Washington, DC lesson 2 of 6
Appoint your DC registered agent
Every DC LLC must maintain a registered agent with a physical address in the District to receive service of process and official DLCP notices.
Who can act
DC distinguishes between commercial registered agents, which are listed with DLCP and can act for many companies, and non-commercial registered agents, which include individuals who live in DC and entities with a DC office. Either way there must be a physical District street address. A PO box is not sufficient.
- The agent's DC address is on the public record
- The LLC cannot act as its own registered agent
- Commercial agents are the practical option for owners based outside DC
Keeping it current
Changes of agent or address are filed with DLCP. Because DC also uses this address for licence and tax correspondence, a stale agent record does not just risk a missed lawsuit, it risks missed licence renewal notices too.
If your registered agent lapses, DLCP can revoke the LLC's registration, which then blocks licence renewals and good standing certificates.
Key takeaways
- A physical DC street address is required; PO boxes are not accepted.
- DC separates commercial and non-commercial registered agents.
- A lapsed agent can trigger revocation of the registration.
Official sources
Or let us file your Washington, DC LLC for you
Everything above is yours to use for free. If you would rather hand it over, we prepare and file the Articles of Organization for a Domestic Limited Liability Company (Form DLC-1), act as your registered agent, and track your ongoing deadlines.
Last reviewed: September 2026 - reviewed by Gullia Filing Legal & Formation Team