OAH is a court of “limited jurisdiction.” This means that OAH only has authority over a disputed issue if there is a law or agreement that specifically gives OAH authority over that issue.
In the area of civil fines, OAH has jurisdiction over contested cases involving many different D.C. enforcement agencies. These include the Department of Public Works (DPW), the Department of Buildings (DOB), the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), the Department of For-Hire Vehicles (DFHV), the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE), the Department of Transportation (DDOT), and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).
Typically, if you receive a notice or a ticket imposing a fine and requiring you to file a response with OAH, the notice or ticket will have instructions on how to respond. You can also click on the appropriate heading below for more information about the OAH process.