Over the past three decades, the District's permitting department has been plagued by numerous scandals involving bribery, embezzlement, fraud, and abuse of power.

Washington, D.C.'s building regulation history begins with the city itself. When Pierre L'Enfant designed the federal city in 1791, building oversight was minimal and largely focused on ensuring structures aligned with the grand urban plan. However, as the city grew beyond its initial federal core, the need for systematic building regulation became apparent.