DDA Construction installs, repairs and maintains doors and windows in Washington, DC, including specialty systems such as lift-and-slide, multi-slide and pivot doors, and provides remodeling and painting. In DC, building permits come from the Department of Buildings, and historic properties need Historic Preservation Office clearance for permitted exterior work such as window replacement.
| Permit office | DC Department of Buildings (DOB) |
|---|---|
| Historic properties | HPO clearance is part of the building permit |
| Window replacement | Listed among work that needs a permit on historic property |
| Common house type | Brick rowhouse |
Historic districts
Large parts of the city are historic districts or landmarks. The DC Office of Planning explains that historic preservation review is needed when a building permit is required for work affecting the exterior appearance of a historic property, and there is no separate preservation permit: HPO clearance of the building permit is the approval. Its guidance lists window replacement among the work that needs a permit. Front facades usually get the closest look; rear walls often have more flexibility.
Working in rowhouses
Rowhouse projects bring narrow access, shared walls and deliveries through the front door. Large glass panels for a rear wall have to be planned for how they reach the back. A rear addition or a new opening to the garden is where multi-slide, bi-fold and lift-and-slide doors fit best.
What we do in DC
Specialty doors and windows, repair and maintenance, new openings to the rear, remodeling and painting. DC home improvement contractors operate under a DC basic business license, so ask any contractor for theirs.
Towns and neighborhoods we serve
- Northwest
- Georgetown
- Capitol Hill
- Chevy Chase DC
- Cleveland Park
- Petworth
- Brookland
- Navy Yard
- Shaw
- Logan Circle
Questions
Do I need a permit to replace windows in a DC historic district?
Window replacement on historic property is listed among work that needs a building permit, with Historic Preservation Office clearance as part of it.
Can I put a large glass door on the back of my rowhouse?
Often yes. Rear walls usually have more flexibility than street facades, but check whether your property is historic and plan delivery access for large panels.
Do you work across all of DC?
Yes, including Northwest, Georgetown, Capitol Hill, Chevy Chase DC, Cleveland Park, Petworth and Brookland.
Sources
Written and reviewed by DDA Construction · Updated September 2026