District of Columbia Restraining Order Laws (2026): How to Get a Civil Protection Order

In DC, the protective order for domestic violence, sexual assault, and trafficking is called a Civil Protection Order (CPO); stalking victims without a qualifying relationship instead petition for a separate Anti-Stalking Order. Any person who has experienced an intrafamily offense, sexual assault, or trafficking can petition the DC Superior Court for a CPO, and any stalking victim can petition for an Anti-Stalking Order. A final CPO lasts up to 2 years and can be extended by the court; a final Anti-Stalking Order also lasts up to 2 years.

If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For confidential help 24/7, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (text START to 88788).

Types of restraining orders in DC

The District of Columbia consolidates its civil protective order framework under DC Code 16-1001 through 16-1007. There is one petition form, but it covers several distinct tracks.

The intrafamily offense track is the domestic-violence path. It applies when the petitioner and respondent share an intimate-partner or family or household relationship. This track covers physical abuse, threats, harassment, stalking, and related conduct between people who are close in that defined sense.

The sexual assault track is available to any person who is at least 16 years old, regardless of whether they know the respondent. DC also includes labor-trafficking survivors and child sex-trafficking survivors within the CPO framework, which is broader than most states. Stalking is handled separately: DC Code 16-1003 does not list stalking as a CPO-qualifying offense, so a stalking victim who does not have a qualifying intrafamily relationship with the stalker instead petitions for an Anti-Stalking Order under DC Code 16-1061 through 16-1065. It has its own petition form but works similarly to a CPO, with an ex parte temporary order available the same day and a final order lasting up to 2 years.

These distinctions matter practically. If you were harmed by a stranger or acquaintance, the Anti-Stalking Order or the CPO's sexual-assault category may be the right path even though there is no prior relationship.

Who can get a restraining order in DC?

For the intrafamily offense track, the petitioner must fall within one of three defined categories: intimate partner, family member, or household member, defined in DC Code 16-1001. DC Code 16-1003 sets out who may petition for a CPO and the applicable age rules.

An intimate partner includes a person to whom the respondent is or was married, a person in or formerly in a domestic partnership with the respondent, a person who shares a child in common with the respondent, or a person who is or was in a romantic, dating, or sexual relationship with the respondent. That last category is broad enough to cover current and former dating partners at any stage of a relationship.

A family member means a person related to the respondent by blood, adoption, legal custody, marriage, or domestic partnership, or who is the child of the respondent's intimate partner. A household member means a person who, within the past year, currently shares or has shared a mutual residence with the respondent and has maintained a close relationship beyond mere acquaintance; a landlord-tenant relationship alone does not qualify.

If none of those categories applies, DC's sexual assault and trafficking CPO categories are still available to any victim regardless of relationship, and a stalking victim can separately petition for an Anti-Stalking Order under DC Code 16-1061 through 16-1065, so there is a civil remedy for most situations in the District. You do not need a prior police report to file either petition, though documented evidence always strengthens a case.

How to file for a restraining order in DC

You file at the DC Superior Court, Domestic Violence Division, located at 500 Indiana Avenue NW. The Domestic Violence Division operates an intake unit that assists petitioners throughout the day.

Filing a CPO petition is free. Under the federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), no court may charge a filing fee or service fee for a domestic-violence protective order. DC goes a step further: the Office of the Attorney General's Victim Services Unit may provide free legal representation to petitioners from the moment they walk in.

When you arrive, court staff will help you complete the petition form. You will describe what happened and ask for specific relief (no-contact, stay-away from your home or workplace, temporary custody of children, firearm surrender, and so on). A judge or magistrate judge will review the petition on the same day and, if there is good cause to believe you are in danger, issue a TPO without notifying the respondent first.

If you cannot get to the courthouse, a domestic-violence advocate from a local organization such as the DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence can assist you with forms and accompany you to court. Court staff and advocates are trained to help people navigate the process safely.

Temporary vs. final orders: how long they last

DC uses a two-stage process that is common across the country but has some specifics worth knowing.

The TPO is designed to bridge the gap between the day you file and the day of the full hearing. The judge can include immediate relief such as ordering the respondent out of a shared home, prohibiting contact, and requiring firearm surrender, all effective from the moment of issuance.

At the full CPO hearing, the petitioner presents evidence and the respondent may contest the allegations. DC Code 16-1005(c) sets the standard: the judicial officer may issue a civil protection order if, after the hearing, the officer finds good cause to believe the respondent has committed or threatened to commit a criminal offense against the petitioner or an animal the petitioner owns, possesses, or controls, or if both parties consent to the order. The statutory trigger is any criminal offense rather than a fixed list, though who may petition in the first place is still limited to the four categories in DC Code 16-1003. The 2-year maximum CPO duration means petitioners generally do not need to return to court as often as a shorter-term order would require. Courts can extend CPOs further on motion if the threat continues.

Firearms and a DC protective order

Both the TPO and the final CPO carry firearm consequences that take effect immediately upon issuance.

Under DC Code 16-1004(h)(2), every TPO must require the respondent to relinquish all firearms and ammunition and prohibits the respondent from acquiring new firearms or ammunition while the order is in effect; this surrender is mandatory, not something the court decides case by case. For the final CPO, DC Code 16-1005(c)(10) makes firearm relinquishment discretionary, so petitioners should ask for it explicitly in the petition, and the court routinely includes it where there is any indication that firearms were present during the incident.

The federal prohibition applies independently of whatever the state order says. Under 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(8), any person subject to a qualifying final protective order issued after notice and a hearing is prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition anywhere in the United States. That federal bar does not attach to a TPO: 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(8)(A) requires an order "issued after a hearing of which such person received actual notice, and at which such person had an opportunity to participate," and a DC TPO is issued without notice to the respondent under DC Code 16-1004(b). At the temporary stage, the firearm surrender comes from DC law alone.

Respondents who possess firearms while subject to a qualifying order face both DC criminal exposure and federal felony charges. If you are the petitioner and the respondent has not surrendered firearms as ordered, you can report non-compliance to the Domestic Violence Unit of the Metropolitan Police Department.

What happens if someone violates the order?

Violating a CPO or TPO in DC is a criminal matter. A violation can be prosecuted as criminal contempt of court under DC Code 16-1005(f) or as a separate misdemeanor offense under DC Code 16-1005(g). Either way the penalty is a fine and/or imprisonment for up to 180 days.

Warrantless arrest in DC turns on the underlying conduct, not on the existence of the order by itself. DC Code 16-1031(a) requires a law enforcement officer to arrest a person the officer has probable cause to believe committed an intrafamily offense that resulted in physical injury, or that caused or was intended to cause reasonable fear of imminent serious physical injury or death, whether or not the offense happened in the officer's presence, and DC Code 23-581(a-1) gives the officer that arrest power without a warrant. Where the conduct does not meet that description, DC Code 23-581(a)(1)(B) allows a warrantless misdemeanor arrest only for an offense committed in the officer's presence. Report the violation to police either way: the report supports a contempt motion or a criminal charge even when an immediate arrest is not available.

If a violation involves physical assault, threats with a weapon, or other aggravated conduct, prosecutors can charge the underlying offense separately on top of the contempt or misdemeanor violation charge, which substantially increases potential penalties.

If the respondent violates your order, call 911 first if you are in immediate danger. Then make a report to the Domestic Violence Unit and document the violation as specifically as you can, including the date, time, what was said or done, and any witnesses or evidence. Courts take violations seriously, and a documented pattern of violations can support a motion to extend or strengthen the order. With that record in hand, ask a DC family lawyer for a free case evaluation on a motion to extend or strengthen the order (attorney advertising).

This article is general legal information, not legal advice, and it is not a safety plan. Protective-order rules vary by state and change. If you are in danger, call 911. For help with your specific situation, contact your local court's self-help center, a domestic-violence advocate, or a licensed attorney.

For a full comparison of how DC's CPO stacks up against other jurisdictions, see the restraining order laws by state hub. You may also find the DC recording law page helpful if you are documenting harassment for evidence purposes: see DC recording laws.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a restraining order in DC?

You file a Civil Protection Order (CPO) petition at the DC Superior Court, Domestic Violence Division, 500 Indiana Avenue NW. Court intake staff will help you complete the forms at no cost. A judge can issue a Temporary Protection Order the same day if there is good cause. The Office of the Attorney General may also provide free legal representation to petitioners.

How long does a restraining order last in DC?

A Temporary Protection Order (TPO) lasts up to 14 days. Under DC Code 16-1004(e)(2) the court can extend it in 14-day increments, in increments of up to 28 days for good cause, or for a longer period with the consent of both parties, as needed to complete service and hold the hearing. A final Civil Protection Order (CPO) lasts up to 2 years, and the court can extend it further on motion before it expires. A stalking victim without a qualifying relationship instead gets an Anti-Stalking Order, which follows a similar structure: a temporary order up to 14 days, and a final order up to 2 years.

How much does a restraining order cost in DC?

Filing a domestic-violence CPO is free. Federal law (VAWA) prohibits courts from charging filing or service fees for domestic-violence protective orders. DC goes further by offering free legal representation through the Office of the Attorney General's Victim Services Unit.

Can I get a restraining order without a police report?

Yes. You do not need a prior police report to file a CPO petition in DC. The court evaluates your petition based on the sworn statements and evidence you provide. Many petitioners have no police report at the time they file. Documented evidence such as text messages, photos, or witness statements is helpful but not required to get a TPO.

Does a restraining order take away gun rights in DC?

Yes. The TPO automatically requires the respondent to surrender all firearms and ammunition immediately (DC Code 16-1004(h)(2)); for the final CPO, firearm surrender is at the court's discretion under 16-1005(c)(10). Federal law (18 U.S.C. 922(g)(8)) also prohibits a person subject to a qualifying final protective order from possessing any firearm or ammunition anywhere in the country. Violations of the firearm ban are a federal felony.

What happens if the abuser violates the order?

Call 911 if you are in immediate danger. Violating a CPO or TPO is punishable by a fine and up to 180 days in jail, either as criminal contempt under DC Code 16-1005(f) or as a misdemeanor under DC Code 16-1005(g). Police can arrest without a warrant where the conduct is an intrafamily offense described in DC Code 16-1031(a); otherwise DC Code 23-581(a)(1)(B) limits warrantless misdemeanor arrest to offenses committed in the officer's presence. Document the violation (date, time, what occurred) and report it to the Domestic Violence Unit. Courts can extend or strengthen an order based on documented violations.

What is the difference between a restraining order and a Civil Protection Order in DC?

In DC, the formal name for what most people call a restraining order is a Civil Protection Order (CPO). The emergency version issued without notifying the other party is a Temporary Protection Order (TPO). Both are issued by the DC Superior Court under DC Code 16-1001 et seq. A stalking victim without a qualifying relationship to the stalker instead petitions for a separate Anti-Stalking Order under DC Code 16-1061 et seq. These terms are used interchangeably with 'restraining order' in everyday conversation, but DC courts and statutes use the formal names.