreign_withdrawal - LLC$220not yet publishednoneVerified
foreign_withdrawal - LP$220not yet publishednoneVerified
foreign_withdrawal - LLP$220not yet publishednoneVerified
foreign_withdrawal - LLLP$220not yet publishednoneVerified
cancellation - LLP$220not yet publishednonePending review
reinstatement - Corporation$300not yet publishednoneVerified
reinstatement - Nonprofit$80not yet publishednoneVerified
reinstatement - LLC$300not yet publishednoneVerified
reinstatement - LP$300not yet publishednoneVerified
reinstatement - LLP$300not yet publishednoneVerified
reinstatement - LLLP$300not yet publishednoneVerified
Provenance - District of Columbia fee schedulePending review

56 of 65 fee datums on this page are verified against the agency's own published schedule or statute (2026-09-04); the rest are marked pending review in the Status column - portal-surcharge components no official page states, values the official source contradicts (held for a correction package), or sources that could not be reached.

Records
61 fee cells
Retrieved
2026-08-04 to 2026-09-21
Official schedule
the agency's own published schedule (opens the official source)

Values were first corroborated across independent internal records; verified cells now also carry the agency's own published schedule or statute as their authority, which is what promotion to verified requires.

Cost position

Ranked 47 of 54 on first-year state filing cost, at $399.00 against a national median of $185.00. Recurring annual cost $550. See the full ranking.

$116 $232 $348 $464 NC North Carolin $331 AK Alaska $350 GU Guam $350 DC District of C $399 PR Puerto Rico $400 DE Delaware $410 MD Maryland $464
Where District of Columbia sits among its neighbours in the first-year cost ranking (USD)
Show all 54 jurisdictions
$260 $520 $780 $1,040 MT Montana $35 MO Missouri $51 NM New Mexico $52 MS Mississippi $53 KY Kentucky $55 HI Hawaii $67 CO Colorado $75 MI Michigan $75 UT Utah $77 IA Iowa $80 AZ Arizona $87 OH Ohio $99 ID Idaho $104 CA California $110 SC South Carolin $125 IN Indiana $129 OK Oklahoma $130 NE Nebraska $131 PA Pennsylvania $132 LA Louisiana $140 VA Virginia $150 MN Minnesota $155 WV West Virginia $157 WY Wyoming $164 GA Georgia $170 KS Kansas $175 NJ New Jersey $182 ND North Dakota $185 WI Wisconsin $196 AR Arkansas $200 CT Connecticut $200 OR Oregon $200 VT Vermont $200 NH New Hampshire $204 RI Rhode Island $208 SD South Dakota $210 NY New York $219 IL Illinois $230 AL Alabama $236 ME Maine $260 WA Washington $280 FL Florida $294 TX Texas $308 NC North Carolin $331 AK Alaska $350 GU Guam $350 DC District of C $399 PR Puerto Rico $400 DE Delaware $410 MD Maryland $464 NV Nevada $575 VI US Virgin Isl $600 TN Tennessee $614 MA Massachusetts $1,040
The full ranking with District of Columbia highlighted (USD)

Registered-agent statutes, quoted verbatim

The one section on this page that clears the publication gate in full. 7 citations, verified, quoted from the official code with every elision marked.

D.C. Code § 29-104.02 Verified

Registered Agent Act of 2010 (D.C. Code Title 29, Chapter 1, Subchapter IV) · applies to corporations and LLCs

Entities required to designate and maintain registered agent.The following shall designate and maintain a registered agent in the District: (1) A domestic filing entity; (2) A domestic limited liability partnership; and (3) A registered foreign entity.

retrieved 2026-07-29 · confidence medium · verified · publisher not linked (commercial code publisher; the citation is the pinpoint)

D.C. Code § 29-104.03 Verified

Registered Agent Act of 2010 (D.C. Code Title 29, Chapter 1, Subchapter IV) · applies to corporations and LLCs

Addresses in filings.If a provision of this subchapter other than § 29-104.10(a)(4) requires that a record state an address, the record shall state a: (1) Street address in the District; and (2) Mailing address in the District, if different from the address described in paragraph (1) of this section.

retrieved 2026-07-29 · confidence medium · verified · publisher not linked (commercial code publisher; the citation is the pinpoint)

D.C. Code § 29-302.02 Verified

Business Organizations Act of 2010 (D.C. Code Title 29, Chapter 3 - Business Corporations) · applies to corp

Articles of incorporation.(a) The articles of incorporation shall set forth: (1) A corporate name for the corporation that satisfies §§ 29-103.01 and 29-103.02(a); (2) The number of shares the corporation is authorized to issue; (3) The information required by § 29-104.04; and (4) The name and address of each incorporator.

retrieved 2026-08-10 · confidence high · verified · publisher not linked (commercial code publisher; the citation is the pinpoint)

D.C. Code § 29-802.01 Verified

Uniform Limited Liability Company Act of 2010 (D.C. Code Title 29, Chapter 8) · applies to LLCs

Formation of limited liability company; certificate of organization.(a) One or more persons may act as organizers to form a limited liability company by signing and delivering to the Mayor for filing a certificate of organization. (b) A certificate of organization shall state: (1) The name of the limited liability company, which shall comply with §§ 29-103.01 and 29-103.02(f); [...] (d) A limited liability company is formed when the Mayor has filed the company's certificate of organization and it becomes effective and at least one person becomes a member.

retrieved 2026-08-10 · confidence high · verified · publisher not linked (commercial code publisher; the citation is the pinpoint)

D.C. Code § 29-102.11 Verified

Business Organizations Act of 2010 (D.C. Code Title 29, Chapter 1 - General Provisions) · applies to corporations and LLCs

Biennial report for Mayor.(a) Each domestic filing entity and limited liability partnership and registered foreign entity shall deliver to the Mayor for filing a biennial report that sets forth: (1) The name of the entity and its jurisdiction of formation; (2) The name and street and mailing address of the entity's registered agent in the District; [...] (c) The 1st biennial report shall be delivered to the Mayor for filing by April 1 of the year following the calendar year in which the public organic record of the domestic filing entity became effective [...] Subsequent biennial reports shall be delivered to the Mayor by April 1st of each 2nd calendar year thereafter.

retrieved 2026-08-10 · confidence high · verified · publisher not linked (commercial code publisher; the citation is the pinpoint)

D.C. Code § 29-106.01 Verified

Business Organizations Act of 2010 (D.C. Code Title 29, Chapter 1, Subchapter VI - Administrative Dissolution) · applies to corporations and LLCs

Grounds.The Mayor may commence a proceeding under § 29-106.02 to dissolve a domestic filing entity administratively if the entity does not: (1) Pay any fee or penalty required to be paid to the Mayor not later than 5 months after it is due; (2) Deliver a biennial report to the Mayor not later than 5 months after it is due; or (3) Have a registered agent in the District for 60 days.

retrieved 2026-08-10 · confidence high · verified · publisher not linked (commercial code publisher; the citation is the pinpoint)

D.C. Code § 29-103.02 Verified

Business Organizations Act of 2010 (D.C. Code Title 29, Chapter 1, Subchapter III - Entity Names) · applies to corporations and LLCs

Name requirements for certain types of entities.(a) The name of a business corporation shall contain the word "corporation", "incorporated", "company", or "limited", or the abbreviation "Corp.", "Inc.", "Co.", or "Ltd.", or words or abbreviations of similar import in another language. [...] (f) The name of a limited liability company other than a professional limited liability company shall contain the words "limited liability company" or "limited company" or the abbreviation "L.L.C.", "LLC", "L.C.", or "LC". The name of a professional limited liability company shall contain the words "professional limited liability company" or the abbreviation "P.L.L.C." or "PLLC". "Limited" may be abbreviated as "Ltd.", and "company" may be abbreviated as "Co.".

retrieved 2026-08-10 · confidence high · verified · publisher not linked (commercial code publisher; the citation is the pinpoint)

Registered-agent rules in practice

Who may serve as the agent

Pending review

DC Code Title 29 ch. 1 (hub for all entity types) requires every domestic filing entity, domestic LLP, and registered foreign entity to maintain a registered agent in the District. The agent may be a commercial registered agent, or a noncommercial registered agent: an individual or entity serving in the District, an individual designated by office/position in the entity itself, or a DC Bar member with a DC office. Required addresses must be a street address in the District (sec. 29-104.03).

Is the agent's consent required

Pending review

Consent required: yes.

What happens when the agent cannot be served

Pending review

Two fallbacks: (1) if the entity ceases to have a registered agent or the agent cannot with reasonable diligence be served, service by registered/certified mail to the entity's principal office; and (2) if the entity fails to maintain an agent and the server files a declaration that the agent cannot be found, the Mayor becomes the entity's agent for service and forwards a copy to the entity.

What happens if there is no agent

Pending review
  • Administrative Dissolution. Being without a registered agent in the District for 60 days is a ground for administrative dissolution of a domestic filing entity; the Mayor gives notice and dissolves if not cured within 60 days.
  • Revocation Foreign. The Mayor may terminate a registered foreign entity's registration for not having a registered agent, or for not filing a statement of change within 30 days after the agent's name or address changes.
  • Civil Penalty. Failure to designate and maintain a registered agent is itself a civil-fine offense; amounts are set by Mayor's rules under Title 2, not stated in Title 29.
  • Reinstatement Fee. To be reinstated after administrative dissolution the entity must pay all fees and penalties due at dissolution plus all that would have accrued while dissolved (amounts set administratively, not in the statute).
  • No Court Access. A foreign entity whose registration lapses (including termination for registered-agent failure) doing business in the District cannot maintain an action or proceeding there until registered.

8 statutory citations and their supporting verbatim quotations sit behind this section in the record and are withheld from public display until the review pass lands, because a citation presented as authority is a verification claimed. Statutory references appearing inside the summaries above are part of the recorded text rather than an authority claim, and they are not rendered as citations, linked, or emitted in this page's structured data. How the gate works.

Governance rules

7 governance rules are recorded for District of Columbia - the organizational and annual meetings, action by written consent, and whether bylaws or an operating agreement are mandatory. Each verified rule links to the statutory text it was verified against, quoted verbatim below.

District of Columbia corporate and LLC governance rules
RuleEntityAppliesDetailCitationStatus
Organizational meeting requiredCorporationyesD.C. Code § 29-302.05Verified
Annual meeting requiredCorporationyesD.C. Code § 29-305.01Verified
Action by written consent allowedCorporationyesD.C. Code § 29-305.04Verified
Bylaws requiredCorporationyesD.C. Code § 29-302.06(a)Verified
Operating agreement requiredLLCnoD.C. Code § 29-801.02(10)Verified
Annual meeting requiredLLCnoD.C. Code § 29-804.07(d)Verified
Action by written consent allowedLLCyesD.C. Code § 29-804.07Verified

The statutory text behind each rule

D.C. Code § 29-302.05 Verified

Organizational meeting required · applies to corporations · yes

the initial directors shall hold an organizational meeting, at the call of a majority of the directors, to complete the organization of the corporation by appointing officers, adopting bylaws

reviewed 2026-08-17 · confidence high · verified · code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/29-302.05 (opens the official source)

See how these rules compare across every jurisdiction.

Doing business as

State-level regime

Verified
Filing office
Same office (Superintendent of Corporations, DLCP Corporations Division); online portal is now BOSS (https://boss.dc.gov), which replaced CorpOnline
State fee
$55 registration; $55 amendment; $55 cancellation. Expedited service: same-day +$100, 3-day +$50.
Term
2 years from initial registration; first renewal due by April 1 of the 2nd year after the registration year and every two years thereafter
Renewal
Biennial renewal $55 by April 1; late renewal accepted through Aug 31/Sept 1 with a $55 late fee (equal to the registration fee); if not renewed by the deadline the trade name is cancelled on September 1 and must be re-registered if still available
Publication
Not required. None
Online filing
Available
The regime
The District of Columbia requires any person doing business under a trade name to register that name with the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP). Because DC has no counties, this is a single district-wide registry covering sole proprietors, general partnerships, and registered entities alike.
Where it is filed
Trade name registrations are filed with the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, the successor agency named in the subchapter's definitions.
Publication
The DC trade name subchapter contains no newspaper-publication step; the registration consists only of an application filed with the Department containing the statutorily listed information.
Name restrictions
A DC trade name must be distinguishable on the Mayor's records from entity names, reserved and registered names, other registered trade names, and government agency names.
Assumed names for registered entities
A foreign entity whose legal name does not comply with DC's entity-name rules cannot register to do business in the District until it adopts a complying alternate name; an entity registered under such an alternate name is excused from separately registering that name under the trade name subchapter, and it may also do business under an assumed or fictitious name it is authorized to use under that subchapter.
Penalties
A person doing business under an unregistered trade name cannot maintain any suit in DC courts until registration is properly completed.
Failure to register does not invalidate the business's contracts or acts and does not prevent the business from defending a suit.
Official source
code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/47-2855.02 (opens the official source)

Fees stated in or alongside the act

3 fee records held for District of Columbia
FeeAmountAuthorityStatus
Expedited same-day service (in addition to other fees)$100D.C. Code § 47-2855.04(b)(1)Verified
Expedited 3-day service (in addition to other fees)$50D.C. Code § 47-2855.04(b)(2)Verified
Filing fee (published by the filing office)$55 registration; $55 amendment; $55 cancellation. Expedited service: same-day +$100, 3-day +$50.Official filing-office page / fee schedule official source (opens the official source)Verified

Known gaps in the record

  • Term: § 47-2855.04(a) contemplates fees for 'renewals' but the subchapter states no registration term; any term/renewal cycle is set by rule
  • exclusive-rights:not-addressed - the trade name subchapter contains no language granting or denying exclusive rights in a registered trade name

Common questions

Do I have to register a DBA (trade name) in Washington, DC?

Yes. D.C. Code § 47-2855.02(a) states that a person who carries on, conducts, or transacts business in the District of Columbia under any trade name "shall register that trade name with the Department," meaning the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection. The requirement applies to sole proprietorships, general partnerships, and registered entities such as corporations and LLCs.

What counts as a trade name in DC?

D.C. Code § 47-2855.01(7) defines a trade name as a word or name used to identify a business which is not, or does not include, the true and real name of all persons conducting the business, or which includes words that suggest additional parties of interest such as "company", "and sons", or "and associates".

What happens if I do business under an unregistered trade name in DC?

Under D.C. Code § 47-2855.03(d), you are not entitled to maintain any suit in DC courts until the registration is properly completed. Section 47-2855.03(e) adds that the failure does not impair the validity of your contracts and does not prevent you from defending a suit.

Is a DC trade name filed at a county office?

No. The District has no county clerks; the trade name registry is district-wide, administered by the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection under D.C. Code §§ 47-2855.01 to 47-2855.05.

Recurring entity-level tax

Corporation Franchise Tax (Form D-20) and Unincorporated Business Franchise Tax (Form D-30)

Verified
What it is called
Corporation Franchise Tax (Form D-20) and Unincorporated Business Franchise Tax (Form D-30)
D.C. Code 47-1807.02 (corporation franchise tax); D.C. Code 47-1808.03 (unincorporated business franchise tax) · source (opens the official source)
Administering agency
DC Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR), Office of the Chief Financial Officer
OTR DC Business Franchise Tax Rates page · source (opens the official source)
Basis of the tax
income-based - 8.25% of DC taxable income for both the corporation franchise tax and the UBT, with a flat minimum regardless of income
D.C. Code 47-1807.02(a)(5); 47-1808.03 · source (opens the official source)
Minimum
$250
D.C. Code 47-1807.02 / 47-1808.03: minimum tax $250; $1,000 if DC gross receipts exceed $1 million; applies even at a loss. OTR rates page corroborates (2025). · source (opens the official source)
Due date
April 15 (calendar year) or the 15th day of the 4th month after fiscal year close, for both D-20 and D-30; D-20 extension to October 15
D.C. Code 47-1805.03(a); OTR Franchise Tax FAQs · source (opens the official source)
Corporations
true - every corporation (domestic or foreign) carrying on business in or receiving income from DC sources files D-20 and owes at least the minimum tax; no dollar threshold
LLCs
true - LLC taxed as a corporation pays the D-20 corporation franchise tax; LLC taxed as partnership/disregarded is an 'unincorporated business' and files D-30 (UBT) if DC gross income exceeds $12,000 (below that: no return, no minimum)

Minimum reaching an LLC: $250 a year.

See the national picture and the corporation cost model.

Filing-office closures, 2026

Stored as a delta against the federal baseline: 1 day this state closes that the federal government does not, and 0 federal holidays its filing office works through.

District of Columbia 2026 closure delta
DateDayFiling office
2026-04-16D.C. Emancipation DayFiling office closed
Provenance - District of Columbia 2026 closuresVerified

Citation withheld: this record did not clear the publication gate.

Source
edpm.dc.gov/issuances/legal-public-holidays (opens the official source)
Retrieved
2026-07-29
Confidence
high
Review
verified

Good-standing status decoder

36 distinct status strings observed for District of Columbia: 3 mean in good standing, 15 mean not in good standing, and 18 are deliberately unresolved. How this decoder is derived and why it can never be marked verified.

District of Columbia observed status strings and their verdict
Observed status VerdictConfidence
(BLANK)Unresolved - do not automate on thismedium
ACTIVEIn good standinghigh
ACTIVE - IN GOOD STANDINGIn good standinghigh
ACTIVE - IN GOOD STANDING - PENDING DOMESTICATIONIn good standinghigh
ACTIVE - NOT IN GOOD STANDINGNot in good standinghigh
ACTIVE - PENDING EXPIRATIONNot in good standingmedium
ACTIVE TRADE NAMEUnresolved - do not automate on thismedium
CANCELEDNot in good standinghigh
CANCELLEDNot in good standinghigh
CONSOLIDATEDNot in good standingmedium
CONVERTEDNot in good standingmedium
DEFAULTNot in good standinghigh
DEPRECATEUnresolved - do not automate on thislow
DISSOLVEDNot in good standinghigh
DOMESTICATEDUnresolved - do not automate on thislow
EXPIREDNot in good standingmedium
FILED IN <YEAR>Unresolved - do not automate on thismedium
INACTIVE - CANCELLEDNot in good standinghigh
MERGEDNot in good standingmedium
MIGRATED NO DATAUnresolved - do not automate on thislow
NON SOSUnresolved - do not automate on thismedium
NON-SOS ENTITYUnresolved - do not automate on thislow
NOT FILEDUnresolved - do not automate on thismedium
NOT FILED / NON SOSUnresolved - do not automate on thismedium
NOT REGISTEREDUnresolved - do not automate on thismedium
NOT REGISTERED - PENDING BIENNIAL REPORTSNot in good standingmedium
NOT SOS FILEDUnresolved - do not automate on thismedium
NOT YET FILEDUnresolved - do not automate on thismedium
OLD ACTUnresolved - do not automate on thislow
PENDINGUnresolved - do not automate on thismedium
PENDING ACTIVEUnresolved - do not automate on thismedium
REDEEMEDUnresolved - do not automate on thislow
REDOMESTICATIONNot in good standingmedium
REVOKEDNot in good standinghigh
UNKNOWNUnresolved - do not automate on thishigh
WITHDRAWNNot in good standinghigh

Restricted entity-name words

5 restricted entity-name word entries are recorded for District of Columbia - 1 prohibited outright, the rest requiring an agency's consent or licensure before the word may appear in a name.

Governing law: D.C. Code 29-103.01 (permitted names) and 29-103.02 (name requirements for certain entity types).

District of Columbia restricted entity-name words
TreatmentWord or phrase AuthorityCitationStatus
Consent requiredBankMayor of the District of Columbia (prior approval)D.C. Code 29-103.01(e): 'An entity name shall not contain the words "bank", "banking", "credit union", "insurance", or words of similar import, without the prior approval of the Mayor.'Verified
Consent requiredBankingMayor of the District of Columbia (prior approval)D.C. Code 29-103.01(e)Verified
Consent requiredcredit unionMayor of the District of Columbia (prior approval)D.C. Code 29-103.01(e)Verified
Consent requiredInsuranceMayor of the District of Columbia (prior approval)D.C. Code 29-103.01(e)Verified
Prohibitedname of any US or DC department, agency, or instrumentality (same or deceptively similar)D.C. Code 29-103.01(f): 'An entity name shall not be the same as, or so deceptively similar to, the name of any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States or the District of Columbia so as to mislead the public or cause confusion.'Verified

Filing channels

● accepted · ○ not accepted · ? unknown or conditional (hover for the recorded condition). Channel data covers 54 jurisdictions (2026-08-15 wave). Source links render on verified rows only.

Contact the filing office

Verified against the agency's own contact page 2026-08-13 - office hours: Mon, Tue, Wed & Fri 8:30 am - 4:30 pm; Thu 10:30 am - 4:30 pm; in-person service stops accepting visitors at 4 pm Mon-Fri. Source links render on verified rows only.

Reaching the filing office

Verified
Phone
(202) 442-4432 (Corporations Division direct)
Email
[email protected] (agency-level; no division-specific email published)
Mailing address
DLCP, Corporations Division, PO Box 712300, Philadelphia, PA 19171-2300
Courier / walk-in
1100 4th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024 (walk-in counter; couriered filings otherwise go through the mail lockbox)

The Corporations Division direct line and the Philadelphia lockbox come straight off the filing-form instruction sheets - mail to the lockbox, never to 1100 4th St; prefer CorpOnline for anything filable online. (202) 671-4500 is the agency switchboard.

Purposed contact channels, District of Columbia
KindValueWhat it is forPurposeSource
phone(202) 442-4432Corporations Division (printed on filing-form instruction sheets)Business filingssource (opens the official source)
phone(202) 671-4500DLCP main line (TTY: 711)general_switchboardsource (opens the official source)
mailing_addressDepartment of Licensing and Consumer Protection, Corporations Division, PO Box 712300, Philadelphia, PA 19171-2300'Mail all forms and required payment to' (lockbox)Business filingssource (opens the official source)
physical_address1100 4th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024DLCP office (walk-in)Business filingssource (opens the official source)
email[email protected]DLCP agency emailgeneral_switchboardsource (opens the official source)
contact_formhttps://corponline.dlcp.dc.govCorpOnline (online filing portal, sign in with Access DC)Business filingssource (opens the official source)
phone(202) 727-5374Recorder of DeedsUCCsource (opens the official source)
fax(202) 727-9629Recorder of DeedsUCCsource (opens the official source)
email[email protected]Recorder of DeedsUCCsource (opens the official source)
mailing_addressDC Office of the Recorder of Deeds, 1101 4th Street, SW, 5th Floor (Suite 500), Washington, DC 20024Recorder of DeedsUCCsource (opens the official source)

UCC records

Where to search District of Columbia's UCC (Article 9) financing statements, on what terms, and what the office charges to file one. Verified against the filing office's own pages 2026-09-11. UCC division contacts are listed with the other filing-office contacts above.

UCC records - District of ColumbiaVerified
Filing office
DC Office of the Recorder of Deeds (Office of Tax and Revenue, Office of the Chief Financial Officer) (not the Secretary of State)
Filing-office statute
D.C. Code 28:9-501: Recorder of Deeds for as-extracted collateral/timber/fixture filings; "The Mayor in all other cases" (https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/28:9-501). ROD FAQ: "UCC documents can be recorded with the DC Office of the Recorder of Deeds."
Official search
https://washington.dc.publicsearch.us/ (opens the official source)
Access
free, account required
Search fees, as the office states them
Portal landing page: "The District of Columbia Recorder of Deeds public search is available to registered users and subscribers. By registering, you will have free access to search and view images, if you require a document download, it can be purchased for $4.00 per document with a $1.50 surcharge per transaction. You can also purchase a subscription for $175.00 a month, this will reduce your doc
Filing images online
Yes - free to view after registration; download $4.00 per document + $1.50 surcharge per transaction ($2.00 per document with the $175.00/month subscription). Images and index back to August 1921 per the ROD page.
UCC program page
the office's UCC page (opens the official source)
Filing a UCC-1, as the office states the fee
$25 UCC filing fee plus a $5 surcharge, $30 in all, to record a UCC with the Recorder of Deeds
Filing channels
online or paper; Electronic recording through the office's trusted e-recording vendors (CSC/Ingeo, Simplifile, ePN - all document types accepted), in person at 1101 4th Street SW Suite 500W, or by mail; no state-run U
Filing expedite
No expedited filing tier is published; the office states e-recorded documents can be recorded the same day depending on the time of submission
UCC-3 amendments, as the office states the fees
$25 recording fee plus the $5 surcharge for any other document recorded, which covers UCC amendments, continuations, terminations and assignments; the office prints no separate UCC-3 amounts
Effective for
5 years from filing - D.C. Code 28:9-515(a)
Bulk data
no bulk-data product - n/a - no bulk data product at any price

Source: the office's UCC page (opens the official source)

State business license

Whether District of Columbia requires a general state-level business license, and on what terms. A "None" is a verified finding cited to the agency's own pages, not a gap. Which of the state's filings ask for an industry code is in the next section.

State business license - District of ColumbiaVerified
General state license
Yes - Basic Business License (BBL) - General Business category (General Sales and Services)
Who must hold it
A person doing business in the District of Columbia; one license per business location
Issuing agency
District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), Business Licensing Division agency page (opens the official source)
Statute
D.C. Code Title 47, Chapter 28, Subchapter I-A (§§ 47-2851.01 - 47-2851.25), General License Law - Basic Business License
Initial fee
$99
Renewal fee
$99
Renewal cadence
biennial - Renew by the license expiration date (end of the elected 6-month / 2-year / 4-year term); DLCP must send renewal notice no later than 60 days before expiration (§ 47-2851.10(a)(1)); license lapses if not renewed by expiration and is deemed expired after 30 days lapsed (§ 47-2851.10(b))
Penalty
Lapsed-license reinstatement penalties: $75 if renewed within 30 days after lapse; $150 if lapsed more than 30 days but less than 6 months; $350 if lapsed more than 6 months, plus other applicable fees. Operating in violation of the subchapter is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine per § 22-3571.01 or imprisonment up to 90 days; civil fines may be imposed as alternative sanctions.
Exemptions
Business activity with gross annual revenue of $2,000 or less (§ 47-2851.02(h)(1)(B)); Cottage food products (§ 47-2851.02(h)(1)(D)); Entertainments, concerts or performances where proceeds are for church or charitable purposes and no rental is charged (§ 47-2851.02(h)(1)(C)); Bona fide national annual conventions of professional beauty and grooming associations closed to the public (§ 47-2851.02(
How to file
online filing portal (opens the official source)
Revenue-department registration
required - DC Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) register (opens the official source)
Occupational licensing hub
https://dlcp.dc.gov/node/1614311 (opens the official source)
Local layer
no local general license - This subchapter provides for the issuance of a basic business license to a business located in the District.

14 of 14 fields verified against the agency's own pages (2026-09-11). Sources: code.dccouncil.gov (opens the official source) · code.dccouncil.gov (opens the official source) · code.dccouncil.gov (opens the official source) · dlcp.dc.gov (opens the official source) · dlcp.dc.gov (opens the official source) · otr.cfo.dc.gov (opens the official source)

Industry code on filings

Which of District of Columbia's business filings ask the filer for an industry classification, and in what form. "No industry information" is a positive finding cited to the form. Where the state uses its own category list and the list was captured, it is expandable below. The NAICS and SIC reference lists are on their own page.

Industry code on District of Columbia filings, 6 of 7 rows verified
FilingEntity scopeAsks forRequiredWhere on the formSource
Formationdomestic for-profit corporationno industry informationnot askedDBU-1 items 1-7: corporation name; authorized shares and par value; registered agent; miscellaneous provisions; persons with >10% ownership/control (beneficisource (opens the official source)
Formationdomestic LLCno industry informationnot askedDLC-1 items 1-8: company name; initial principal office; registered agent; at-least-one-member statement; effective date; miscellaneous provisions (series LLC /source (opens the official source)
Foreign registrationallno industry informationnot askedFN-1 item 9 (free text)source (opens the official source)
Annual reportallno industry informationnot askedBRA-25 Two-Year Report for Domestic & Foreign Filing Entity (filed online via BOSS)pending review
State business licenseallthe state's own listmandatoryBBL Application Section A 'License Type' (check one: Entertainment, Health Services, Flammable Product Sales/Services, Lodging, Beauty & Grooming,source (opens the official source)
Tax registrationallNAICS codemandatoryFR-500 Part I - General Information, line '2. NAICS Business Code'; Part II line 14 'Indicate your profession, principal business activity or sersource (opens the official source)
Entity-tax returncorporations (D-20)no industry informationnot askedForm D-20 header/entity information blocksource (opens the official source)
State business license - Basic Business License Application (paper) - Step 5, Section A 'License Type' (check one), 13 options
  1. Beauty & Grooming
  2. Charitable Services
  3. Emp.-Ind. Salesperson (Use ID ) Application
  4. Employment Services
  5. Entertainment Services
  6. Flammable Product Sales/Services
  7. Food Services
  8. General Business
  9. Health Services
  10. Lodging
  11. Rental Housing
  12. Regulated Business: _______
  13. Other: _______________________

Source: DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), 'Basic Business License Application' (fillable), Step 5 'Complete Sections A - D', Section A 'License Type' (form footer: 'DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection Helpline 202.671.4500 dlcp.dc.gov Page 1 of 2'; no revision date printed) (opens the official source)

Counties

District of Columbia has 1 county-equivalents: 1 district. Names and codes are the U.S. Census Bureau's (2020 national county codes); county seats and official sites are not yet published here.

All 1 county-equivalents
District of Columbia county-equivalents
NameTypeFIPSNote
District of Columbiadistrict11001consolidated city-county

Other records held

Other records held for District of Columbia
RecordValueStatus
Change of registered agent$50Pending review
Who must be named in public filingsDC is a HIGH-disclosure jurisdiction. Formation/registration filings on or after 1/1/2020 must state the names and RESIDENCE and business addresses of every person whose direct or indirect, legal or beneficial ownership of a governance or distributional interest exceeds 10% - or 10%-or-less if the person controls finanPending review

These come from a research pass its own author graded CANDIDATES. They are shown because they are useful and withheld from every ranking on this site because they are not ratified.

The record itself

What backs this page
ArtefactHeld
Official statute files in the verification corpus 12 files, retrieved 2026-07-07
Monitored sources 7 sources under scheduled recheck
Official URLs on file 10 agency URL slots populated of 20 possible
Datasets held see the coverage matrix

Cite this page

Cite the page for the compilation and its verification record; for the underlying fact, cite the official source shown on its row. Formats:

incFACTS, "District of Columbia business-filing facts - fees, statutes, DBA, closures, status," FACTS repository v0.10.08 (data as of 2026-09-21), https://www.incfacts.com/district-of-columbia/ (accessed 2026-09-21).
incFACTS, District of Columbia business-filing facts - fees, statutes, DBA, closures, status, https://www.incfacts.com/district-of-columbia/ (last visited 2026-09-21).
@misc{incfacts_district_of_columbia_2026,
  author = {incFACTS (FACTS repository)},
  title = {District of Columbia business-filing facts - fees, statutes, DBA, closures, status},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://www.incfacts.com/district-of-columbia/},
  note = {v0.10.08, data as of 2026-09-21, accessed 2026-09-21}
}

How to cite incFACTS · The accessed date is today's; the version and data-as-of date identify what you relied on.