DCRA NEWS
July 2022 Edition
A Message From The Director
Director Ernest Chrappah Head Shot
Dear DCRA Customers,
I hope you and your families are enjoying the summer here in the District and finding a way to stay cool.
As we move through this last quarter of our fiscal year, it is an unusual time for our agency. On October 1, 2022, the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) will be transitioning into the District’s newest agencies, the Department of Buildings (DOB) and the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP). Even in the midst of our ongoing work to solidify a smooth transition, we remain resolute in our desire to develop and employ new initiatives to better serve the residents and businesses of the District.
Earlier this month, Mayor Muriel Bowser introduced legislation that, when enacted, will require property owners, contractors, or persons applying for a permit for construction or demolition work to obtain liability insurance to insure adjacent and adjoining property owners for any loss or damage arising out of that work.
Current District law requires contractors to provide proof of liability insurance before they may be issued a license. Furthermore, the DC Building Code requires contractors and building owners to take appropriate precautions to prevent damage to adjoining buildings during construction or demolition. However, no requirements exist to obtain liability insurance coverage for adjacent or adjoining properties. Once enacted, the proposed legislation, the “Protecting Adjacent and Adjoining Property Owners from Construction Damage Amendment Act of 2022,” will close the gaps in insurance requirements and provide coverage for adjoining and adjacent District homeowners.
Please read more below, but in conjunction with the proposed legislation, I am also pleased to introduce the DCRA Insurance Education Center (IEC). This new initiative builds on DCRA’s multiple platforms designed to help protect residents.
In looking toward the future, we have also taken some time to reflect with our team on the progression of our agency. Our focus has always been to take bold action in addressing inefficiencies, refining internal processes, and fostering innovation to better serve the public. Our program enhancements and developments have been focused on improving service delivery. Our efforts have helped cultivate a safer District marketplace for both businesses and consumers. You have entrusted us with a most valuable mission – to protect the health, safety, economic interests, and quality of life of the residents, businesses, and visitors in the District of Columbia, and we are excited to continue moving the District forward.
Stay safe,
DCRA Director Ernest Chrappah Signature
Ernest Chrappah
Director
