Window Replacement Washington DC: $300 to $1,650 + DOB Rules
Window replacement in Washington DC costs $300 to $1,650 per window installed in HomeAdvisor's 2026 national range, and HomeGuide's national average is $900.
Storm windows need no DOB permit, but replacement windows are not on the no-permit list, and historic homes add a preservation review.
Key numbers
- $300 to $1,650 per windowReplacement window, bought and installedHomeAdvisor, Jun 2026
- $900 (low $300, high $8,000)Average per window, installedHomeGuide, Feb 2026
- $517 a windowSurvey of 1,000 homeownersThis Old House, Aug 2026
Replacing windows on a DC rowhouse? Call the window line with the count and whether the house is in a historic district.
| Job (national figures) | Published cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Replacement window, bought and installed | $300 to $1,650 per window | HomeAdvisor, Jun 2026 |
| Average per window, installed | $900 (low $300, high $8,000) | HomeGuide, Feb 2026 |
| Survey of 1,000 homeowners | $517 a window; $7,183 for about 7 windows | This Old House, Aug 2026 |
| Labor only | $100 to $500 per window | HomeGuide, Feb 2026 |
| Double-hung window, installed | $350 to $2,500 | HomeGuide, Feb 2026 |
| Wood frame, average per window | $1,250 | HomeAdvisor, Jun 2026 |
| Whole house, 8 to 12 windows | $6,000 to $9,000 | HomeAdvisor, Jun 2026 |
National figures; we found no DC-specific window price.
Window replacement in Washington DC is replacing old windows with new ones under a DOB permit, with an extra preservation review in historic districts; HomeAdvisor's 2026 national range is $300 to $1,650 per window.
Do you need a permit to replace windows in DC?
Expect one: the DC Department of Buildings' no-permit list covers window screens and storm windows, and in-kind replacement of roofing, siding and gutters, but not replacement windows. That no-permit list also stops applying inside historic districts. One- and two-family projects apply through DOB's Permit Wizard; DOB is at (202) 671-3500.
Historic districts: preservation review is part of the permit
DC folds historic review into the building permit: the Historic Preservation Office says historic properties follow the same permit process as any other, with preservation review as an extra step and no separate application. HPO approves in-kind repair and replacement and minor alterations that fit the property's character, and routine items can be reviewed over the counter on a walk-in basis. Bigger changes may need a meeting with HPO staff. HPO is at 899 North Capitol Street NE, Suite 7100, (202) 442-7600.
In practice, a window that matches the old one in size, material and pattern is the easy path. A different material or a new opening on a street-facing wall is where review slows down, so ask the installer what they will submit.
Lead paint and DC's older housing
DC's housing is old: the Census Bureau puts the median year built at 1958, with 69.0% of units built before 1980 and 31.5% built in 1939 or earlier. EPA's RRP rule requires a lead-safe certified firm for paid window replacement in any home built before 1978, and the rule's small-job exemption does not cover windows. Ask for the firm's certificate and its dust containment plan.
Windows for DC's climate
Reagan National averages 40.0 days a year at or above 90 F and 60.1 nights at or below 32 F (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals), so DC windows need both a low U-factor and sensible solar heat gain. ENERGY STAR says certified windows lower energy bills by up to 13% on average when replacing single-pane windows; check its label for your climate zone. If only the glass has fogged, HomeGuide prices double-pane glass replacement at $300 to $800. The federal window credit ended with 2025 installs, per the IRS.
| What | Washington DC | Source |
|---|---|---|
| No-permit list | Storm windows and screens only; not replacement windows | DC Department of Buildings |
| Historic | No-permit list does not apply; HPO review inside the permit, over the counter for routine items | DOB; DC Historic Preservation Office |
| Contacts | DOB (202) 671-3500; HPO (202) 442-7600 | DOB; DC Office of Planning |
| Housing age | Median year built 1958; 69.0% built before 1980 | U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020 to 2024 |
| Climate | 40.0 days at or above 90 F; 60.1 nights at or below 32 F | NOAA normals |
Window rules and local conditions for Washington DC, from official city, county, state, Census and NOAA pages.
Matching original windows on a historic DC house? Call the window line and ask for a quote that matches size, material and pattern.
More Washington DC home repair guides
Frame and type prices: window replacement cost. Heating and cooling: HVAC repair in Washington DC and AC repair in Washington DC. Water and mold around windows: water damage restoration in Washington DC and mold removal in Washington DC. Compare window replacement in Philadelphia and window replacement in Boston. Calls go to an independent company that serves your area and takes window jobs (how calls work).
More help in Washington, DC
Window replacement in other cities
Questions people ask
How much does window replacement cost in Washington DC?
We found no DC-specific price. HomeAdvisor's 2026 national range is $300 to $1,650 per window installed; HomeGuide averages $900.
Do I need a permit to replace windows in DC?
Plan on one. DOB's no-permit list covers storm windows and screens, not replacement windows, and the list does not apply in historic districts. Apply through the Permit Wizard.
How does historic review work for DC windows?
It is part of the building permit. HPO approves in-kind replacement and minor alterations, often over the counter; call (202) 442-7600.
Does the lead rule apply to DC rowhouses?
For homes built before 1978, yes. The Census says 69.0% of DC housing was built before 1980, and EPA's RRP rule covers window replacement.
Do storm windows need a permit in DC?
No, outside historic districts. DOB lists installing window screens and storm windows as work that needs no permit.
Pricing windows for a DC house? Call the window line with the count and whether it is historic.
- 1Call the line
- 2It rings a local company
- 3They give you the price
Before you book
- License numberAsk for it, then check it with the state board.
- Written priceGet the visit fee and the job price in writing before work starts.
- Proof of insuranceAsk for the certificate, especially for roof, tree and electrical work.
Sources (14)
- HomeAdvisor: Window Installation Cost (2026-06-17)
- HomeGuide: How Much Does Window Replacement Cost? (2026) (2026-02-05)
- This Old House: Window Replacement Cost (2026-08-11)
- HomeGuide: Window Glass Replacement Cost (2026) (2026-02-03)
- DC Department of Buildings: Get a Permit (checked 2026-10-11)
- DC Office of Planning: Permits and Design Review (checked 2026-10-11)
- DC Office of Planning: Historic Preservation Office (checked 2026-10-11)
- U.S. Census Bureau: ACS 2020 to 2024, Table B25035 Median year structure built, Washington city, DC (checked 2026-10-11)
- U.S. Census Bureau: ACS 2020 to 2024, Table B25034 Year structure built, Washington city, DC (checked 2026-10-11)
- NOAA NCEI: U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020 (Washington Reagan National, USW00013743) (checked 2026-10-11)
- ENERGY STAR: Residential Windows, Doors and Skylights (checked 2026-10-11)
- IRS: Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (checked 2026-10-11)
- EPA: Renovation, Repair and Painting Program (checked 2026-10-11)
- 40 CFR 745.83: Definitions (eCFR) (checked 2026-10-11)
Call the window line in Washington DC
Have the address, how many windows, roughly what size, what frame material you want and whether any are on upper floors. The company will set up a measure and quote before anything is ordered.
Free call to an independent company in your area that takes this kind of work.