Is DC a one-party consent jurisdiction?
Yes. The District of Columbia is a one-party consent jurisdiction for recording calls, under D.C. Code § 23-542.
General information, not legal advice. Laws change and we can get things wrong, so check with a lawyer before relying on any of this. Citations checked October 2026. Spotted an error? Tell us.
Recording calls in the District of Columbia
The District of Columbia lets a call be recorded when one person on it agrees. The business is a party to every call its agent answers, so its own consent is generally enough under the statute.
§ 23-542(a) makes it a crime to willfully intercept a wire or oral communication. Under § 23-542(b)(3), a person may record a call they are a party to, or one where a party gave prior consent, unless the recording is made to commit a criminal, tortious or other injurious act.
Reporters Committee summary for District of ColumbiaDC is a one-party consent jurisdiction, so the penalty applies to recording a call you are not a party to when no party has consented, or recording to commit a criminal, tortious or injurious act (§ 23-542(b)(3)). A violation is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $12,500 (§§ 23-542(a), 22-3571.01(b)(6)). The person recorded can sue for actual damages of at least $100 a day of violation or $1,000, whichever is higher, plus punitive damages and attorney fees (§ 23-554).
General information, not legal advice. Citations checked October 2026. Ask a DC lawyer about your own calls.
Using an AI agent to answer your DC line
The District of Columbia only needs one party's consent, but a caller from California or Florida brings their state's stricter rule onto the call. So the agent opens every call by saying it is recorded.
“Thanks for calling. This is an AI assistant, and this call is recorded. How can I help?”
A Cartesia voice agent answers your business line, says this on every call, then takes messages or transfers the caller to your team.
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If the agent also calls out from the District of Columbia
An answering service mostly takes calls. Callbacks and reminders are outbound, and outbound calls follow the federal rules plus the District of Columbia's own.
Outbound calls that use an AI voice need the called party's prior express consent, unless the call is for an emergency or fits an FCC exemption. AI-voice calls that include telemarketing need prior express written consent. The FCC ruled in February 2024 (FCC 24-17) that an AI-generated voice is an artificial voice under the TCPA, so these calls must also identify the caller and, for telemarketing, offer a way to opt out.
47 U.S.C. § 227(b)(1)(B)47 C.F.R. § 64.1200(a)(2) and (a)(3)FCC ruling on AI voices, February 2024Federal rules allow telemarketing calls from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the called party's local time. Some states set a shorter window, listed below when they do.
16 C.F.R. § 310.4(c)DC bars telephone solicitations to a home before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., local time where the call is received. Callers may not let the phone ring more than 15 times, and they may not call someone again after that person says they do not want sales calls from that seller (§ 22-3226.08).
Statute textA telephone solicitor must get a certificate of registration from the Mayor before doing business, applying at least 60 business days before offering goods or services by phone (§ 22-3226.02). The application must include a $50,000 surety bond (§ 22-3226.03). Section 22-3226.05 exempts several groups, including nonprofits, licensed insurers and regulated financial institutions.
Statute textWhere DC callers are
Time zone: Eastern. You set your business hours in your own time zone, and the agent takes messages outside them.
202
Washington
771
Washington, with 202
States near the District of Columbia
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HIPAA compliant
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District of Columbia call recording law FAQs
Is the District of Columbia a one-party or all-party consent state for recording calls?
The District of Columbia is a one-party consent jurisdiction for recording calls, under D.C. Code § 23-542. This is general information, not legal advice. Ask a lawyer about your own calls.
Do I have to tell callers an AI agent is recording in the District of Columbia?
The District of Columbia needs one party's consent, and the business is a party. Most businesses announce recording anyway, because a caller in an all-party state such as California or Florida can bring that state's rule into the call. The sample agent opens with "Thanks for calling. This is an AI assistant, and this call is recorded. How can I help?" This is general information, not legal advice.
What if the caller is in a different state than my DC business?
The stricter state's rule can apply. In Kearney v. Salomon Smith Barney (2006), the California Supreme Court held that California's all-party rule governs, going forward, calls a Georgia office records with clients in California. A business that takes calls from other states usually announces recording on every call.
How much does a Cartesia agent cost to answer calls in the District of Columbia?
Managed Agents cost $0.03/min, plus telephony and LLM usage. See pricing.
Which time zone and area codes cover the District of Columbia?
Time zone: Eastern. Main area codes: 202, 771. The agent answers calls from any number, and you set your business hours in your own time zone.
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