What the law says
The District of Columbia licenses indoor mold assessor and indoor mold remediator under D.C. Code §§ 8-241.01 et seq. (Air Quality Amendment Act of 2014, indoor mold); 20 DCMR chapter 32. The trigger is a contamination level set by regulation. The text (D.C. Code § 8-241.02(a)(1)): “Set a threshold level of indoor mold contamination that requires professional indoor mold remediation”.
The Code leaves the number to the regulator. This site has not verified the figure set in the rules, so no square-foot line is shown. What the Code itself fixes is the business license and the landlord's timetable.
Timetable for rented homes: an inspection within 7 days of a tenant's written or electronic notice and remediation within 30 days of the inspection, 37 days end to end at most unless a shorter time is ordered (D.C. Code § 8-241.04(a)).
Assessor and remediator: DOEE declined to add a rule barring one licensee from both assessing and remediating the same project (20 DCMR chapter 32 (final rulemaking)). That makes the District of Columbia the exception among the jurisdictions here: Florida, Texas, New York and Louisiana separate the two roles.
No person may engage in the business of residential indoor mold assessment or remediation unless certified and licensed (§ 8-241.03(b)).
After written or electronic notice from a tenant, the residential property owner inspects within 7 days and remediates within 30 days of the inspection unless a shorter time is ordered (§ 8-241.04(a)).
Where the owner knows or has reason to know of contamination at the threshold level, the owner must have it remediated by an indoor mold remediation professional (§ 8-241.04(c)).
Compared with the other jurisdictions on this site: Florida draws the line at more than 10 square feet, Texas draws the line at 25 contiguous square feet or more, New York draws the line at more than 10 square feet and Louisiana draws the line at jobs valued over $7,500.
Sources: D.C. Code title 8, chapter 2B (Indoor mold), Council of the District of Columbia; DOEE final rulemaking, 20 DCMR chapter 32 (Mold and Radon Licensure and Certification) · last checked October 20, 2026.
Before hiring
The free check is the state licensing board's public license lookup: confirm the company holds the license the statute names before work starts. EPA's homeowner guidance also suggests checking references and asking the contractor to follow EPA's remediation guide or the guidelines of professional bodies such as ACGIH or IICRC. Cost ranges for the work itself are on the mold removal cost pages.
Questions
Does the District of Columbia require a license for mold remediation?
Yes. D.C. Code §§ 8-241.01 et seq. (Air Quality Amendment Act of 2014, indoor mold); 20 DCMR chapter 32 covers indoor mold assessor, indoor mold remediator; the trigger is a contamination level set by regulation (D.C. Code § 8-241.02(a)(1)). Checked 2026-10-20.
Can the company that tests for mold in District of Columbia also remove it?
DOEE declined to add a rule barring one licensee from both assessing and remediating the same project (20 DCMR chapter 32 (final rulemaking)).
Can a homeowner remove mold without a license?
The Code licenses the business of mold assessment and remediation; it does not license owners doing their own work.