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Sponsored byJaneese Lewis George
Last updated Oct 26, 2026 · DC · Source: LegiScan ↗
This bill temporarily amends the Block Party Act of 2012 to create a definition for 'Porchfest' and explicitly allow DC residents to apply for block party permits to close a street for a neighborhood music festival where musicians perform on private porches or yards with no admission fee. It also establishes that it is the policy of the District to approve block parties, including porchfests.
1 ___________________________1 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George2 3 4 5 A BILL6 7 ___________8 9 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA10 _______________11 12 13 To amend, on a temporary basis, the Block Party Act of 2012 to enable residents hosting a14 musical performance on their property as part of a porchfest to apply for block party15 permits.16 17 BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this18 act may be cited as the “Porchfest Permitting Temporary Amendment Act of 2026”.19 Sec. 2. The Block Party Act of 2012, effective October 23, 2012 (D.C. Law 19-190; D.C.20 Official Code § 9-631 et seq.), is amended as follows:21 (a) Section 2 (D.C. Official Code § 9-631) is amended by adding a new paragraph (5) to22 read as follows:23 “(5) “Porchfest” means a distributed neighborhood music festival where24 musicians perform on a resident’s private property, such as their porch or yard, or any abutting25 public property, and no fee is charged to participants or attendees.”.26 (b) Section 3 (D.C. Official Code § 9-632) is amended by adding a new subsection (b-1)27 to read as follows:28 “(b-1) A District resident may submit a block party application requesting that a street on29 which they reside be closed for the purpose of holding a porchfest.”.30 (c) Section 5(a) (D.C. Official Code § 9-634(a)) is amended to read as follows:31 2 “(a) It is the policy of the District to approve block parties, including porchfests.”.32 Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement.33 The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement of the Budget Director as the fiscal impact34 statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved35 October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a).36 Sec. 4. Effective date.37 (a) This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by38 the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of Congressional review39 as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December40 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)).41 (b) This act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.42
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