How to search and claim an LLC name in District of Columbia
- Search District of Columbia's official entity records at no cost, leaving “LLC” off the name.
- Make sure the name ends with one of District of Columbia's accepted endings, such as “Limited Liability Company” or “Limited Company”.
- Hold the name with a $50 reservation for 120 days if you need time before filing.
- File the Articles of Organization with the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (Corporations Division) for $99.
- Note the recurring report so the LLC stays in good standing: $300 every two years.
What a District of Columbia LLC name must include
District of Columbia accepts these endings for a limited liability company:
- Limited Liability Company
- Limited Company
- L.L.C.
- LLC
- L.C.
- LC
Approval comes first for financial words: “bank”, “banking”, “credit union” and “insurance”, and words like them, need the Mayor's prior approval in an LLC name. A name also can't copy or closely imitate the name of a U.S. or DC government department, agency or instrumentality (D.C. Code § 29-103.01(e), (f)). Professional LLCs end in “Professional Limited Liability Company”, “P.L.L.C.” or “PLLC”. Inside the endings, “Ltd.” may replace “Limited” and “Co.” may replace “company”.
How District of Columbia decides two names are the same
DC leaves out words that only show the entity type, like LLC, Inc. or Ltd., and then requires the name to be distinguishable from other entity names on the Mayor's records (D.C. Code § 29-103.01(a), (c)).
Where the rules are written. D.C. Code §§ 29-103.01 (distinguishability/restrictions), 29-103.02 (required words), 29-103.03 (reservation).
Searching for an LLC name in District of Columbia
Search DC entities in BOSS, the licensing department's online portal that took over from CorpOnline. Looking up registered businesses is free, and the results include trade names and report history; the portal is tied to Access DC accounts.
Open the official District of Columbia entity search
Leave the ending off when you search, so every version of the name shows up, then compare each result word by word. If one matches apart from spacing, punctuation or a plural, change a real word in your name.
Checked against 505,041 District of Columbia names. When District of Columbia is selected, the LLC name check also looks your name up in our copy of “Corporate Registration”, published by the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, Corporations Division and last updated October 7, 2026. Matches come back in three lists: the same words, longer names that open with yours, and names starting with the same two words. Each shows the entity's type, status and number. The state's own search is still the final word, since its records move ahead of our copy.
Holding the name: District of Columbia LLC name reservation
$50 holds an LLC name in DC for 120 days (D.C. Code § 29-103.03). Use BOSS online or file form GN-3; the same $50 applies if you later transfer the reservation.
File a District of Columbia name reservation
Forming the LLC in District of Columbia
A DC LLC comes into being when the Corporations Division files its Articles of Organization (form DLC-1). The fee is $99, and faster processing is available for an extra $50 (3 days) or $100 (1 day).
File the Articles of Organization online
Reports come every two years: a $300 biennial report (form BRA-25), due by April 1 of the year after the LLC registers and every second year after that, with a $100 penalty when late. No newspaper notice is required. A Certificate of Good Standing costs $50 through the online portal. Taxes administered by DC's Office of Tax and Revenue weren't part of this research, so check them separately.
When the LLC trades under another name
An LLC that wants another name registers it as a trade name with the Corporations Division: $55 for two years, renewed by April 1 every second year for another $55.
Sources
- Corporations 0, dlcp.dc.gov, checked 2026-10-07
- Corporations division fees limited liability company, dlcp.dc.gov, checked 2026-10-07
- Corporations division business registration faqs, dlcp.dc.gov, checked 2026-10-07
- code.dccouncil.gov, checked 2026-10-07
- code.dccouncil.gov, checked 2026-10-07
- code.dccouncil.gov, checked 2026-10-07
- Trade name, dlcp.dc.gov, checked 2026-10-07
These are the official pages behind every fact above. If one of them now says something different, it's right and this page is out of date.
A few were read from search results, not the page itself, because the site refused direct requests; treat the facts they back as provisional until the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (Corporations Division) confirms them.
Common questions
Can two LLCs in DC have the same name?
No. District of Columbia accepts a new LLC name only if it can be told apart from every name on its record. Adding or changing an ending such as “LLC” doesn't make a name different.
How long can I hold an LLC name in DC?
120 days, for $50.
Does a new DC LLC have to publish a notice?
No. District of Columbia has no newspaper publication requirement for LLCs.
How much is the DC LLC filing fee?
$99, paid when you file the Articles of Organization.