Is It Legal to Grow Cannabis at Home in Washington, D.C.? (2026 Rules)

Jurisdiction: District of Columbia  |  Last verified: September 4, 2026  |  Program: Adult personal cultivation

Quick answer: Yes. A person age 21 or older may grow up to six cannabis plants inside the house or rental unit that is their principal residence. No more than three may be mature and flowering. A shared residence may have no more than 12 plants total, including no more than six mature, flowering plants.

Washington, D.C. home-grow rules in plain language

• Minimum age: 21.
• Per-person limit: six plants, with no more than three mature and flowering.
• Residence limit: 12 plants total, with no more than six mature and flowering, no matter how many adults live there.
• Location: inside the house or rental unit that is the grower’s principal residence.
• Registration: D.C.’s adult personal-cultivation provision does not require an adult-use grow registration.
• No sales: homegrown cannabis and plants cannot be sold or offered for sale.
• Property rules: an owner, occupant or manager may prohibit or regulate cultivation on the property.

How the plant limits work

The six-plant allowance is not six mature plants. At most three of one person’s plants may be mature and flowering. In a home with multiple adults, the household ceiling controls: no more than 12 plants total and no more than six mature, flowering plants.

Count the whole residence before adding a plant. A roommate’s plants count toward the same household cap even when each person keeps a separate grow area.

Where the grow may be located

The statute limits adult personal cultivation to the interior of the grower’s principal residence. A second home, detached off-site workspace or another person’s residence does not fit that wording. Renters should also read the lease and obtain clear permission when the property’s rules prohibit or regulate cultivation.

D.C. includes substantial federal property. District law does not change federal restrictions, so do not assume that an activity permitted under D.C. law is permitted on federal property or in federally controlled housing.

Before you start

1. Confirm the address. Use only the interior of your principal residence.
2. Check the property rules. Review the lease, condominium rules or owner restrictions before building a grow space.
3. Count every plant. Stay within both the total-plant and mature-flowering limits for the entire residence.
4. Keep the project private. Restrict access, especially for children, guests and anyone under 21.
5. Do not sell the harvest. Personal cultivation does not create a retail or commercial right.

Official District of Columbia sources

• D.C. Code § 48-904.01
• D.C. Office of the Attorney General: Initiative 71 FAQ

Ready to learn the cultivation side?

After confirming that the residence and property rules allow the grow, use the HWGrow complete beginner guide for a practical seed-to-harvest workflow.

Compare Washington, D.C. with the HWGrow U.S. cannabis home-grow law guide.

Washington, D.C. home-grow FAQ

How many cannabis plants may one adult grow in Washington, D.C.?

An adult age 21 or older may grow up to six plants inside their principal residence, with no more than three mature and flowering.

Can two adults grow 12 plants in the same D.C. home?

Yes. The shared residence may have up to 12 plants total, but no more than six may be mature and flowering.

Can a renter grow cannabis in Washington, D.C.?

D.C. law allows cultivation inside a principal rental unit, but the property owner or manager may prohibit or regulate cultivation. Check the lease and property rules first.