D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) on Tuesday submitted a plan to the D.C. Council detailing her plan to split up the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) into two separate agencies — marking the first step of a transition that the city’s legislative branch has long pushed for despite Bowser’s opposition.

       Wp Get the full experience.Choose your plan ArrowRight

       The council voted unanimously last year to separate the agency — which is tasked with enforcing code compliance, regulating construction and issuing construction permits, among other responsibilities — in hopes of shoring up its services in the face of years of criticism from residents, businesses and the council.

       The bill, introduced by D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D), proposed moving responsibilities like construction compliance, issuing permits and residential property maintenance activities to a new Department of Buildings, while redesignating the remaining portion of the DCRA as the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection.

       Advertisement

       Story continues below advertisement

       Bowser vetoed the measure in January, explaining at the time that the move would be costly and hinder some of the agency’s attempts to address shortcomings, but the council argued that those changes weren’t happening quickly enough and overrode her veto in February. A provision to authorize the split was included in the fiscal 2022 budget.

       This week, as first reported by DCist, Bowser sent the council a required transition plan and organizational chart for the two new entities with a proposed deadline of Oct. 1 to complete the overhaul. Bowser noted that the submitted plan was an initial draft. It could change, and she will eventually need to include additional components like a communications strategy and business process analysis.

       A December 2020 council committee report on the bill charged that the DCRA was “not logically structured,” and that its current organization and duties have led to “substandard performance in two areas of particular concern to both the Committee and the public: housing code enforcement and illegal construction enforcement.”

       Advertisement

       Story continues below advertisement

       Bowser’s proposal acts on some of the recommendations from the report, like creating an Office of Residential Inspection within the buildings department that would handle rental housing inspections and issues pertaining to vacant and blighted properties.

       The committee report notes that right now, vacant and blighted building enforcement falls under the DCRA’s chief building official, who is also tasked with overseeing permits, inspections and property maintenance.

       Bowser is required to submit quarterly updates on the progress of the transition plan. The next update is scheduled for January.