D.C. Code § 40-307.01 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 3 / § 40-307.01
§ 40-307.01. Artisan’s lien — Generally.
Status: in_force

Any mechanic or artisan who shall make, alter, or repair any article of personal property at the request of the owner shall have a lien thereon for his just and reasonable charges for his work done and materials furnished, and may retain the same in his possession until said charges are paid; but if possession is parted with by his consent such lien shall cease.
D.C. Code § 40-307.02 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 3 / § 40-307.02
§ 40-307.02. Enforcement by sale.
Status: in_force

If the amount due and for which a lien is given by § 40-307.01 is not paid after the end of a month after the same is due, and the property bound by said lien does not exceed the sum of $50, then the party entitled to such lien, after demand of payment upon the debtor, if he be within the District, may proceed to sell the property so subject to lien at the public auction, after giving notice once a week for 3 successive weeks in some daily newspaper published in the District, and the proceeds of such sale shall be applied, first, to the expenses of such sales and the discharge of such lien, and the remainder, if any, shall be paid over to the owner of the property.
D.C. Code § 40-303.03 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 3 / § 40-303.03
§ 40-303.03. Notice to owner.
Status: in_force

The said subcontractor or other person employed by the contractor as aforesaid, besides filing a notice with the Recorder of Deeds of the District of Columbia as aforesaid, shall serve the same upon the owner of the property upon which the lien is claimed, by leaving a copy thereof with said owner or his agent, if said owner or agent be a resident of the District, or if neither can be found, by posting the same on the premises; and on his failure to do so, or until he shall do so, the said owner may make payments to his contractor according to the terms of his contract, and to the extent of such payments the lien of the principal contractor shall be discharged and the amount for which the property shall be chargeable in favor of the parties so employed by him reduced.
D.C. Code § 40-104 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 1 / § 40-104
§ 40-104. Application of proceeds of sale.
Status: in_force

The proceeds of such sale shall be applied:
(1) To the expenses of such sales and the discharge of such lien;
(2) To payment of other liens, if any, in the order of their priority; and
(3) To the owner of the property.
D.C. Code § 40-404 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 4 / § 40-404
§ 40-404. Enforcement of lien.
Status: in_force

(a) (1) If the occupant is in default for a period of more than 60 days, the operator may enforce the lien by selling the property stored in the leased space at a public sale; or, if the personal property subject to the operator's lien is a vehicle, watercraft, or trailer, the operator may have the vehicle, watercraft, or trailer towed from the self-service storage facility by a licensed tow truck business. The operator shall not be liable for any damages to the vehicle, watercraft, or trailer once a licensed tow truck business takes possession of the personal property.
  (2) Proceeds from the sale shall be applied to satisfy the lien, and any surplus shall be disbursed as provided in subsection (e) of this section.
(b) Before conducting a sale under subsection (a) of this section, the operator shall:
  (1) Notify the occupant of the default by regular mail at the occupant’s last known address;
  (2) Send a second notice of default by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by U.S. mail with a certificate of mailing, to the occupant at the occupant’s last known address which includes:
    (A) A statement that the contents of the occupant’s leased space are subject to the operator’s lien;
    (B) A statement of the operator’s claim, indicating the charges due on the date of the notice, the amount of any additional charges which shall become due before the date of sale, and the date those additional charges shall become due;
    (C) A demand for payment of the charges due within a specified time, not less than 14 days after the date that the notice was mailed;
    (D) A statement that unless the claim is paid within the time stated, the contents of the occupant’s space will be sold at a specified time and place, or, if the personal property is a vehicle, watercraft, or trailer, that the operator may have the vehicle, watercraft, or trailer, towed from the self-service storage facility; and
    (E) The name, street address, and telephone number of the operator, or his designated agent, whom the occupant may contact to respond to the notice; and
  (3) At least 3 days before the sale, advertise the time, place, and terms of the sale in a newspaper of general circulation in the jurisdiction where the sale is to be held or on a publicly accessible website that regularly advertises or conducts property sales.
(c) At any time before a sale under this section, the occupant may pay the amount necessary to satisfy the lien and redeem the occupant’s personal property.
(d) The sale under this section shall be held at the self-service storage facility where the personal property is stored, or on a publicly accessible website that conducts property sales.
(e) If a sale is held under this section, the operator shall:
  (1) Satisfy the lien from the proceeds of the sale; and
  (2) Hold the balance, if any, for delivery on demand to the occupant or any other recorded lienholders.
(f) A purchaser in good faith of any personal property sold under this chapter shall take the property free and clear of any rights of:
  (1) Persons against whom the lien was valid; and
  (2) Other lienholders.
(g) If the operator complies with the provisions of this chapter, the operator’s liability:
  (1) To the occupant shall be limited to the net proceeds received from the sale of the personal property; and
  (2) To other lienholders shall be limited to the net proceeds received from the sale of any personal property covered by that other lien.
(h) If an occupant is in default, the operator may deny the occupant access to the leased space.
(i) (1) Unless otherwise specifically provided, all notices required by this chapter shall be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by U.S. mail with a certificate of mailing.
  (2) (A) Notices sent to the operator shall be sent to the self-service storage facility where the occupant’s property is stored.
    (B) Notices to the occupant shall be sent to the occupant at the occupant’s last known address, or another address specified in the rental agreement, if provided.
  (3) Notices shall be deemed delivered when deposited with the United States Postal Service, properly addressed as provided in subsection (b) of this section, with postage prepaid.
(j) The operator shall retain a copy of the second notice of default and the return receipt, as provided in subsection (b)(2), or certificate of mailing for 6 months following the date of the lien sale.
D.C. Code § 40-303.11 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 3 / § 40-303.11
§ 40-303.11. Distribution of sale proceeds.
Status: in_force

If one, or some only, of the persons employed under the original contractor shall have served notice on the owner, as aforesaid, before payments made by him to the original contractor, said party or parties shall be entitled to priority of satisfaction out of said proceeds to the amount of such payments; but, subject to this provision, if the proceeds of sale, after paying there out the costs of the suit, shall be insufficient to satisfy the liens of said parties employed under the original contractor the said proceeds shall be distributed ratably among them to the extent of the payments accruing to the original contractor subsequently to the service of notice on the owner by said parties, as aforesaid.
D.C. Code § 40-303.04 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 3 / § 40-303.04
§ 40-303.04. Owner’s duty.
Status: in_force

After notice shall be filed by said party employed under the original contractor and a copy thereof served upon the owner or his agent as aforesaid, the owner shall be bound to retain out of any subsequent payments becoming due to the contractor a sufficient amount to satisfy any indebtedness due from said contractor to the said subcontractor, or other person so employed by him, secured by lien as aforesaid, otherwise the said party shall be entitled to enforce his lien to the extent of the amount so accruing to the principal contractor.
D.C. Code § 40-204 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 2 / § 40-204
§ 40-204. Permission to examine hospital records.
Status: in_force

Any person or persons, firm or firms, corporation or corporations legally liable for such lien or against whom a claim shall be asserted for compensation for such injuries, shall be permitted to examine the ledger entries and similar records of any such association, corporation, or other institution or body, and of any agency of the United States or the District of Columbia, maintaining such hospital for the purpose of ascertaining the basis for such lien.
D.C. Code § 40-405 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 4 / § 40-405
§ 40-405. Personal property vested in occupant.
Status: in_force

Unless the rental agreement specifically provides otherwise and until a lien sale under this chapter, the exclusive care, custody, and control of all personal property stored in the leased self-service storage space shall remain vested in the occupant.
D.C. Code § 40-203 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 2 / § 40-203
§ 40-203. Liability for failure to pay hospital’s lien.
Status: in_force

Any person or persons, firm or firms, corporation or corporations, including an insurance carrier, making any payment to such patient or to his attorneys or heirs or legal representatives as compensation for the injury sustained, after the filing and mailing of such notice without paying to such hospital the amount of its lien or so much thereof as can be satisfied out of the moneys due under any final judgment or compromise or settlement agreement after paying the amount of any prior liens, shall for a period of 1 year from the date of payment to such patient or his heirs, attorneys, or legal representatives, as aforesaid, be and remain liable to such hospital for the amount which such hospital was entitled to receive as aforesaid; and any such association, corporation, or other institution, and any agency of the United States or the District of Columbia, maintaining such hospital, may, within such period, enforce its lien by a suit at law against such person or persons, firm or firms, corporation or corporations making any such payment.
D.C. Code § 40-303.18 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 3 / § 40-303.18
§ 40-303.18. Decree against sureties.
Status: in_force

If such undertaking be approved before any suit brought, such suit shall be a suit in equity against the owner, to which the sureties may be made parties; if the undertaking be approved after suit brought, the said sureties shall ipso facto become parties to the suit, and in either case the decree of the court shall be against the sureties as well as the owner.
D.C. Code § 40-303.16a — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 3 / § 40-303.16a
§ 40-303.16a. Effect of failure to file notice.
Status: repealed

Repealed.
D.C. Code § 40-303.10 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 3 / § 40-303.10
§ 40-303.10. Subcontractor preferred to contractor.
Status: in_force

If the original contractor and the persons contracting or employed under him shall both have filed notices of liens, as aforesaid, the latter shall first be satisfied out of the proceeds of sale before the original contractor, but not in excess of the amount due him, and the balance, if any, of said amount shall be paid to him.
D.C. Code § 40-303.20a — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 3 / § 40-303.20a
§ 40-303.20a. Authority to promulgate regulations.
Status: in_force

(a) The Mayor shall promulgate rules to implement this chapter. The proposed rules shall be transmitted to the Council for a 45-day period of review, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, legal holidays, and days of Council recess. If the Council does not approve or disapprove the rules within the 45-day review period, the rules shall be deemed disapproved.
(b) The Mayor shall issue rules to implement the provisions of D.C. Law 16-31 , within 180 days of October, 20, 2005.
D.C. Code § 40-303.15 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 3 / § 40-303.15
§ 40-303.15. Entry of satisfaction.
Status: in_force

Whenever any person having a lien by virtue hereof shall have received satisfaction of his claim and cost, he shall, on the demand, and at the cost of the person interested, enter said claim satisfied, in the clerk’s office aforesaid, and on his failure or refusal so to do he shall forfeit $50 to the party aggrieved, and all damages that the latter may have sustained by reason of such failure or refusal.
D.C. Code § 40-303.20 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 3 / § 40-303.20
§ 40-303.20. Judgment for deficiency upon sale.
Status: in_force

In any suit brought to enforce a lien by virtue of the provisions aforesaid, if the proceeds of the property affected thereby shall be insufficient to satisfy such lien, a personal judgment for the deficiency may be given in favor of the lien or against the owner of the premises or the original contractor, as the case may be, whichever contracted with him for the labor or materials furnished by him, provided such person be a party to the suit and shall have been personally served with process therein.
D.C. Code § 40-303.08 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 3 / § 40-303.08
§ 40-303.08. How lien enforced.
Status: in_force

The proceeding to enforce the lien hereby given shall be a bill in equity, which shall contain a brief statement of the contract on which the claim is founded, the amount due thereon, the time when the notice was filed with the Recorder of Deeds, and a copy thereof served on the owner or his agent, if so served, and the time when the building or the work thereon was completed, with a description of the premises and other material facts; and shall pray that the owner’s interest in the premises be sold and the proceeds of sale applied to the satisfaction of the lien. If such suit be brought by any person entitled, other than the principal contractor, the latter shall be made a party defendant, as well as all other persons who may have filed notices of liens, as aforesaid. All or any number of persons having liens on the same property may join in one suit, their respective claims being distinctly stated in separate paragraphs; and if several suits are brought by different claimants and are pending at the same time, the court may order them to be consolidated.
D.C. Code § 40-202 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 2 / § 40-202
§ 40-202. Notice.
Status: in_force

No such lien shall be effective, however, unless a written notice containing the name and address of the injured person, the date of the accident, the name and location of the hospital, and the name of the person or persons, firm or firms, corporation or corporations alleged to be liable to the injured party for the injuries received, shall be filed in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds of the District of Columbia in a docket provided for such liens, prior to the payment of any moneys to such injured person, his attorneys, or legal representatives as compensation for such injuries; nor unless the hospital shall also mail, postage prepaid, a copy of such notice with a statement of the date of filing thereof to the person or persons, firm or firms, corporation or corporations alleged to be liable to the injured party for the injuries sustained prior to the payment of any moneys to such injured person, his attorneys, or legal representatives as compensation for such injuries. Such hospital shall mail a copy of such notice to any insurance carrier which has insured such person, firm, or corporation against such liability, where the name of such insurance carrier is ascertained.
D.C. Code § 40-303.17 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 3 / § 40-303.17
§ 40-303.17. Undertaking to discharge liens before suit.
Status: in_force

Such an undertaking as above mentioned may be offered before any suit brought in order to discharge the property from existing liens, in which case notice shall be given as aforesaid to the parties whose liens it is sought to have discharged, and the same proceedings shall be had as above directed in relation to the undertaking to be given after the commencement of the suit, and said undertaking shall be to the effect that the owner and his said sureties will pay any judgment that may be rendered in any suit that may thereafter be brought for the enforcement of said lien.
D.C. Code § 40-105 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 1 / § 40-105
§ 40-105. Limitation on lien for storage.
Status: in_force

To the extent that any lien provided for in this chapter is based on a claim for storage of a motor vehicle in excess of $150, such lien shall be, as to such excess, inferior to the lien of a conditional vendor or chattel mortgagee (as defined in § 40-102 ) claiming under an instrument recorded on a date earlier than the period to which such charges are attributable.
D.C. Code § 40-303.16 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 3 / § 40-303.16
§ 40-303.16. Payment into court and release.
Status: in_force

(a) In any suit to enforce a lien under this chapter, the owner of the building and premises to which the lien may have attached may be allowed to either:
  (1) Pay into court the amount claimed by the lienor, and such additional amount, to cover interest and costs, as the court may direct; or
  (2) File a written undertaking, with one or more sureties, to be approved by the court, to the effect that he or she and they will pay the judgment that may be recovered, which may include interest and costs; provided, that:
    (A) Where the surety is to be provided by bond, only one bond shall be required; and
    (B) The judgment shall be rendered against all the persons so undertaking.
(b) On the payment of the money into court, or the approval of the undertaking pursuant to subsection (a)(2) of this section, the property shall be released from the lien, and any money so paid in shall be subject to the final decree of the court.
(c) (1) No undertaking pursuant to subsection (a)(2) of this section shall be approved by the court until the complainant shall have had at least 5 days notice of the defendant’s intention to apply to the court for the approval, which notice shall give the name and residence of the person to be offered as surety, or persons if the court determines more than a single surety is required, and the time when the motion for the approval will be made.
  (2) Any surety shall make oath, if required, that he or she is worth, over and above all debts and liabilities, double the amount of the lien.
  (3) The complainant may appear and object to the approval.
D.C. Code § 40-301.02 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 3 / § 40-301.02
§ 40-301.02. Notice.
Status: in_force

(a) (1) A contractor desiring to enforce the lien shall record in the land records a notice of intent that identifies the property subject to the lien and states the amount due or to become due to the contractor. The notice of intent shall be recorded during the construction or within 90 days after the earlier of the completion or termination of the project. If the notice of intent is not recorded in the land records during the construction or within 90 days after the earlier of the completion or termination of the project, the contractor’s lien shall terminate upon the expiration of the 90-day period. A notice of intent that does not comply with subsection (b) of this section shall be void.
  (2) Any contractor who records timely a notice of intent in accordance with subsection (a)(1) of this section, shall send to the owner, by certified mail to the current address (or if not available in the local public records, the last known address) of the owner, a copy of the notice of intent within 5 business days after the date of its recordation in the land records. If the certified mail is returned to the contractor unclaimed or undelivered, the contractor shall post a copy of the recorded notice of intent at or on the affected real property in a location generally visible from some entry point to the real property.
(b) The notice of intent shall include the following:
  (1) The name and address of the contractor or the contractor’s registered agent;
  (2) The name and address of the owner or the owner’s registered agent;
  (3) The name of the party against whose interest a lien is claimed and the amount claimed, less any credit for payments received up to and including the date of the notice of intent;
  (4) A description of the work done, including the dates that work was commenced and completed;
  (5) A description of the material furnished, including the dates that material was first and last delivered;
  (6) A legal description and, to the extent available, a street address of the real property;
  (7) (A) To the extent available under applicable law, if the contractor is an entity organized under the laws of the District of Columbia or is doing business in the District of Columbia within the meaning of applicable District law:
      (i) A copy of the contractor’s current license to do business in the District issued by the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection; and
      (ii) A certificate of good standing from the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection issued within 180 days prior to the date of the filing of the notice of intent; or
    (B) To the extent available under applicable law, if the contractor is an individual or an entity organized under laws other than those of the District of Columbia, and is not doing business in the District of Columbia within the meaning of applicable District laws but is required to be licensed by a governmental entity:
      (i) A copy of the contractor’s current license to do business issued by the government of the other jurisdiction; and
      (ii) A certificate evidencing the contractor’s good standing in its place of business or state of incorporation issued by the other jurisdiction;
  (8) If the project is provided under a home improvement contract, a copy of the home improvement contract; and
  (9) (A) A sworn, notarized statement affirming under penalty of perjury and upon personal knowledge that:
      (i) The contents of the notice of intent are true and correct to the best of the contractor’s information and belief; and
      (ii) The contractor has a right to recover the amount claimed.
    (B) If a notice of intent is executed by an authorized representative or counsel of the contractor, he or she shall attach evidence of his or her authority to execute the notice of intent on behalf the contractor and shall affirm that the notice of intent is true and correct to the best of the affiant’s knowledge and belief.
D.C. Code § 40-101 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 1 / § 40-101
§ 40-101. Liveryman’s lien.
Status: in_force

It shall be lawful for all persons keeping or boarding any animals at livery within the District, under any agreement with the owner thereof, to detain such animals until all charges under such agreement for the care, keep, or board of such animals shall have been paid; provided, however, that before enforcing the lien hereby given notice in writing shall be given to such owner in person or by registered mail at his last-known place of residence of the amount of such charges and the intention to detain such animal or animals until such charges shall be paid.
D.C. Code § 40-401 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 4 / § 40-401
§ 40-401. Definitions.
Status: in_force

For the purposes of this chapter, the term:
(1) “Default” means the failure to perform any obligation or duty set forth in the rental agreement.
(2) “Last known address” means the address provided by the occupant in the rental agreement or the address provided by the occupant in a subsequent written notice of a change of address.
(3) “Leased space” means the individual storage space at the self-service facility which is rented to an occupant pursuant to a rental agreement.
(4) “Occupant” means a person, including an assignee, a sublessee, or successor, entitled to the use of a leased space at a self-service storage facility under a rental agreement.
(5) “Operator” means the owner, operator, lessor, or sublessor of a self-service storage facility, an agent, or any other person authorized to manage the facility. The term “operator” shall not mean a warehouseman, unless the operator issues a warehouse receipt, bill of lading, or other document of title for the personal property stored.
(6) “Personal property” means movable property, not affixed to land, including goods, wares, merchandise, motor vehicles, watercraft, and household items and furnishings.
(7) “Rental agreement” means any written agreement that establishes or modifies the terms, conditions, or rules concerning the use and occupancy of a self-service storage facility.
(8) “Self-service storage facility” means any real property used for renting or leasing individual storage spaces in which the occupants themselves customarily store and remove their own personal property on a “selfstorage” basis.
D.C. Code § 40-303.01 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 3 / § 40-303.01
§ 40-303.01. Subcontractor’s lien — generally.
Status: in_force

Any person directly employed by a contractor described by § 40-301.01 (any such contractor also referred to herein as original contractor), whether the person is a subcontractor, materialman, or laborer, to furnish work or materials for the completion of the project, shall be entitled to the same rights and subject to the same obligations as the original contractor under this chapter, subject to the conditions and limitations set forth in this chapter.
D.C. Code § 40-402 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 4 / § 40-402
§ 40-402. Prohibited acts.
Status: in_force

(a) An operator shall not knowingly permit a leased space at a self-service storage facility to be used as a residence.
(b) An occupant shall not use a leased space as a residence.
D.C. Code § 40-307.03 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 3 / § 40-307.03
§ 40-307.03. Enforcement by bill in equity.
Status: in_force

If the value of the property so subject to lien shall exceed the sum of $50, the proceeding to enforce such lien shall be by bill or petition in equity, and the decree, which shall be rendered according to the due course of proceedings in equity, besides subjecting the thing upon which the lien was attached to sale for the satisfaction of the plaintiff’s demand, shall adjudge that the plaintiff recover his demand against the defendant from whom such claim is due, and may have execution therefor as at law.
D.C. Code § 40-303.06 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 3 / § 40-303.06
§ 40-303.06. Advance payments.
Status: in_force

If the owner, for the purpose of avoiding the provisions hereof, and defeating the lien of the subcontractor or other person employed by the contractor, as aforesaid, shall make payments to the contractor in advance of the time agreed upon therefor in the contract, and the amount still due or to become due to the contractor shall be insufficient to satisfy the liens of the subcontractors or others so employed by the contractor, the property shall remain subject to said liens in the same manner as if such payments had not been made.
D.C. Code § 40-303.19 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 3 / § 40-303.19
§ 40-303.19. No action by subcontractor against owner.
Status: in_force

No subcontractor, materialman, or workman employed under the original contractor shall be entitled to a personal judgment or decree against the owner of the premises for the amount due to him from said original contractor, except upon a special promise of such owner, in writing, for a sufficient consideration, to be answerable for the same.
D.C. Code § 40-303.09 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 3 / § 40-303.09
§ 40-303.09. Decree of sale.
Status: in_force

If the right of the complainant, or of any of the parties to the suit, to the lien herein provided for shall be established, the court shall decree a sale of the land and premises or the estate and interest therein of the person who, as owner, contracted for the erection, repair, improvement of, or addition to the building, as aforesaid.
D.C. Code § 40-403 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 4 / § 40-403
§ 40-403. Lien for rent, labor, or other charges.
Status: in_force

(a) The operator shall have a lien on all personal property stored within each leased space for rent, labor, or other charges, and for expenses reasonably incurred in its sale, as provided in this chapter.
(b) The rental agreement shall contain a statement, in bold type, advising the occupant:
  (1) Of the existence of the lien; and
  (2) That property stored in the leased space may be sold to satisfy the lien if the occupant is in default.
D.C. Code § 40-301.01 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 3 / § 40-301.01
§ 40-301.01. Mechanic’s lien.
Status: in_force

Every building erected, improved, added to, or repaired at the direction of the owner, or the owner’s authorized agent, and the land on which the same is erected, intended to be used in connection therewith, or necessary to the use and enjoyment thereof, to the extent of the right, title, and interest, at that time existing, of the owner, shall be subject to a lien in favor of the contractor who contracted with the owner, in the amount of the contract price or, in the absence of an express contract, the reasonable value of the project; provided, that to enforce the lien, the contractor claiming the lien shall record in the land records a notice of intent and comply with the other procedures prescribed in this chapter.
D.C. Code § 40-303.12 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 3 / § 40-303.12
§ 40-303.12. Several buildings.
Status: in_force

In case of labor done or materials furnished for the erection or repair of 2 or more buildings joined together and owned by the same person or persons, it shall not be necessary to determine the amount of work done or materials furnished for each separate building, but only the aggregate amount upon all the buildings so joined, and the decree may be for the sale of all the buildings and the land on which they are erected as one building, or they may be sold separately if it shall seem best to the court.
D.C. Code § 40-301.03 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 3 / § 40-301.03
§ 40-301.03. Definitions.
Status: in_force

For the purposes of this chapter, the term:
(1) “Home improvement” means the repair, remodeling, alteration, conversion, or modernization of, or addition to, residential real property.
(2) “Home improvement contract” means any written agreement, in a form that has been approved by the Department of Buildings, entered into between the same contractor and the same homeowner within any 12-month period for home improvement for a specific price. For the purposes of this section, the contract price for a home improvement contract shall be the contract price for all contracts during any 12-month period with respect to a home improvement.
(3) “Land records” means the property records maintained by the Office of the Recorder of Deeds of the District of Columbia.
(4) “Notice amount” means a written notice of amounts due to a contractor, subcontractor, materialman, or supplier for a project.
(5) “Notice of intent” means a notice of intention to enforce a lien against the owner’s property for a project.
(6) “Owner” means an owner either in fee simple or a lesser estate, a lessee, or a prospective purchaser in possession under a contract of sale authorized to contract for a project.
(7) “Project” means any work or materials provided by a contractor for the erection, construction, improvement, repair of, or addition to any real property in the District of Columbia at the direction of an owner, or an owner’s authorized agent, or the placing of any engine, machinery, or other thing therein or in connection therewith so as to become a fixture, though capable of being detached.
D.C. Code § 40-303.14 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 3 / § 40-303.14
§ 40-303.14. Extent of land bound by lien.
Status: in_force

If there be any contest as to the dimensions of the land claimed to be subjected to the lien aforesaid, the court shall determine the same upon the evidence and describe the same in the decree of sale.
D.C. Code § 40-303.02 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 3 / § 40-303.02
§ 40-303.02. Conditions and limitations.
Status: in_force

(a) A lien in favor of parties so employed by the original contractor shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the contract, if any, between the owner and the original contractor except any terms and conditions therein that relate to the original contractor’s right to waive liens on behalf of the parties employed. The lien of the parties shall be limited to the amount due, or to become due, but unpaid to the original contractor and shall be satisfied, in whole or in part, out of that amount only. If the original contractor, by reason of any breach by the original contractor of his, her, or its agreement with the owner, shall be entitled to recover less than the amount agreed upon between them, the liens of the parties employed by the original contractor shall be enforceable only to the extent of the reduced amount.
(b) If the owner, in good faith, has paid the original contractor in full for the project of the original contract (and the amount of the payment is not disputed by the original contractor), the parties employed by the original contractor shall not be entitled to a lien on the owner’s real property to recover any amounts due and owing for their work or materials provided for the erection, construction, improvement, repair of, or addition to the real property; provided, that if a subcontractor, materialman, or supplier notifies the owner in writing of amounts due to the subcontractor, materialman, or supplier (“notice amount”) while the owner has a balance due and owing or to become due and owing to the original contractor that is not less than the notice amount, the notice of the notice amount shall be prima facie evidence that any payment thereafter by the owner to the original contractor was not made in good faith. Any provision in a contract, purchase order, or similar document that prohibits a subcontractor, materialman, or supplier from contacting or communicating with an owner shall be void to the extent it prevents compliance with the notice requirements of this subsection.
D.C. Code § 40-205 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 2 / § 40-205
§ 40-205. Recorder to provide lien docket.
Status: in_force

The Recorder of Deeds of the District of Columbia shall provide a suitable bound book to be called the hospital lien docket, in which, upon the filing of any lien claim under the provisions of this chapter, he shall enter the name of the injured person, the name of the person, firm, or corporation alleged to be liable for the injuries, the date of the accident, and the name of the hospital or other institution or agency making the claim. The Recorder of Deeds shall index the same in the name of the injured person and shall charge and collect a fee of $1 for recording, indexing, and releasing the lien so filed.
D.C. Code § 40-303.05 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 3 / § 40-303.05
§ 40-303.05. Subcontractor entitled to know terms of contract.
Status: in_force

Any subcontractor or other person employed by the contractor as aforesaid shall be entitled to demand of the owner or his authorized agent a statement of the terms under which the work contracted for is being done and the amount due or to become due to the contractor executing the same, and if the owner or his agent shall fail or refuse to give the said information, or willfully state falsely the terms of the contract or the amounts due or unpaid thereunder, the said property shall be liable to the lien of the said party demanding said information, in the same manner as if no payments had been made to the contractor before notice served on the owner as aforesaid.
D.C. Code § 40-103 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 1 / § 40-103
§ 40-103. Enforcement of lien by sale.
Status: in_force

(a) If the amount due and for which a lien is given by § 40-101 or 40-102 hereof is not paid by the end of 30 days after the giving of notice, then the party entitled to such lien may proceed to sell the property so subject to lien at public auction, after giving notice once a week for 3 successive weeks in some daily newspaper published in the District. Said advertisement shall set forth the date, time, and place of sale, which shall not be less than 15 days from date of the 1st publication of such notice, that the purpose of the sale is to satisfy a lien, the amount for which said lien is claimed, including storage to date of sale if allowable, the names of all interested parties, and a description of the chattel, including, in the case of vehicles, the make, type, year and model number, serial number and engine number, if any, and State or District license number and year.
(b) Any person selling such property in order to satisfy a fraudulent, excessive, or unreasonable lien shall be guilty of a conversion of such property and liable to the owner in damages therefor.
D.C. Code § 40-102 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 1 / § 40-102
§ 40-102. Lien for storage, repairs and supplies for motor vehicles.
Status: in_force

(a) All persons storing, repairing, or furnishing supplies of or concerning motor vehicles including trailers shall have a lien for their agreed or reasonable charges for such storage, repairs, and supplies when such charges are incurred by an owner or conditional vendee or chattel mortgagor (including a grantor of deed of trust in lieu of mortgage) of such motor vehicle, and may detain such motor vehicle at any time they may have lawful possession thereof. Such lien shall have priority over every security interest and other lien or right in or to the vehicle except as hereinafter limited with respect to claims for storage. Before enforcing such lien, notice in writing shall be given to the title holder, every secured party and other lien holder shown by the certificate of title or registry of the vehicle, and any other persons known to claimant who have any interest in or lien upon the vehicle. Such notice shall be delivered personally or sent by registered mail to the last-known address of the person to whom given, shall state that a lien is claimed for the charges therein set forth or thereto attached, and shall demand payment thereof. There shall be incorporated in or attached to said notice a statement of particulars of the charge or charges for which a lien is claimed, to which may be added to a claim for storage of the vehicle from the date of said notice to the date of payment or sale, which amount shall be set forth at a daily or weekly rate which shall not be in excess of charges prevailing at the time for similar storage, and shall not be in excess of $3 per day or $21 per week, which additional charge shall in no event cover a period in excess of 90 days.
(b) As used in this section, “security interest” and “secured party” have the same meanings as those given to the terms by §§ 28:1-201 and 28:9-105 (1) (m), respectively.
D.C. Code § 40-303.07 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 3 / § 40-303.07
§ 40-303.07. Priority of lien.
Status: in_force

The lien hereby given shall be preferred to all judgments, mortgages, deeds of trusts, liens, and incumbrances which attach upon the building or ground affected by said lien subsequently to the commencement of the work upon the building, as well as to conveyances executed, but not recorded, before that time, to which recording is necessary, as to third persons; except that nothing herein shall affect the priority of a mortgage or deed of trust given to secure the purchase money for the land, if the same be recorded within 10 days from the date of the acknowledgment thereof. When a mortgage or deed of trust of real estate securing advances thereafter to be made for the purpose of erecting buildings and improvements thereon is given, or when an owner of lands contracts with a builder for the sale of lots and the erection of buildings thereon, and agrees to advance moneys toward the erection of such buildings, the lien hereinbefore authorized shall have priority to all advances made after the filing of said notices of lien, and the lien shall attach to the right, title, and interest of the owner in said building and land to the extent of all advances which shall have become due after the filing of such notice of such lien, and shall also attach to and be a lien on the right, title, and interest of the person so agreeing to purchase said land at the time of the filing of said notices of lien. When a building shall be erected or repaired by a lessee or tenant for life or years, or a person having an equitable estate or interest in such building or land on which it stands, the lien created by this chapter shall only extend to and cover the interest or estate of such lessee, tenant, or equitable owners.
D.C. Code § 40-201 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 2 / § 40-201
§ 40-201. Hospital’s lien for services on recovery in accident cases.
Status: in_force

Every association, corporation, or other institution, and any agency of the United States or the District of Columbia, maintaining a hospital in the District of Columbia, which shall furnish medical or other service to any patient injured by reason of an accident causing injuries not covered by the Employees’ Compensation Act or the Workmen’s Compensation Act, shall, if such injured party shall assert or maintain a claim against another for damages on account of such injuries, have a lien upon that part going or belonging to such patient, of any recovery or sum had or collected or to be collected by such patient, or by his heirs or personal representatives in the case of his death, whether by judgment or by settlement or compromise to the amount of the reasonable and necessary charges of such hospital for the treatment, care, and maintenance of such patient in such hospital up to the date of payment of such damages; provided, that the lien herein set forth shall not be applied or considered valid against anyone suffering injuries coming under the Employees’ Compensation Act or the Workmen’s Compensation Act in this District.
D.C. Code § 40-305.01 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 3 / § 40-305.01
§ 40-305.01. Wharves and lots.
Status: in_force

Any person who shall furnish materials or labor in filling up any lot or in constructing any wharf thereon, or dredging the channel of the river in front of any wharf, under any contract with the owner, shall be entitled to a lien for the value of such work or materials on said lot and wharf upon the same conditions and to be enforced in the same manner as in the case of work done in the erection of buildings, as provided in § 40-303.08 .
D.C. Code § 40-303.13 — DC Code / Title 40 / Chapter 3 / § 40-303.13
§ 40-303.13. When suit to be commenced.
Status: in_force

(a) (1) Any person with a lien and who has recorded a valid notice of intent shall only enforce the lien by:
    (A) Filing suit under § 40-303.08 to enforce the lien at anytime within 180 days after the date that the notice of intent is recorded in the land records; and
    (B) Recording, within 10 days of filing suit, a notice of pendency of action in accordance with § 42-1207(b) in the land records.
  (2) Failure to file suit within the 180-day period or to file timely a notice of pendency of action shall terminate the lien.