BBL (Basic Business License)

For a residential One Family or Two Family Dwelling, DCRA requires landlords to have a BBL ‘Basic Business License’ which is a document issued from the DCRA’s Business Licensing Division. All applicants must submit a ‘BBL Application/BBL EZ-Form’. However, there are prerequisites for obtaining a BBL such as registration with the Corporations Division, registration and compliance with the Office of Tax and Revenue and have a Certificate of Occupancy or Home Occupation Permit. 

Next Steps

Step 1: Corporate Registration click here or (202) 442.4432

Step 2: Registration with IRS & DC Office of Tax & Revenue click here or (202) 727-4829

Step 3: Certificate of Occupancy [if applicable] click here or (202) 442-4576

Step 4: BBL Application click here

Fee charged by DCRA

Basic Business License fees start around $200 and go up to $500 (and in some cases up to $1,000). The fees will depend on your business’ Endorsement Category. For example, a BBL for operating a rental property is $190 for 2 years and a BBL for the “general business” category is $325 for 2 years.

BBL Renewals

Your Basic Business License will be good for 2 years before it expires. You must renew your Basic Business License every 2 years and pay the renewal fee.