Under the Civil Infractions Act, DCRA or the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department (FEMSD) issues a Notice of Infraction (NOI) or a Housing Deficiency Notice (HDN) to a member of the public for the alleged violation of District of Columbia law. Examples of the more than 160 laws and/or regulations under which the public may be issued civil infractions are: the housing code, Title 14 District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (DCMR); the construction code, 12A DCMR; the zoning code, 11 DCMR; and the general licensing law, DC Code 47-2801 et seq.

Upon receipt of a NOI, the respondent has fifteen (15) days from the date of service, with an additional three (3) days for mail service, to respond by either paying the fine, admitting the violation(s) and requesting adjudication by mail or by hearing.

• If the respondent requests a hearing in a timely manner, the respondent will be notified of the date, time, and place of the hearing.
• If the respondent fails to answer the NOI in a timely manner, a second NOI will be issued notifying the respondent of the date, time, and place of the hearing.
• If a respondent requests a hearing but fails to appear, a default judgment may be entered against him in the amount of the original fine plus court costs.
• If the respondent fails to appear at a hearing after receipt of second NOI, a default judgment may be entered against him in the amount of the original fine plus a penalty of double the original fine amount plus court costs.
• If the respondent has retained an attorney to represent him at the hearing, the attorney must notify OAD five (5) days prior to the scheduled hearing.

A motion for continuance must be filed five (5) calendar days (including Saturdays, Sundays, or holidays) prior to the scheduled hearing date. The request must be based on good and sufficient cause supported by documentation.