DCRA Perspective

A 2005 article by Yolanda Woodlee in the Washington Post may shed light on DCRA’s aggressive targeting of DC residents:

The District’s skyrocketing real estate prices have fueled an increase in illegal construction as property owners across the city are building and renovating homes without obtaining the required permits, according to D.C. officials and a review of city records.

Using tips largely supplied by neighbors turning in neighbors, the D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs issued more than 1,400 stop-work orders for illegal construction during a recent 17-month period and has fined the violators nearly $1 million.

By comparison, Montgomery and Fairfax counties each issue fewer than 50 stop-work orders a year, officials said. Prince George’s County officials said they issued about 135 such orders last year….

The number of stop-work orders also reflects an aggressive crackdown by the D.C. regulatory agency, which once had a reputation for slipshod enforcement of building codes….[DCRA Zoning Director Patrick] Canavan said the city will not tolerate property owners and contractors who flagrantly violate building codes. “When we catch you . . . we’re going to nail you,” he said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/26/AR2005062601005_pf.html

An older newsletter article from a Palisades newsletter takes a somewhat similar tone: Enforcement.

http://www.palisadesdc.org/newsletters/2004/April2004.pdf

DC Zoning is – according to these articles – quite broken.