District of Columbia Telemarketing and Cold Calling Laws
In District of Columbia, sales calls are allowed 8 a.m.–9 p.m., the National Do Not Call Registry applies, and recording a call needs one party’s consent.
District of Columbia rules next to federal law
| Rule | District of Columbia | Federal baseline |
|---|---|---|
| Calling hours | Telephone solicitors may not call a consumer's residence before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. local time, the same window as federal law; no Sunday or holiday ban.D.C. Code § 22-3226.08(3) | Telephone solicitations only between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. in the called person’s local time.47 C.F.R. § 64.1200(c)(1) |
| State do-not-call list | Relies on the National Do Not Call Registry | No telephone solicitations to residential or wireless numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry, subject to the rule’s exemptions such as an established business relationship.47 C.F.R. § 64.1200(c)(2) |
| Autodialer and consent | Using an automated dialing system with a prerecorded or synthesized message to solicit the purchase or lease of consumer goods, services, or real property is banned, unless the caller has a preexisting business relationship and the call concerns goods or services already ordered or purchased (or it is a government emergency call); such systems must release the line within 10 seconds of hang-up.D.C. Code § 34-1701 | Autodialed or prerecorded telemarketing calls to wireless numbers need the called person’s prior express written consent.47 C.F.R. § 64.1200(a)(2) |
| Telemarketer registration | Telephone solicitors must obtain an annual certificate of registration from the Mayor (applying at least 60 business days before selling) and post a $50,000 surety bond or equivalent security; the definition excludes calls in which no payment is accepted during the call, calls to existing customers, and responses to consumer requests, and there are exemptions for charities, licensed brokers, insurers, banks, and others.D.C. Code §§ 22-3226.01(8), 22-3226.02, 22-3226.03, 22-3226.05 | No general federal equivalent |
| Call recording consent | Recording a phone call is lawful if you are a party to it or one party has given prior consent, unless it is done to commit a crime, tort, or other injurious act.D.C. Code § 23-542(b)(3) | Federal law allows recording when one party to the call consents.18 U.S.C. § 2511(2)(d) |
| Business-to-business calls | No express business-to-business exemption: "consumer" means any person who is or may be required to pay for goods or services. In practice, the registration and telemarketing rules reach only callers who accept payment during the call, and the prerecorded-dialer ban covers solicitations for consumer goods, services, or real property.D.C. Code §§ 22-3226.01(3), (8); 34-1701(a)(2) | No general federal equivalent |
Calling District of Columbia from a sales team
- Schedule call blocks in the prospect’s local time, not the rep’s.
- Check numbers against the National Do Not Call Registry before each campaign, and honor opt-outs right away.
- If a call may cross into an all-party state, announce the recording anyway.
Trellus dials from the CRM list your reps already work, with each call logged back to the record. See the power and parallel dialer.
District of Columbia calling questions
What are the legal calling hours in District of Columbia?
Telephone solicitors may not call a consumer's residence before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. local time, the same window as federal law; no Sunday or holiday ban. (D.C. Code § 22-3226.08(3)). Federal law also limits telephone solicitations to 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time.
Does District of Columbia have its own do-not-call list?
Relies on the National Do Not Call Registry
Is District of Columbia a one-party or all-party consent state for recording calls?
Recording a phone call is lawful if you are a party to it or one party has given prior consent, unless it is done to commit a crime, tort, or other injurious act. (D.C. Code § 23-542(b)(3))
Do District of Columbia telemarketing rules apply to business-to-business calls?
No express business-to-business exemption: "consumer" means any person who is or may be required to pay for goods or services. In practice, the registration and telemarketing rules reach only callers who accept payment during the call, and the prerecorded-dialer ban covers solicitations for consumer goods, services, or real property. (D.C. Code §§ 22-3226.01(3), (8); 34-1701(a)(2))
Do telemarketers need to register in District of Columbia?
Telephone solicitors must obtain an annual certificate of registration from the Mayor (applying at least 60 business days before selling) and post a $50,000 surety bond or equivalent security; the definition excludes calls in which no payment is accepted during the call, calls to existing customers, and responses to consumer requests, and there are exemptions for charities, licensed brokers, insurers, banks, and others. (D.C. Code §§ 22-3226.01(8), 22-3226.02, 22-3226.03, 22-3226.05)
This page summarizes District of Columbia and federal rules for general information. It is not legal advice, rules change, and exemptions depend on the facts of your calls. Read the cited sources or ask counsel before relying on it.