Fishing License Fees are as follows:
- Purchase for District resident: $10.00 >>
- Purchase for non-resident: $13.00 >>
Fishing licenses are sold on a calendar year basis and are valid from the date of purchase until December 31 of that year. All sales are final. No refunds are issued.
Notice: Fishing Licenses Sold Online Only.
Effective January 1, 2022,14 Day Fishing Licenses will no longer be sold.
If you are under the age of 16 or age 65 and older, a license is not required to fish in the District.
Fishing License Notification Instructions:
An electronic copy of your fishing license will be sent to the email address that you have entered in this from. If you haven't received the electronic copy of your license, please check your JUNK/SPAM folder for an email from '[email protected]' with a subject of 'DOEE Customer Acknowledgement Email'. If you've checked your inbox and JUNK/SPAM folder and you can't locate your license, please reach out to DOEE's Headquarters via phone at 202-535-2260 or email the Fishing License Coordinator at [email protected].
Scientific Research Permit
A scientific research permit is required for the scientific collection of fish or other aquatic organisms from District waters.
- Nonprofit or Public Institution: no charge
- For-Profit Research Organization: $50.00
To obtain a scientific collection permit, contact Rese Cloyd at [email protected].
Licensing Requirements
Any person fishing in the waters of the District of Columbia, including Rock Creek Park and all other fishable waters within the District of Columbia, regardless of whether the person is fishing from the Virginia shoreline or from National Park lands, is required by law to possess a valid DC Fishing License.
The following persons shall be exempt from the requirement to have a license:
(a) Persons under sixteen (16) years of age;
(b) Persons sixty-five (65) years of age or older.
Licensed anglers must maintain a physical or electronic copy of their license on their person while fishing.
The full set of DC fishing regulations is available in the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations Chapter 19-15.
