Short answer. The Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, Corporations Division. An entity that owns the name has to be in good standing first. Cost: $55 to register; renewal is $55, and a late renewal adds $55. Renew by April 1 of the second year after registration or the last renewal. A late renewal is accepted through August 31 of that year with the late fee. File through CorpOnline, signing in with Access DC.
At a glance
- Called
- trade name
- Where to file
- State office
- Filing fee
- $55 to register; renewal is $55, and a late renewal adds $55.
- Local fees vary
- No local filing
- How long it lasts
- Renew every 2 years
- Online filing
- File through CorpOnline, signing in with Access DC.
Renewal, with dates
Renew by April 1 of the second year after registration or the last renewal. A late renewal is accepted through August 31 of that year with the late fee.
Setting up the books for the new name? A free bookkeeping health check.
For a registration filed on Tuesday, November 17, 2026:
- Sole proprietor or partnership: renewal due by Saturday, April 1, 2028
Your own date: open the calculator set to District of Columbia.
Not stated on the pages we read: a newspaper notice.
Official sources
- DC DLCP: Corporations Division fees (checked November 2026)
- DC DLCP: Trade name forms TN-1 to TN-4 (checked November 2026)
General information, not legal advice; we are not lawyers. Checked November 2026 against the pages above. Fees and forms change, and a county or town office can add its own steps, so confirm with the filing office before you file. We don't file DBAs or trade names for anyone.
Questions people ask
Where is a DBA filed in District of Columbia?
It's called a trade name. The Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, Corporations Division. An entity that owns the name has to be in good standing first.
What does it cost to register a business name in District of Columbia?
$55 to register; renewal is $55, and a late renewal adds $55.
How long does a District of Columbia trade name last?
Renew by April 1 of the second year after registration or the last renewal. A late renewal is accepted through August 31 of that year with the late fee.
Can the filing be done online in District of Columbia?
File through CorpOnline, signing in with Access DC.
All states: DBA registration by state · Connecticut · Florida