DBA Filing in District of Columbia: Who Issues It, Cost & Steps
DBA Filing rules in District of Columbia are written by cities and counties, not by the state legislature — which is exactly why generic advice is useless here. Below: how to identify your issuing office, then the general US process.
District of Columbia DBA filings are handled through the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, not a separate Secretary of State office.
The District of Columbia processes business name registrations and corporate filings through DLCP rather than a dedicated corporate filing department. A new unified platform called BOSS is launching to streamline these registrations.
- You file DBAs and business entity registrations with the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), not a separate state corporate office.
“Submit a Corporate Filing/Register a Business Entity”
https://dlcp.dc.gov - DLCP offers appointments to skip long waits when filing business registrations and corporate documents.
“DLCP now offers an appointment scheduling system, making it easy to plan ahead and skip long waits. Appointments are available for services including Business Licensing, Corporations, Occupational and Professional Licensing”
https://dlcp.dc.gov - Trade names in DC must be renewed and are subject to biennial reporting requirements.
“Biennial Report, Trade Name Renewal, and Revocation Lists”
https://dlcp.dc.gov/service/biennial-report-trade-name-renewal-and-revocation-lists - You can search all registered DC businesses through DLCP's database to check if a name is already taken.
“Search Registered Businesses”
https://dlcp.dc.gov - DLCP publishes lists of revoked entities and expired trade names to show which business names are no longer active.
“Revoked Entities and Expired Trade Names Lists of Entities & Trade Names Required to File or Renew”
https://dlcp.dc.gov/service/biennial-report-trade-name-renewal-and-revocation-lists - DLCP's office hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, and Thursday 10:30 am to 4:30 pm, with in-person services stopping at 4 pm.
“Monday, Tuesday Wednesday & Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Thursday 10:30 am to 4:30 pm In-person service stops accepting visitors at 4 pm Monday thru Friday.”
https://dlcp.dc.gov
Sources (each one opened and read on 2026-09-15)
- DLCP Homepage: https://dlcp.dc.gov
- DLCP Biennial Report Page: https://dlcp.dc.gov/service/biennial-report-trade-name-renewal-and-revocation-lists
Who issues a DBA Filing in District of Columbia
This is a local permit. It is issued by your city or county, not by the state of District of Columbia. The state office listed underneath handles a related filing — it does not issue this permit.
- District of Columbia — the state business-filing office (Secretary of State in most states) (registers business entities)
https://dlcp.dc.gov
Where a DBA is filed varies more than almost any other filing on this site — county clerk in many states, the state business-filing office in others.
Finding your local office
Start with the city your address sits in — the relevant department is usually called Planning, Building, Community Development, or Business Licensing. If your address is unincorporated, the county performs that role instead. Calling the main switchboard and asking who handles this is usually faster than searching.
Starting point for anything else in District of Columbia: the state business portal, https://dlcp.dc.gov. It is a starting point, not the issuer of this permit.
The general US process
This sequence is the shape the process takes across the US. It is not a list of District of Columbia requirements, and no step here should be read as one — the issuing office named above sets the actual requirements.
- Step 1: Find out where a DBA is filed where you are. County clerk in many states, the state business-filing office in others, and both in a few.
- Step 2: Search that register for the name you want.
- Step 3: File the statement — often called a fictitious business name or assumed name filing — and pay the fee.
- Step 4: Publish the filing in a newspaper if that jurisdiction requires publication. Several do; most do not.
- Step 5: File the proof of publication where publication was required.
- Step 6: Use the name consistently on marketing, invoices and the bank account.
What varies: county versus state filing, whether publication is required, the fee, and whether the filing expires.
Documents usually asked for
A typical list, not a District of Columbia checklist.
- Government-issued ID
- Legal business name (if an entity, not sole prop)
- Business address
Related permits in District of Columbia
DBA Filing in states bordering District of Columbia
Rules stop at the state line — same permit, each state bordering District of Columbia:
See DBA Filing in all 50 states & DC →
Frequently asked questions
Who issues a DBA filing in District of Columbia?
Your city or county — not the state.
How much does a DBA filing cost in District of Columbia?
We don't publish a District of Columbia figure we haven't verified. The typical US range is $10–$150. The office named above has the real number for your address.
How long does it take to get a DBA filing in District of Columbia?
Typical US processing is 1–30 days, and expedited handling is often available for a fee. The issuing office publishes its own turnaround, and that is the number to trust.
What is District of Columbia-specific on this page: the issuing office, 6 District of Columbia facts, each quoted off the government page beside it. Everything else — the numbered process, the document list, the cost and timeline — is the general US pattern, not a District of Columbia rule, and is labelled that way above. Requirements, fees and deadlines are set by the issuing office; confirm with it before you file or pay.