Section 42-903 - Resident agent required for care and maintenance of vacant property owned by nonresidents(a) Any person who is the owner of vacant property in the District of Columbia and who is not a resident of the District of Columbia must appoint or employ an agent who is a resident of the District of Columbia. This person shall be authorized by the owner and shall be responsible for the care and maintenance of the property. The owner shall notify the Director of the Department of Finance and Revenue of the appointment of the agent and of any change in the agent or in the address of the agent. Any owner of vacant property in the District of Columbia found to be in violation of this section shall be subject to a penalty of $300.(b)(1) A person or entity that is the nonresident owner of one or more rental units shall appoint and continuously maintain a registered agent for the service of process. The appointment shall be made by filing a statement with the Mayor. The registered agent shall be an individual who is a resident of the District of Columbia or an organization incorporated in the District of Columbia. If the owner changes the registered agent, or if the name or address or any other information about the registered agent changes after the statement is filed with the Mayor, the nonresident owner shall file a statement notifying the Mayor of the change.(2) The Mayor shall serve as the registered agent for the nonresident owner if a registered agent is not appointed under paragraph (1) of this subsection or if the individual or organization named ceases to serve as the resident agent and no successor is appointed.(3) The Mayor shall impose a reasonable fee to cover the cost of administering this section.(c) For purposes of this section, the term "rental unit" shall have the same meaning as set forth in § 42-3501.03(33).(d) A nonresident owner of one or more rental units in the District of Columbia in violation of this section shall be subject to a penalty of $300.(e) Any fees and penalties collected under this section shall be deposited in the fund established by § 42-3131.01(b)(1).Mar. 10, 1983, D.C. Law 4-205, § 5, 30 DCR 188; Apr. 27, 2001, D.C. Law 13-281, § 106, 48 DCR 1888.