District of Columbia Resident Agent Service

Why District of Columbia requires a resident agent

In the District of Columbia, the hub for all entity types is DC Code Title 29 ch. 1, which requires each domestic filing entity, each domestic LLP and each registered foreign entity to keep a resident agent in the District. You can use a noncommercial resident agent, meaning an individual or entity that serves in the District, an individual named by office or position within your own entity, or a member of the DC Bar who has a DC office, or you can use a commercial resident agent. Every required address must be a District street address (sec. 29-104.03). D.C. Code sec. 29-101.02(28); sec. 29-104.02; sec. 29-104.03

What happens if you lapse

• A domestic filing entity that has gone 60 days with no resident agent in the District can be dissolved administratively: the Mayor sends notice and dissolves the entity if the problem is not fixed within 60 days. D.C. Code sec. 29-106.01(3); sec. 29-106.02(b)
• The Mayor may end a registered foreign entity's registration if it has no resident agent, or if the agent's name or address changes and 30 days pass without a statement of change. D.C. Code sec. 29-105.11(a)(3)-(4)
• Not designating and keeping a resident agent is a civil-fine offense on its own, with the amounts set by Mayor's rules under Title 2 rather than in Title 29. D.C. Code sec. 29-101.06(a)(5)
• Reinstatement after administrative dissolution requires paying every fee and penalty owed at dissolution plus all those that would have accrued while the entity was dissolved, amounts set administratively and not in the statute. D.C. Code sec. 29-106.03(b)
• A foreign entity doing business in the District after its registration lapses, including a termination for failing to keep a resident agent, cannot keep up an action or proceeding there until it registers. D.C. Code sec. 29-105.02(b)

Switching to us

We prepare and file the change of resident agent for you. District of Columbia charges $50 for an LLC DLCP Corporations Division Fees - Limited Liability Company, row... and $50 for a corporation DLCP Corporations Division Fees - Business Corporation, row 'Domestic....

Official District of Columbia links

• District of Columbia Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs - (202) 671-4500
• Business entity search
• Forms
• Annual report filing

Frequently asked

Do I need a resident agent in District of Columbia?

Almost every state does, and the District of Columbia rule is set out above with its citation. Where the law leaves a choice, a resident agent is still the practical way to make sure service of process reaches you.

How much does District of Columbia resident agent service cost?

$129 a year, with no setup fee, the same price in all 50 states plus DC, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Service of process is received and scanned the same business day.

Can I switch my District of Columbia resident agent to ResidentAgents.com?

Yes. Order online and we prepare the change of agent filing for you; the state's filing fee is shown on this page.