B 26-0424

Statement of Introduction
  Porchfest Permitting Amendment Act of 2025
  October 7, 2025
Today, alongside Councilmembers Allen, Frumin, Bonds, and Nadeau, I am proud to introduce
the Porchfest Permitting Amendment Act of 2025. This legislation would make a simple but
meaningful change to the Block Party Act of 2012 to support community-based music events and
the residents who make them possible.
Porchfest events are volunteer-led neighborhood music festivals that take place on porches,
lawns, and front yards throughout the District—including in Petworth, which proudly hosts one
of the largest Porchfest celebrations in the city. These events bring neighbors together through
the joy of live music, strengthen community connections, and highlight local artists and
businesses. What makes Porchfest special is its accessibility: musicians perform for free,
residents volunteer their spaces, and the audience is made up of neighbors walking from one
porch to the next.
Under current law, however, residents who host a Porchfest performance can face unnecessary
barriers when applying for a block party permit. Some applicants have been denied because their
event was associated with Porchfest, even when the music occurred entirely on private property.
This bill clarifies that residents participating in a Porchfest or other distributed neighborhood
festival may apply for a block party permit, provided that performances take place on personal
property and no fees are charged to attendees. It also makes clear that the Department of
Transportation cannot deny a permit simply because multiple Porchfest applications are
submitted for the same day.
By updating the Block Party Act to recognize Porchfest as a permitted neighborhood event, this
legislation aligns District policy with the reality of how residents use these gatherings to build
community. It acknowledges that the same spirit of cooperation and creativity that makes a
traditional block party successful also defines Porchfest—just expressed through music rather
than food and games.
The Porchfest Permitting Amendment Act ensures that city regulations support, rather than
hinder, residents who invest their time and talent in bringing people together. It reaffirms the
District’s commitment to the arts, local musicians, and the community connections that make our
neighborhoods strong. I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this legislation
and to ensure that Porchfest events continue to thrive in every corner of the city.
1 ___________________________  _____________________________
2 Councilmember Charles Allen  Councilmember Janeese Lewis George
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5 _____________________________  _____________________________
6 Councilmember Matthew Frumin  Councilmember Anita Bonds
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10 _____________________________
11 Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau
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15A BILL
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21IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
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23__________________
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26 To amend the Block Party Act of 2012 to enable residents hosting a musical performance on
27their property as part of a Porchfest or other distributed musical festival to apply for
28block party permits.
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30BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
31 act may be cited as the “Porchfest Permitting Amendment Act of 2025”.
32Sec. 2. The Block Party Act of 2012, effective October 23, 2012 (D.C. Law 19-190, D.C.
33 Official Code § 9-631 et seq.), is amended as follows:
34(a) Section 2 (D.C. Official Code § 9-631) is amended by adding a new paragraph (5) to
35 read as follows:
36“(5) “Porchfest” means a distributed neighborhood music festival where
37 musicians perform on residents’ porches or yards.”.
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38(b) Section 3 (D.C. Official Code § 9-632) is amended by adding a new subsection (b-1)
39 to read as follows:
40 “(b-1) A District resident may submit a block party permit as part of a Porchfest or other
41 distributed neighborhood festival; provided, that the application meets the requirements of
42 subsection (b) of this section, section 5(b), and:
43“(1) Any musical activities take place on personal property, such as a porch or
44 lawn, and not in the street;
45“(2) No fee shall be charged to participants or attendees.”.
46(c) Section 5(a) (D.C. Official Code § 9-634(a)) is amended to read as follows:
47“(a) It is the policy of the District to approve block parties. The Department shall not
48 deny a block party application because it is part of a Porchfest or other distributed neighborhood
49 festival occurring on the same date.”.
50Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement.
51The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal
52 impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975,
53 approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a).
54Sec. 4. Effective date.
55This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the
56 Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto) and a 30-day period of congressional review
57 as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December
58 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)).
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