D.C. Disorderly Conduct and Unlawful Entry Laws (2026)

In the District of Columbia, disorderly conduct is a single misdemeanor under D.C. Code 22-1321 that covers conduct causing reasonable fear of harm, inciting violence, provoking language aimed at another person, disrupting gatherings, worship, funerals, public buildings and public transit, nighttime noise, public urination, window peeping and jostling. Every form carries up to 90 days in jail, and the general fine schedule in D.C. Code 22-3571.01 caps the fine for a 90-day offense at $500.

D.C.'s trespass statute is unlawful entry on property, D.C. Code 22-3302. It has no degrees: entering against the will of the person in charge, or refusing to leave on demand, is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days for private property or up to 6 months for a public building or property, with a $1,000 fine cap. For other jurisdictions, see our guide to disorderly conduct and trespass laws by state.

Information last verified on 2026-10-18. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This article covers the District of Columbia's own criminal statutes on disorderly conduct and other disturbances of the public peace (D.C. Code Title 22, chapter 13), related offenses in Titles 2, 7, 22 and 25, and unlawful entry and forcible entry (Title 22, chapter 33). It does not cover noise rules beyond the disorderly conduct clause (see D.C. noise laws), the civil process for removing occupants (see D.C. squatters' rights), use of force against an intruder (see D.C. self-defense laws), civil trespass suits, or federal laws and rules for federal property in Washington.

What is disorderly conduct in D.C.?

D.C. Code 22-1321 is one section with several lettered subsections, each describing a separate way to commit the offense. The Council rewrote the section in 2011 (D.C. Law 18-375) and in 2013 added the public-building subsection and the intent-and-effect requirement for the public-conveyance subsection (D.C. Law 19-320).

Fear, incitement and provoking language (subsection (a))

Subsection (a) applies "In any place open to the general public, and in the communal areas of multi-unit housing." In those places it is unlawful to:

• "(1) Intentionally or recklessly act in such a manner as to cause another person to be in reasonable fear that a person or property in a person's immediate possession is likely to be harmed or taken;"
• "(2) Incite or provoke violence where there is a likelihood that such violence will ensue; or"
• "(3) Direct abusive or offensive language or gestures at another person (other than a law enforcement officer while acting in his or her official capacity) in a manner likely to provoke immediate physical retaliation or violence by that person or another person."

The mental state is written into (a)(1): "intentionally or recklessly." Clause (a)(3) is limited two ways by its own words: the language or gestures must be directed at another person in a manner "likely to provoke immediate physical retaliation or violence," and the clause does not reach words directed at a police officer acting in an official capacity.

Disrupting gatherings, worship, funerals, transit and public buildings

Subsections (b), (c) and (c-1) make it unlawful "to engage in loud, threatening, or abusive language, or disruptive conduct" with "the intent and effect" of disrupting:

• "the orderly conduct of a lawful public gathering, or of a congregation of people engaged in any religious service or in worship, a funeral, or similar proceeding" (22-1321(b));
• "the lawful use of a public conveyance by one or more other persons" (22-1321(c)); or
• "the orderly conduct of business" in a public building (22-1321(c-1)).

Both intent and actual disruption are required. Subsection (b) is the District's funeral and worship disruption rule; Title 22, chapter 13 contains no separate funeral-picketing buffer-zone statute.

Noise, public urination, window peeping and jostling

• Nighttime noise (22-1321(d)). Making "an unreasonably loud noise between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. that is likely to annoy or disturb one or more other persons in their residences." Other noise rules are covered in D.C. noise laws.
• Public urination (22-1321(e)). Urinating or defecating in public "other than in a urinal or toilet."
• Window peeping (22-1321(f)). Stealthily looking into a window or other opening of a dwelling "under circumstances in which an occupant would have a reasonable expectation of privacy." The dwelling need not be occupied at the time.
• Jostling (22-1321(g)). "Under circumstances whereby a breach of the peace may be occasioned," interfering with a person in a public place by jostling, unnecessarily crowding, or placing a hand near the person's handbag, pocketbook or wallet.

Penalty for disorderly conduct

Subsection (h) provides that a person who violates any part of 22-1321 "shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01, imprisoned not more than 90 days, or both." The section itself has no felony form and no repeat-offender step-up, but the general second-conviction statute, D.C. Code 22-1804, allows up to 1.5 times the maximum fine and jail term for a person previously convicted of the same offense, and up to 3 times the maximum (270 days for disorderly conduct) for a person previously convicted more than once.

D.C. does not use lettered offense classes. Each offense states its jail term, and D.C. Code 22-3571.01(b) converts that term into a maximum fine: $500 for an offense punishable by more than 30 days up to 90 days, $1,000 for more than 90 days up to 180 days or 6 months, $2,500 for more than 180 days up to one year, $12,500 for more than one year up to 5 years, and $25,000 for more than 5 years up to 10 years. This page gives the fine cap that matches each offense's jail term. Under 22-3571.02(b), if the offense produced a financial gain or caused another person a financial loss, the fine can instead be up to twice the gross gain or loss, but above the schedule only to the extent the gain or loss is alleged in the charging document and proven beyond a reasonable doubt; an organization convicted of an offense punishable by 6 months or more faces doubled caps (22-3571.01(c)). A section that expressly exempts itself from the schedule, such as the bridge-obstruction statute 22-1323, sets its own fine. For the District's sentencing structure generally, see D.C. felony and misdemeanor penalties.

Swearing, yelling and being drunk in public

Swearing or yelling is not listed by itself in 22-1321. Abusive or offensive language falls under (a)(3) only when it is directed at another person in a manner likely to provoke immediate physical retaliation or violence; loud or abusive language falls under (b), (c) or (c-1) only with the intent and effect of disrupting a gathering, a public conveyance or a public building; and loud noise falls under (d) only between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. when it is likely to disturb people in their residences.

Being drunk in public is treated as a health matter. D.C. Code 24-601 declares the policy that "public intoxication shall be handled as a public health problem rather than as a criminal offense," and 25-1001(e) provides that a person intoxicated in public who is not endangering anyone "shall be treated in accordance with Chapter 6 of Title 24." The crime is narrower: under 25-1001(c), "No person, whether in or on public or private property, shall be intoxicated and endanger the safety of himself, herself, or any other person or property." That offense, and drinking or carrying an open container in the public places listed in 25-1001(a), is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 60 days, a fine of up to $500, or both (25-1001(d)).

Related public-order offenses

Among the other offenses addressing disturbances of the peace are these:

• Affray (22-1301). "Whoever is convicted of an affray in the District shall be fined not more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01 or imprisoned not more than 180 days, or both." The section does not define affray. For fights that cause injury, see D.C. assault laws.
• Crowding, obstructing or incommoding (22-1307). Crowding, obstructing or incommoding a street, sidewalk, building entrance, public building, public conveyance or park, "and" continuing or resuming "after being instructed by a law enforcement officer to cease." Subsection (b) separately covers demonstrating in an area where demonstrating is otherwise unlawful and continuing after being told to stop. Misdemeanor, up to 90 days, a fine of up to $500, or both. This is the District's closest equivalent to a failure-to-disperse offense.
• Rioting or inciting to riot (22-1322). A riot is "a public disturbance involving an assemblage of 5 or more persons which by tumultuous and violent conduct or the threat thereof creates grave danger of damage or injury to property or persons." Willfully engaging in a riot, or willfully inciting or urging others to riot, carries up to 180 days, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. If in the course and as a result of a riot a person suffers serious bodily harm or there is property damage over $5,000, "every person who willfully incited or urged others to engage in the riot" faces up to 10 years, with a fine cap of $25,000 under 22-3571.01(b)(7). Under 22-1322(e), added in 2023 by D.C. Law 24-345, a law enforcement officer's failure to comply with D.C. Code 5-331.07 "shall be a defense in prosecutions for violations of subsection (b) or (c)."
• False alarms and false reports (22-1319). Knowingly using the 911 system to make a false report that "initiates a response by District of Columbia emergency personnel or officials" is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months (22-1319(a-1)), as is a willful or knowing false fire alarm (22-1319(a)). A knowing false report involving a weapon of mass destruction that starts an emergency response, or sending or placing a hoax weapon of mass destruction, is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year, a fine of up to $2,500 or the costs of responding to and consequential damages resulting from the offense, or both (22-1319(b)). The same false report or hoax made with intent to intimidate or frighten people, cause panic or civil unrest, extort, or cause economic damage is a felony punishable by up to 5 years (22-1319(c)), and the same conduct during a Mayor-declared public emergency is a felony punishable by up to 10 years (22-1319(d)).
• Interfering with a medical facility (22-1314.02). Willfully or recklessly obstructing access to or from a medical facility, making noise that unreasonably disturbs the peace inside it, trespassing on it or its common areas, or other listed acts. Up to 180 days, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.
• Aggressive panhandling (22-2302). Asking for money "in an aggressive manner" in any place open to the public, and asking at all in a public transportation vehicle or station or stop, or within 10 feet of an ATM, among other listed places. "Aggressive manner" is defined in 22-2301 (for example, following someone in a way that would cause a reasonable person to fear bodily harm, touching without consent, or continuing to ask after a refusal). Up to 90 days, a fine of up to $500, or both, and a court may order community service in lieu of or in addition to that penalty (22-2304). Section 22-2303 provides that acts authorized as an exercise of a person's constitutional right to picket, protest or speak, and acts authorized by a District permit, "shall not constitute unlawful activity under this chapter."
• Obstructing a D.C.-Virginia bridge (22-1323). Knowingly and willfully obstructing any bridge connecting the District and Virginia carries a fine of $1,000 to $5,000, and up to 30 days in jail may be added; the section provides that this fine "shall not be limited by § 22-3571.01."
• Throwing stones or other missiles (22-1309). Throwing a stone or other missile in or into a street, alley, road, open space, public square or enclosure carries a penalty of up to $500 for every such offense.
• Disorderly conduct on U.S. public buildings and grounds (22-3311). Disorderly and unlawful conduct in or about the public buildings and public grounds belonging to the United States in the District, or damaging them or their fixtures, is punishable by up to 6 months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.
• Wearing a mask to avoid identification (22-3312.03). It is unlawful for a person over 16 to wear a mask or other covering that hides a substantial portion of the face, to conceal identity, with intent to avoid identification while engaging in a dangerous crime, a crime of violence, theft or threats to do bodily harm. Misdemeanor, up to 180 days, a fine of up to $1,000, or both (22-3312.04(b)). D.C. Law 25-175 revived the section effective June 8, 2024.
• Youth curfew (2-1543). Covered below under recent changes.
• Emergency orders (7-2307). A Mayor's emergency executive order "may provide for a fine of not more than $1,000 for each violation," and the Corporation Counsel "may bring an action in the name of the District of Columbia" against a violator. The section states no criminal penalty.

Unlawful entry: D.C.'s trespass law

The offense (22-3302)

D.C. Code 22-3302 has two subsections, divided by the kind of property, and no degrees. Under 22-3302(a)(1), a person commits a misdemeanor if, "without lawful authority," the person enters or attempts to enter "any private dwelling, building, or other property, or part of such dwelling, building, or other property, against the will of the lawful occupant or of the person lawfully in charge thereof," or, being there without lawful authority to remain, "shall refuse to quit the same on the demand of the lawful occupant, or of the person lawfully in charge thereof." The penalty is up to 180 days, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. "Private dwelling" includes houses, apartments, condominiums and other buildings used as living quarters, including cooperative and public housing.

Subsection (b) applies the same rule to "any public building, or other property," with the occupant, the person in charge "or his or her agent" able to give the demand. The penalty is up to 6 months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. The two subsections carry the same fine cap; only the wording of the jail term differs.

Being told to leave

Unlawful entry reaches two things: entering against the will of the occupant or person in charge, and staying after a demand to leave by someone with authority to make it. A person who is lawfully present commits the refusal form only by refusing "to quit the same on the demand of the lawful occupant, or of the person lawfully in charge thereof" (or that person's agent, for public property).

No Trespassing signs and vacant buildings

The only posting rule in the statute is an evidence rule in 22-3302(a)(1):

"The presence of a person in any private dwelling, building, or other property that is otherwise vacant and boarded-up or otherwise secured in a manner that conveys that it is vacant and not to be entered, or displays a no trespassing sign, shall be prima facie evidence that any person found in such property has entered against the will of the person in legal possession of the property."

The statute sets no sign size or spacing. D.C. has no purple paint law: Title 22, chapter 33 contains no paint-mark or posting-specification provision.

Forcible entry, vehicles, burglary and squatting

• Forcible entry and detainer (22-3301). "Whoever shall forcibly enter upon any premises, or, having entered without force, shall unlawfully detain the same by force against any person previously in the peaceable possession of the same and claiming right thereto" faces up to 1 year, a fine of up to $2,500, or both.
• Unlawful entry of a motor vehicle (22-1341). It is unlawful "to enter or be inside of the motor vehicle of another person without the permission of the owner or person lawfully in charge." Up to 90 days, a fine of up to $500, or both.
• Burglary (22-801). Entry becomes burglary when it is made into a dwelling or other listed building, room, vessel or railroad car "with intent to break and carry away any part thereof" or "to commit any criminal offense." Second-degree burglary carries 2 to 15 years (22-801(b)); subsection (a) sets out first-degree burglary separately.

Unlawful entry itself is a misdemeanor in every form; the District's trespass chapter has no felony trespass. The general second-conviction statute, D.C. Code 22-1804, does raise the maximum for a repeat conviction of the same offense: up to 1.5 times the maximum fine and jail term after one prior conviction, and up to 3 times after more than one, so a third unlawful entry conviction for private property can carry up to 540 days. Chapter 33 of Title 22 contains no separate squatting or false-lease offense; the prima facie rule for vacant, boarded-up property is the statute's main tool for occupied vacant buildings. The civil side of occupancy disputes is covered in D.C. squatters' rights, and the rules on force against an intruder in D.C. self-defense laws.

D.C. disorderly conduct and unlawful entry penalties at a glance

Where a section names no class, the table gives the jail term the section sets, and the fine cap shown is the 22-3571.01(b) amount for that term. For the District's sentencing structure, see D.C. felony and misdemeanor penalties.

Recent changes

• Youth curfew, D.C. Law 26-140 (Youth Curfew Amendment Act of 2026), effective July 2, 2026. The act amended the Juvenile Curfew Act of 1995 (D.C. Code 2-1541 and following). It raised the covered age from under 17 to under 18 and set the curfew hours in 2-1542 as 11:00 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday until 6:00 a.m. the next day, and 12:01 a.m. until 6:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, except that in July and August curfew runs from 12:01 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. every day. It also lets the Mayor or the Chief of Police designate temporary extended youth curfew zones (2-1542.01); extended hours may not begin earlier than 8:00 p.m. or run past 6:00 a.m. the next day, may not remain in effect for more than 4 consecutive days except as that section provides, and do not apply to groups of 8 or fewer minors. The act's change to where a detained minor may be taken (2-1543(c)) and its youth-programming section apply only once their fiscal effect is included in an approved budget and financial plan. Under the existing penalty section, 2-1543(d), an adult who violates the curfew law, such as a parent who knowingly permits a violation, commits "a separate offense for each day, or part of a day," punishable "by a fine not to exceed $500 or community service"; a minor found in violation by the Family Division of the Superior Court may be ordered to perform up to 25 hours of community service per violation. Section 3 of the act provides: "This act shall expire on December 31, 2028." D.C. Law 26-140 cross-references the disorderly conduct and riot sections but does not change them.
• 2024, D.C. Law 25-175 (Secure DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2024). Revived the mask offense in 22-3312.03 (effective June 8, 2024) and amended the related penalty section, 22-3312.04, in chapter 33, but did not amend 22-1321, 22-1322, 22-1307, 22-3301 or 22-3302.
• 2023, D.C. Law 24-345 (Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022), effective April 21, 2023. Added the officer-compliance defense in 22-1322(e).
• 2013, D.C. Law 19-317. Set the current fine schedule in 22-3571.01, which applies to offenses committed on or after June 11, 2013.

Federal law separately governs conduct on federal property and at the U.S. Capitol; see the disorderly conduct and trespass laws by state hub.

Related D.C. laws

• Disorderly conduct and trespass laws by state
• D.C. noise laws
• D.C. felony and misdemeanor penalties
• D.C. squatters' rights
• D.C. assault laws
• D.C. self-defense laws
• D.C. expungement and record sealing
• How to charge someone with trespassing

This article provides general legal information about the District of Columbia's disorderly conduct, public-order and unlawful entry statutes as of 2026-10-18. It is not legal advice. For advice about a specific situation, contact a lawyer licensed in the District of Columbia.

Last updated: 2026-10-18.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is disorderly conduct a misdemeanor in D.C.?

Yes. Every violation of D.C. Code 22-1321 is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail; the fine schedule in 22-3571.01 caps the fine for a 90-day offense at $500.

Can you get disorderly conduct for cursing at someone in D.C.?

Section 22-1321(a)(3) covers abusive or offensive language or gestures directed at another person only in a manner likely to provoke immediate physical retaliation or violence, and it excludes a police officer acting officially.

Is public intoxication illegal in D.C.?

Being intoxicated in public alone is handled as a public health matter under D.C. Code 24-601. Being intoxicated and endangering the safety of yourself, others or property is a misdemeanor under 25-1001(c), up to 60 days and $500.

What is the penalty for loud noise at night in D.C.?

An unreasonably loud noise between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. that is likely to disturb people in their residences is disorderly conduct under 22-1321(d), punishable by up to 90 days and a $500 fine cap.

What is trespassing called in D.C., and what is the penalty?

It is unlawful entry on property under D.C. Code 22-3302. It is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days for private property or up to 6 months for public property, with a $1,000 fine cap.

Is trespassing a felony in D.C.?

Unlawful entry is a misdemeanor in every form. Forcible entry and detainer (22-3301) carries up to 1 year, and entry with intent to commit a crime inside is burglary, a felony of 2 to 15 years in the second degree (22-801(b)).

Do you need a No Trespassing sign in D.C.?

No sign is required for unlawful entry, which turns on entering against the will of the occupant or refusing to leave on demand. A posted no trespassing sign, or a vacant boarded-up building, is prima facie evidence of entry against the owner's will under 22-3302(a)(1).

What happens if a store tells you to leave in D.C.?

Under 22-3302, a person without lawful authority to remain who refuses to quit on the demand of the lawful occupant or person lawfully in charge commits unlawful entry, a misdemeanor of up to 180 days for private property.

What is the D.C. youth curfew in 2026?

Under D.C. Law 26-140, effective July 2, 2026, minors under 18 must not remain in public places during curfew hours: 11:00 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday until 6:00 a.m. the next day, and 12:01 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday and every day in July and August. The act expires December 31, 2028.