CHAPTER 33 - DC REAL ESTATE
LICENSING LAWS AND REGULATIONS
2026 A+ EXAM GUIDE WITH
AUTHENTIC ANSWERS, COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS, AND A SUREFIRE PATH
TO SUCCESS
Law - Answer
✔✔ Law is the body of rules and principles that every member of society must
follow. It is a collection of norms and rules that allow, mandate, or forbid conduct
by both individuals and organizations.
The system is designed to promote safety, fairness, equality, and the general well-
being of all its members. Without laws, society would be in chaos, and anarchy
would prevail. For this reason, society has created a complex set of laws to guide
personal and business conduct. It is rare for everyone to agree on all social issues.
Laws are not always constant. Over time, certain laws have been proposed,
accepted, and then challenged. Fair and equitable laws generally stand the test of
time. Laws often follow the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them
do unto you." In real estate, the practice changes as new laws are passed, covering
areas like lending practices, homesteads, landlords and tenants, estates, community
property, and more.
✔✔
Codify -ANSWER✔✔means to compile, arrange, systemize, and write the laws of
a given region into a code. Laws are codified when they are recorded, uniform, and
consistent.
The Code of Hammurabi is one of the first examples of codified law. Hammurabi
was the sixth king of Babylon and was born in 1810 B.C. What set Hammurabi
,apart from other rulers was that he codified a set of laws that he published on a
stone monolith (stela) for everyone to see.
The code covered such items as theft, property damage, murder, injury, and
punishments. The importance of the Hammurabic Code is that after inscribing the
law on the stela, it became absolute and permanent, giving rise to the phrase
"written in stone."
Civil law -ANSWER✔✔is the body of law imposed by the state or government for
its citizens.
Code of the District of Columbia -ANSWER✔✔is the codification of the general
and permanent laws relating to the District of Columbia. [DC Code §1-101 through
§51-178].
Of interest to real estate licensees are Title 42 - Real Property, Title 47 - Taxation,
and Title 6 - Housing and Building Regulations and Restrictions.
District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (DCMR) -ANSWER✔✔is the
publication and compilation of the current regulations.
Of interest to real estate licensees are Title 17, Chapters 26 (Real Estate Licenses)
and 27 (Real Estate Practice and Hearings).
District of Columbia Register (DCR) -ANSWER✔✔gives brief information of
actions of the Council of the District of Columbia (such as resolutions and notices
of council hearings) and actions of the executive branch and independent agencies
(such as proposed and emergency rulemaking).
,4 Sources of Law -ANSWER✔✔(1) constitutional law,
(2) statutory law,
(3) administrative law, and
(4) common law
Constitutional law -ANSWER✔✔consists of a body of rules created by federal and
state constitutions.
The prime example of constitutional law is the United States Constitution, which is
one of the most respected and honored documents ever written.
The Bill of Rights in 1789 ratified the U.S. Constitution with the support of the
original thirteen states. The Bill of Rights is the name given to the first ten
amendments made to the original Constitution.
The Constitution is the supreme law of the land and has experienced many changes
over the nation's history. Changes to the Constitution itself take place by an
amendment ratified by two-thirds of each house of Congress and then approved by
three-fourths of the state legislatures.
The Constitution sets forth the three principal branches of the federal government,
outlines its jurisdictions, and expresses the basic rights of U.S. citizens. The
powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution are reserved to the
states. The United States Constitution is the standard against which all other laws
must be judged.
The Constitution consists of a preamble, seven original articles, and twenty-seven
amendments. Some of these amendments are of importance to property ownership.
, Amendments Pertinent to Real Estate -ANSWER✔✔The First Amendment
addresses the freedom of speech and of the press. This guarantees the right to
advertise property for sale and place for sale signs on property.
The Third Amendment prohibits the government from using private homes as
quarters for soldiers without the consent of the owners.
The Fourth Amendment prohibits the seizure of property without due process of
law.
The Fifth Amendment prohibits the government from taking private property for
public use without just compensation. It serves as the basis for eminent domain in
the United States.
The Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery and makes discrimination on the
grounds of race, color, or creed unconstitutional.
The Fourteenth Amendment provides for equal protection of the law and is the
basis for antidiscrimination laws.
Statutory law / black letter law -ANSWER✔✔is written law enacted by federal and
state legislative bodies
meaning the words committed to paper that govern
statute -ANSWER✔✔is a law passed by a legislature.
LICENSING LAWS AND REGULATIONS
2026 A+ EXAM GUIDE WITH
AUTHENTIC ANSWERS, COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS, AND A SUREFIRE PATH
TO SUCCESS
Law - Answer
✔✔ Law is the body of rules and principles that every member of society must
follow. It is a collection of norms and rules that allow, mandate, or forbid conduct
by both individuals and organizations.
The system is designed to promote safety, fairness, equality, and the general well-
being of all its members. Without laws, society would be in chaos, and anarchy
would prevail. For this reason, society has created a complex set of laws to guide
personal and business conduct. It is rare for everyone to agree on all social issues.
Laws are not always constant. Over time, certain laws have been proposed,
accepted, and then challenged. Fair and equitable laws generally stand the test of
time. Laws often follow the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them
do unto you." In real estate, the practice changes as new laws are passed, covering
areas like lending practices, homesteads, landlords and tenants, estates, community
property, and more.
✔✔
Codify -ANSWER✔✔means to compile, arrange, systemize, and write the laws of
a given region into a code. Laws are codified when they are recorded, uniform, and
consistent.
The Code of Hammurabi is one of the first examples of codified law. Hammurabi
was the sixth king of Babylon and was born in 1810 B.C. What set Hammurabi
,apart from other rulers was that he codified a set of laws that he published on a
stone monolith (stela) for everyone to see.
The code covered such items as theft, property damage, murder, injury, and
punishments. The importance of the Hammurabic Code is that after inscribing the
law on the stela, it became absolute and permanent, giving rise to the phrase
"written in stone."
Civil law -ANSWER✔✔is the body of law imposed by the state or government for
its citizens.
Code of the District of Columbia -ANSWER✔✔is the codification of the general
and permanent laws relating to the District of Columbia. [DC Code §1-101 through
§51-178].
Of interest to real estate licensees are Title 42 - Real Property, Title 47 - Taxation,
and Title 6 - Housing and Building Regulations and Restrictions.
District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (DCMR) -ANSWER✔✔is the
publication and compilation of the current regulations.
Of interest to real estate licensees are Title 17, Chapters 26 (Real Estate Licenses)
and 27 (Real Estate Practice and Hearings).
District of Columbia Register (DCR) -ANSWER✔✔gives brief information of
actions of the Council of the District of Columbia (such as resolutions and notices
of council hearings) and actions of the executive branch and independent agencies
(such as proposed and emergency rulemaking).
,4 Sources of Law -ANSWER✔✔(1) constitutional law,
(2) statutory law,
(3) administrative law, and
(4) common law
Constitutional law -ANSWER✔✔consists of a body of rules created by federal and
state constitutions.
The prime example of constitutional law is the United States Constitution, which is
one of the most respected and honored documents ever written.
The Bill of Rights in 1789 ratified the U.S. Constitution with the support of the
original thirteen states. The Bill of Rights is the name given to the first ten
amendments made to the original Constitution.
The Constitution is the supreme law of the land and has experienced many changes
over the nation's history. Changes to the Constitution itself take place by an
amendment ratified by two-thirds of each house of Congress and then approved by
three-fourths of the state legislatures.
The Constitution sets forth the three principal branches of the federal government,
outlines its jurisdictions, and expresses the basic rights of U.S. citizens. The
powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution are reserved to the
states. The United States Constitution is the standard against which all other laws
must be judged.
The Constitution consists of a preamble, seven original articles, and twenty-seven
amendments. Some of these amendments are of importance to property ownership.
, Amendments Pertinent to Real Estate -ANSWER✔✔The First Amendment
addresses the freedom of speech and of the press. This guarantees the right to
advertise property for sale and place for sale signs on property.
The Third Amendment prohibits the government from using private homes as
quarters for soldiers without the consent of the owners.
The Fourth Amendment prohibits the seizure of property without due process of
law.
The Fifth Amendment prohibits the government from taking private property for
public use without just compensation. It serves as the basis for eminent domain in
the United States.
The Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery and makes discrimination on the
grounds of race, color, or creed unconstitutional.
The Fourteenth Amendment provides for equal protection of the law and is the
basis for antidiscrimination laws.
Statutory law / black letter law -ANSWER✔✔is written law enacted by federal and
state legislative bodies
meaning the words committed to paper that govern
statute -ANSWER✔✔is a law passed by a legislature.
