An applicant who is a bona fide resident of the District at the time of application may claim a hiring preference over a non-resident for DC government employment in the Career Service or as an attorney in the Excepted Service.
An employee who applies for a competitive promotion in the Career Service, and who is a bona fide resident of the District, may claim a residency preference at the time of application by completing the Residency Preference Employment Application and submitting it with the employment application. The Residency Preference Form is now included in the DC 2000 Employment Application.
A bona fide District resident who does not claim a residency preference at the time of application, if found to be qualified, will be rated and ranked but will not receive any preference in the appointment. If selected, the individual is not required to maintain District residency.
Career Service employers will add five points to the rating and ranking score of each qualified applicant who claims a hiring preference upon application.
Career Service supervisors will add five points to the rating and ranking score of each employee who claims or is entitled to preference upon application for a competitive promotion, only when there is at least one qualified outside applicant for the position who claims a hiring preference. These points will not be added on promotional examinations (e.g., police officers, fire fighters, and correctional officers).
Employers and supervisors select preference candidates, including those who do not receive preference points, ahead of equally qualified non-preference candidates.
A person who claims a residency preference and is selected for a position must agree in writing, no later than the date of appointment, to maintain residency for a period of five consecutive years from the effective date of his or her appointment. Failure to maintain bona fide District residency will result in forfeiture of employment.
The requirement to maintain bona fide District residency is applicable only to applicants and employees who claim a residency preference and are selected for a position in the Career Service or for an attorney position in the Excepted Service on or after March 16, 1989.
Any person who was employed by the DC government on December 31, 1979, and who is still employed by the DC government without having had a break in service of one workday or more since that date will be granted a residency preference upon application for a competitive promotion in the Career Service, if at least one qualified applicant for the position has claimed a residency preference. If selected, the employee is not required to establish or maintain District residency. This includes any former employee of the US Department of Health and Human Services at St. Elizabeth's Hospital who accepted employment with the District government without a break in service effective October 1, 1987, pursuant to the provisions of Public Law 98-621.
An employee who is under a five-year residency requirement and who claims a residency preference in applying for a competitive promotion in the Career Service, and is selected, will be required to begin a new five-year residency requirement effective with the date of the new appointment.
