District of Columbia legislation · 26th Council
District of Columbia B542: Powering Local Utility Guidance in Housing Act of 2025
Status: Signed into law, August 28, 2026
As introduced, Bill 26-542 would require that DHCD offer administrative assistance to affordable housing development projects to promote prompt attention from utility partners in the permitting process. It would require DHCD to make technical expert consultants available to these same projects to reduce how often utility connection design issues catch developers off guard. DHCD staff would also spearhead a coordinated effort between government agencies and utilities to integrate the utilities’ permitting updates into existing government data systems for tracking permit issues. FISCAL NOTE - This bill is Subject to Appropriations. Please see Fiscal Impact Statement for more information.
What the bill says
From the enrolled text, July 2, 2026:
ENROLLED ORIGINAL ACT 26-348 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, JULY 2, 2026 To provide affordable housingdevelopers seeking utility providerclearance inthebuilding permitting process with expertconsultation, administrativecoordination, and inter~ agency data transparency. BE IT ENACTED BYTHE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICTOF COLUMBIA, That this act maybe cited as the"Powering Local Utility Guidancein Housing Act of2026". Sec, 2. Definitions. Forthepurposes ofthis act, the term: (1) "DHCD" means the Department ofHousing and Community Development. (2) "DOB" meansthe DepartmentofBuildings. (3) "OCTO" means theOffice oftheChiefTechnology Officer. (4) "Qualifyingaffordablehousingproposal" means an affordablehousing construction or rehabilitation project proposal for which the developer submits at least oneofthe followingto DHCD: (A) Documentation demonstratingthatthe applicanthas secured financing orfunds from the District or federal government that is conditioned on theapplicant providing income-restricted affordable housing units for a period ofatleast 15 years; (B) A swom certification that the applicant intends to apply for financing or funds from theDistrict orfederal government thatwould beconditioned on the applicant providing income-restricted affordable housing unitsfor aperiod ofat least 15 years; or (C) A recorded property covenant thatrequires income-restricted affordablehousing units in amounts exceeding therequirementsofthe Inclusionary Zoning Program, as that term is defined in section 101(4)ofthe Inclusionary Zoning Implementation. Amendment Act of2006, effective March 14, 2007 (D.C. Law 16-275; D.C. Official Code § 61041.01(4)); except, that theMayor, pursuant toTitleI ofthe District ofColumbia Administrative Procedure Act, approved October …