Appeal a Stop Work Order

There is a $2000 fine (per infraction) for:

• Work without a permit
• Work outside the scope of a permit
• Work before 7 am or after 7 pm Monday through Saturday or any time on Sunday

If you break these laws again, you may be fined up to $4,000 per infraction.

If you get a Stop Work Order for illegal construction, you will also have to pay a fine of 50 percent of the cost of the permit you should have obtained.

DCRA will not release the Stop Work Order until you pay the permit fee and fine.

Stop Work Order Appeal Process

• DCRA Stop Work Order Appeal Form

Under Title 12A, DC Municipal Regulations, § 114.11 Appeal of Stop Work Order. The property owner, his or her agent, or the person responsible for the work cited in a stop work order, may initiate an appeal within the Department from a stop work order. Claimants shall appeal using a form provided by the code official, on which they shall state the grounds for the appeal, which shall be based on a claim that the Construction Codes or the Zoning Regulations, or the rules legally adopted thereunder, have been incorrectly interpreted or applied, the provisions of the Construction Codes or Zoning Regulations do not fully apply, or that an equally good or better form of construction can be used. 

The appeal shall be filed within fifteen (15) days from the date on which the stop work
order is posted. You may hand-deliver or email your appeal to the Reviewing Official:

Rabbiah Sabbakhan
Chief Building Official
Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs
Inspections Division
1100 4th Street, SW
4th Floor
Washington DC 20024
Fax Number: 202-442-4860

NOTE: Due to the time-sensitive nature of these appeals, we strongly suggest you hand deliver your appeals form to the Reviewing Official.

Within ten (10) working days of receipt of the appeals form, the code official shall affirm, modify, or reverse the previous action or decision. The decision of the code official shall be the final decision of the Department. If the code official denies the appeal, or does not act upon the appeal within the ten working day period, the decision will be deemed affirmed and the claimant may appeal the matter directly to the Office of Administrative Hearings, except to the extent that a violation of the Zoning Regulations is alleged, in which case the claimant shall appeal the action to the Board of Zoning Adjustment pursuant to D.C. Official Code § 6-641.07.

You may deliver your written request for a hearing to:

Office of Administrative Hearings
One Judiciary Square
441 4th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001-2714

or mail it to:

Office of Administrative Hearings
PO Box 77718
Washington, DC 20013

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Code Compliance, Permitting

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