LIVEWin A $5K Gryphon Garage Door! • Pasadena Garage Door Repair Experts Named Best Garage Door Repair Company • Driver crashes into parking garage door, strikes a tree in North York • Garage Door Repair Long Beach By On The Spot Awarded Best Garage Door Repair Company in Long Beach, CA • Aaron's Garage Door Company Continues Supporting Vancouver Homeowners With Reliable Door Repair Services • Next Hour Named Best Garage Door Repair Company in Santa Clarita
Home › Rules › District of Columbia

Garage door rules & licensing in District of Columbia

Licensing, permits and code for garage door work in District of Columbia, plus every county and city in the state and the District of Columbia garage door headlines running right now.

1Counties
1Cities & places
702,250People covered

Licensing in District of Columbia

The District requires a Basic Business License from the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection - General Contractor/Construction Manager for construction work, or Home Improvement Contractor (which carries a $25,000 surety bond and a criminal history report) for residential improvement work.

Licensing authority
District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), Business Licensing Division — official site
Source: dlcp.dc.gov/node/1618551
State licence required?
A Basic Business License under the Contractor and Construction Services category, defined as "Services that involve the planning, acquiring, building, equipping, altering, repairing, improving, or demolishing of any structure or appurtenance." The two business activities are "General Contractor (A, B, C, G & H)/Construction Manager" and "Home Improvement Contractor". DLCP notes that "all Home Improvement Contractors and General Contractors doing residential contracting are required to designate and maintain a Basic Business License for at least one (1) Home Improvement Salesperson."
Source: dlcp.dc.gov/node/1618551
Licence classification
General Contractor (A, B, C, G & H)/Construction Manager — Requires Certificate of Liability Insurance, Certificate of Occupancy/Home Occupation Permit, Contract, Corporate Registration (if applicable), and Tax Registration & Clean Hands Certificate. License terms: 6-month $49.00 (this activity only), 2-year $99.00, 4-year $198.00 details
Home Improvement Contractor — Requires Certificate of Liability Insurance, Certificate of Occupancy/Home Occupation Permit, Corporate Registration (if applicable), Home Improvement Contract, Police Criminal History Report, Surety Bond ($25,000), and Tax Registration & Clean Hands Certification. Not eligible for the 6-month license term details
Source: dlcp.dc.gov/node/1618551
Bond / insurance
Home Improvement Contractor: Surety Bond of $25,000, plus a Police Criminal History Report and a Certificate of Liability Insurance. General Contractor/Construction Manager: no surety bond is listed; a Certificate of Liability Insurance is required.
Source: dlcp.dc.gov/node/1618551
Permit for a garage door
Construction is governed by the DC Construction Codes, DCMR Title 12: "The 2017 DC Construction Codes consist of the 2015 International Code Council (ICC) family of model codes, the 2014 National Electrical Code, and 2013 ASHRAE 90.1, as amended by the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (DCMR) Title 12, Sections A through M. The 2017 DC Construction Code takes effect on May 29, 2020." The Residential Code applies to detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses not more than three stories above grade plane, covering construction, alteration, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, equipment, use and occupancy, location, removal and demolition.
Source: dob.dc.gov/page/dc-construction-codes
Verify a licence
Verified against the official source on 2026-08-19.

Counties in District of Columbia

District of Columbia

Biggest cities in District of Columbia

Washington