Washington insurance, written for the District

Rowhouses, basements and historic districts

Capitol Hill, Shaw, Bloomingdale, Petworth, Columbia Heights and LeDroit Park are rowhouse neighborhoods, mostly brick, many more than a century old. A lot of them have an English basement unit with its own entrance. Renting that unit takes a Basic Business License in the Two-Family Rental category from DLCP, which also calls for a certificate of occupancy and an inspection, and then registration with DHCD. It also means the house needs landlord coverage or a home policy endorsed for the rental, not a plain homeowners policy.

Capitol Hill, LeDroit Park, Georgetown and many other neighborhoods are historic districts. Exterior work there that needs a building permit must be cleared by the Historic Preservation Office, and Georgetown projects also go to the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. HPO can approve in-kind repair and replacement quickly, so rebuilding to match the original is usually the simplest route after a fire, and matching old materials can add cost. That makes the dwelling limit and building ordinance coverage more important than the purchase price. Downtown, the Navy Yard, NoMa and the Wharf are mostly condo and apartment towers, where a condo unit policy has to fit the building's master policy.

The economy is federal agencies, contractors, law and lobbying firms, trade associations, universities, hospitals and a large nonprofit sector, plus the restaurants and hotels that serve them. For many of those organizations, management liability and professional liability matter more than property.

What underwriters weigh in Washington

District properties face a mix of river, storm surge and stormwater risk, on top of old-house wear and a dense rental market.

• Interior stormwater floodingDOEE says flooding from heavy rain overwhelming the stormwater system is the most persistent flood type for much of the District, and FEMA maps don't show it. Past events include Federal Triangle in 2006, Bloomingdale and LeDroit Park in 2012, Cleveland Park in 2016 and Rhode Island Avenue NE in 2023. Basements in these areas need flood insurance and a water backup endorsement.
• River and storm surgeDuring Hurricane Isabel, the water level at Washington peaked at 7.5 feet early on September 19, 2003, and NOAA lists the District among the places that saw severe storm surge flooding. Property near the Southwest Waterfront, Navy Yard and Anacostia sits closest to that risk.
• Old rowhouse systemsCentury-old wiring, cast-iron drains, flat roofs and shared walls drive many DC claims. Carriers ask about updates before they write the home policy.
• Basement rental liabilityTenants in an English basement add liability and loss-of-rent exposure. Carriers may ask whether the unit is licensed, has a certificate of occupancy and has proper exits. An umbrella adds limits above the home policy.
• Board and professional liabilityNonprofits, associations and firms face claims over decisions, employment and advice. D&O insurance and professional liability answer those, not general liability.

District rules that change the policy

• Auto minimums and uninsured motoristDC requires $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, $10,000 for property damage, uninsured motorist bodily injury of $25,000/$50,000, and uninsured motorist property damage of $5,000 subject to a $200 deductible. If coverage lapses, DMV assesses fines that grow over time and suspends the registration, and you must surrender the tags. See my auto insurance page.
• Optional PIP and the 60-day electionInsurers must offer personal injury protection in DC, but buying it is the driver's choice. The medical benefit option must be at least $50,000 per person and the work-loss option at least $12,000. After a crash, a driver with PIP has 60 days to elect PIP benefits. Electing them limits a lawsuit against the other driver to serious cases: permanent impairment or disfigurement, more than 180 days unable to work, or losses above the PIP benefits.
• Workers' comp from one employeeDC employers with one or more employees must carry workers' comp or be approved to self-insure. Households that employ domestic workers for 240 hours or more in a calendar quarter must also carry it.
• Rental licensingRenting a home, condo, room or basement unit in DC requires a Basic Business License from DLCP, including rooms in a home the owner also lives in. An English basement falls under the Two-Family Rental category, which requires a certificate of occupancy and an inspection. One- and two-family rentals then register with DHCD after the license is issued.
• Short-term rentals and the regulatorDC short-term rentals must be at the host's primary residence and owned by an individual, not an LLC. A vacation rental, with the host away, is capped at 90 nights a year, and every stay is limited to 30 nights. DLCP requires proof of at least $250,000 of liability insurance, from the booking platform or an insurer. A bill introduced in March 2026 would let residents license a second DC property, so check its status with DLCP. A short-term rental policy should match the license. Insurance in DC is regulated by the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB).

Business insurance for the District's nonprofits, firms and contractors

DC has a large number of organizations whose main risk is a decision, not a fire. Trade associations and charities need nonprofit insurance with D&O and employment practices coverage. Law firms need lawyers professional liability. Government contractors and consultants need professional liability and cyber coverage at the limits their contracts require.

Restaurants, bars and hotels around downtown, the Wharf and U Street need property, liability and liquor coverage. Contractors working on rowhouse renovations need general liability and workers' comp from the first employee, and owners and property managers routinely ask for a certificate of insurance before work starts.

What DC residents call me about

• Basement unit on a home policy. Owners rent the English basement but keep a standard homeowners policy that doesn't contemplate a tenant. I rewrite it so the rental, the tenant liability and lost rent are addressed.
• Flooded basement, no flood policy. Interior flooding happens far from the river and outside FEMA zones. Without flood coverage and a backup endorsement, most of the loss falls on the owner.
• Condo assessment after a building claim. When the master policy deductible is passed to unit owners, loss assessment coverage on the unit policy is what pays your share.
• Auto lapse and tags. A gap in coverage triggers DMV fines and a suspended registration. I get new coverage in place quickly so the proof can go to DMV.
• Nonprofit board asking for D&O. Board members want protection before they sign on. I place D&O and employment practices for associations and charities.

Working with me from Washington

I don’t have an office in Washington. I work with Washington clients from my office in Beverly Hills, California: quotes, applications and policy changes are handled by phone, email and the online quote form, and I shop each request across admitted carriers and specialty markets. Saman Alishahi holds a Washington, DC nonresident insurance producer license (NPN 21022298) and a California license (#4348151). Call (424) 552-4545, answered 24/7, or send a quote request.

Washington insurance, answered

Sources

• DC DMV: Vehicle insurance requirements
• DC Code § 31-2404: Optional personal injury protection
• DC Code § 31-2405: Election of PIP benefits and tort thresholds
• DC DOES Office of Workers' Compensation FAQ
• DC DLCP: Housing business licenses (one-family, two-family, apartment)
• DC DLCP: Operating a short-term rental in the District
• DC DOEE: Integrated Flood Model
• NOAA: Ten years later, lessons from Hurricane Isabel
• DC Office of Planning: Historic Preservation Review Process

General information about insurance in Washington as of October 2026, not legal advice. State rules, local ordinances, hazard maps and carrier appetite change; check the current rules with the District of Columbia insurance regulator and your city. Coverage depends on underwriting and the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy actually issued.