2026_DC_Living_Wage_Fact_Sheet_&Poster.pdf

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THE LIVING WAGE ACT OF 2006

D.C. Code §§ 2-220.01 – 2-220.11

Recipients of new contracts or government assistance shall pay affiliated employees and subcontractors who perform services under the contracts no less than the current living wage.

Effective January 1, 2026, until June 30, 2026, the living wage rate is $17.95 per hour.

Effective July 1, 2026, the District’s Minimum Wage and Living Wage will increase to $18.40.

The requirement to pay a living wage applies to:

▪ All recipients of contracts in the amount of $100,000 or more, and all subcontractors that receive

$15,000 or more from the funds received by the recipient from the District of Columbia, and

▪ All recipients of government assistance in the amount of $100,000 or more, and all subcontractors of these recipients that receive $50,000 or more from the government assistance received by the recipient from the District of Columbia.

“Contract” means a written agreement between a recipient and the District government.

“Government assistance” means a grant, loan, or tax increment financing that results in a financial benefit from an agency, commission, instrumentality, or other entity of the District government.

“Affiliated employee” means any individual employed by a recipient who received compensation directly from government assistance or a contract with the District of Columbia government, including employees of the District of Columbia, any employee of a contractor or subcontractor of a recipient who performs services pursuant to government assistance or contract. The term “affiliated employee” does not include those individuals who perform only intermittent or incidental services with respect to the contract or government assistance or who are otherwise employed by the contractor, recipient, or subcontractor.

Certain exemptions apply: 1) Contracts or agreements subject to wage determinations required by federal law which are higher than the wage required by this Act; 2) Existing and future collective bargaining agreements, provided that the future agreement results in employees being paid no less than the current living wage; 3) contracts for electricity, telephone, water , sewer performed by regulated utilities; 4) contracts for services needed immediately to prevent or respond to a disaster or imminent threat declared by the Mayor; 5) contracts awarded to recipients that provide trainees with services, including, but not limited to, case management and job readiness services, provided the trainee does not replace employees; 6) employees under 22 years of age employed during a school vacation period, or enrolled as a full-time student who works less than 25 hours per week; 7) tenants or retail establishments that occupy property constructed or improved by government assistance, provided there is no receipt of direct District government assistance; 8) employees of nonprofit organizations that employ not more than 50 individuals and qualify for 501(c)(3) status; 9) Medicaid provider agreements for direct care services to

Medicaid recipients, provided that the direct care service is not provided through a home care agency, a community residence facility, or a group home for persons with intellectual disabilities as those terms are defined in section 2 of the Health-Care and Community Residence Facility, Hospice, and Home Care Licensure Act of

1983; D.C. Official Code § 44-501; and 10) contracts or agreements between managed care organizations and the

Health Care Safety Net Administration or the Medicaid Assistance Administration to provide health services.

Home Care Final Rule: The Department of Labor extended overtime protections to home care workers and workers who provide companionship services. Employers within this industry are now subject to recordkeeping provisions.

Each recipient and subcontractor of a recipient shall provide this notice to each affiliated employee covered by this notice and shall also post this notice in a conspicuous site in its place of business. All recipients and subcontractors shall retain payroll records created and maintained in the regular course of business under District of Columbia law for a period of at least 3 years.

To file a claim, visit: Department of Employment Services , Office of Wage-Hour, 400 Virginia Ave., SW, 4th Flr, Washington, D.C. 20024; call: (202) 671-1880; or file your claim on-line: does.dc.gov. Go to “File a Claim” tab.