District of Columbia AED requirements at a glance
Here is what District of Columbia law asks of an AED program, row by row, with the statute behind each answer.
| Requirement | Required? | What the law says |
|---|---|---|
| Inspect and maintain AEDs | Yes | Anyone who acquires an AED must keep it maintained and tested to the maker's operating guidelines and keep written records of that work (D.C. Code § 7-2371.02(a)(2)). |
| Train expected users | Yes | The acquirer must make sure its Facility AED Coordinator (the person who acquired the AED, or a designee) is trained or certified in CPR and AED use through the AHA, the Red Cross or an equivalent course (D.C. Code § 7-2371.02(a)(1)). |
| Notify agencies of AEDs | Yes | Through AED placement reporting: see that row. |
| Register the program | No | No separate registry duty beyond the notice listed under placement reporting. |
| Report AED locations | Yes | Anyone who acquires an AED must tell the Fire and EMS Chief (or a designee) and the 911 call center about the AED, its type and its location, and must tell the Chief if it is removed (D.C. Code § 7-2371.02(c)). The Chief may issue citations once rules are adopted. |
| Physician medical direction | No | Not in District of Columbia law. |
| Report each AED use | No | No duty on owners or users. Fire and EMS itself must review each case in which an AED is used (D.C. Code § 7-2371.02(b-1)(2)). |
| Written plan or records | Yes | AED acquirers must keep written records of maintenance and testing (D.C. Code § 7-2371.02(a)(2)). |
| Call 911 when an AED is used | Yes | AED acquirers must make sure that anyone who uses the AED on a person in cardiac arrest calls 911 as soon as possible (D.C. Code § 7-2371.02(a)(4)). |
| School cardiac emergency plan | Yes | Every school in the District (DC Public Schools, public charter, independent, private and parochial) had to adopt and carry out a cardiac emergency response plan by the start of School Year 2025-2026, using the Fire and EMS model plan as a guide (D.C. Code § 7-2371.02c(a)(1), (a-1); D.C. Law 25-254, effective Dec. 17, 2024). |
| Other requirements | Limited | No general rule. |
| AEDs required at specific sites | Yes | Some government buildings, schools and public pools. See the list below. |
Compare nearby states: Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and North Carolina, or see every state on the AED laws by state table.
Is medical direction required in the District of Columbia?
No. District of Columbia law doesn’t require a physician to oversee an AED program.
Some programs choose a medical director anyway, for example to write the response protocol or review each use. If you want one, AED Log’s Medical Direction add-on is $65 per AED per year.
Training requirements
Yes. District of Columbia law requires CPR and AED training for the people expected to use an AED.
The acquirer must make sure its Facility AED Coordinator (the person who acquired the AED, or a designee) is trained or certified in CPR and AED use through the AHA, the Red Cross or an equivalent course (D.C. Code § 7-2371.02(a)(1)).
Schools train coaches, athletic staff, nurses and designated users, and keep a trained person present (§ 7-2371.02c(a)(5)-(6)).
Training still matters: an AED talks the rescuer through each step, but people who have practiced start CPR sooner and hesitate less. Keep each responder’s card current, since most CPR and AED cards last two years. See how long CPR and AED certification lasts.
Inspection and maintenance
Yes. District of Columbia law requires AED owners to keep each AED maintained and tested.
Anyone who acquires an AED must keep it maintained and tested to the maker's operating guidelines and keep written records of that work (D.C. Code § 7-2371.02(a)(2)).
Schools need a maintenance schedule with periodic testing, periodic inspection and annual maintenance (§ 7-2371.02c(a)(3)); recreation centers need periodic inspections and annual maintenance (§ 7-2371.02a(a)(3)).
Written plan and records: AED acquirers must keep written records of maintenance and testing (D.C. Code § 7-2371.02(a)(2)). Schools keep a written cardiac emergency response plan and written records of testing, inspection and maintenance (§§ 7-2371.01(1A), 7-2371.02c(b)(1)(C)). Recreation centers keep records of AED upkeep and staff training (§ 7-2371.02a(b)).
In practice, that means check the status indicator, the pads’ and battery’s expiration dates and the cabinet on a regular schedule, replace anything used or expired, and keep a dated record of each check. Our AED inspection requirements guide covers the routine, and the free AED inspection checklist is a printable version.
EMS notification, registration and placement reporting
Yes. The District of Columbia requires AED owners to tell EMS, or another agency the law names, that they have an AED and where it is.
Placement reporting: Anyone who acquires an AED must tell the Fire and EMS Chief (or a designee) and the 911 call center about the AED, its type and its location, and must tell the Chief if it is removed (D.C. Code § 7-2371.02(c)). The Chief may issue citations once rules are adopted.
Keep the confirmation with your program records, and update it when an AED moves or is replaced. AED Log’s document library keeps registrations, letters and notices with the AEDs they cover.
Notification after an AED is used
Yes. District of Columbia law requires the person who uses an AED to call 911 or notify EMS.
Calling 911: AED acquirers must make sure that anyone who uses the AED on a person in cardiac arrest calls 911 as soon as possible (D.C. Code § 7-2371.02(a)(4)).
After any use, replace the pads, check the AED and its rescue kit, and write down what happened while it’s fresh. AED Log’s incident reports record whether a shock was advised, how many were delivered, whether CPR was given and when EMS arrived.
AEDs required at specific locations in the District of Columbia
Yes. District of Columbia law requires AEDs at three kinds of sites.
- Each Department of Parks and Recreation facility regularly staffed by a paid District employee (At least one AED on site, with a trained person present during operating hours; new facilities are added within 45 days of opening.) D.C. Code § 7-2371.02a
- Every school: DC Public Schools, public charter, independent, private and parochial (At least one AED, placed where the school cardiac emergency response plan says and per AHA, Red Cross or similar guidelines.) D.C. Code § 7-2371.02c (as amended by D.C. Law 25-254, Cardiac Planning and Response Amendment Act of 2024, eff. Dec. 17, 2024)
- All public and semi-public swimming pools (The AED must be on the deck near the pool's edge or inside the facility in a room that cannot be locked.) 25-C DCMR § 505 (64 DCR 5359, June 9, 2017)
School cardiac emergency plans: Every school in the District (DC Public Schools, public charter, independent, private and parochial) had to adopt and carry out a cardiac emergency response plan by the start of School Year 2025-2026, using the Fire and EMS model plan as a guide (D.C. Code § 7-2371.02c(a)(1), (a-1); D.C. Law 25-254, effective Dec. 17, 2024).
See AEDs in schools by state to compare, and our cardiac emergency response plan template for a starting point.
Other District of Columbia AED rules
No general rule.
Schools must use AEDs suited to both children and adults, place them where the plan says and national guidelines advise, and each year tell all employees where every AED is and give them the plan (D.C. Code § 7-2371.02c(a)(2), (4), (7)).
Does the District of Columbia's Good Samaritan law protect AED users?
Yes. Under District of Columbia law, anyone using an AED in good faith is protected, and so is the AED’s owner, with only the usual exceptions.
What the District of Columbia (DC) Good Samaritan law covers: Anyone who gives emergency medical care or help in good faith at an accident or emergency outside a hospital, without expecting pay from the injured person, is not liable for acts short of gross negligence. Helpers without a medical license must step back when a licensed provider takes over (D.C. Code § 7-401).
AED-specific protection: A person who uses an AED in good faith without being paid is shielded from civil claims for resulting injury unless grossly negligent or willful or wanton, and no training is required. The same protection reaches the person or entity responsible for the AED's site, the placing physician and trainers, with no upkeep condition.
Statutes and sources
Every answer on this page comes from these laws, read on the District of Columbia’s official legislature or code website.
- D.C. Code § 7-2371.01 (formerly § 44-231): Public Access to Defibrillators: definitions
- D.C. Code § 7-2371.02 (formerly § 44-232): Access by the public to defibrillation
- D.C. Code § 7-2371.02a: AED program for Department of Parks and Recreation facilities
- D.C. Code § 7-2371.02c (as amended by D.C. Law 25-254, Cardiac Planning and Response Amendment Act of 2024, eff. Dec. 17, 2024): School CPR and AED program; cardiac emergency response plans
- D.C. Code § 7-2371.03 (formerly § 44-233): AED use and tort immunity
- D.C. Code § 7-2371.04a: Automated external defibrillator incentive program (rebates)
- D.C. Code § 7-401: Limitation on liability for medical care or assistance in emergency situations
- 25-C DCMR § 505 (64 DCR 5359, June 9, 2017): Swimming pools: first aid and safety equipment
Last reviewed against each statute on the state’s official website. This is a plain-language summary for general information, not legal advice. Laws change, so read the statute or ask a lawyer before you rely on it.
Managing a compliant AED program in the District of Columbia
AED Log keeps the records District of Columbia law asks for, and reminds you before anything lapses.
- Monthly AED inspections on a phone, with a dated record of every check (inspection tracking)
- Pad and battery expiration dates, with a warning before each one (expiration tracking)
- Responders’ CPR and AED cards, with an alert before each expires (certification tracking)
- A report for every AED use, so the details are on record (incident reporting)
- Registrations, EMS notices and your written plan, filed with the AEDs they cover (document management)
Plans start at $114 a year for one AED, with unlimited users and locations. Start a free trial (no credit card) or talk to us.
District of Columbia AED laws FAQ
Are businesses required to have an AED in the District of Columbia?
Only certain kinds. District of Columbia law requires AEDs at all public and semi-public swimming pools. Other businesses aren’t required to have one by District of Columbia law, and federal OSHA has no AED standard.
Where does District of Columbia law require an AED?
District of Columbia law requires AEDs in some government buildings, schools and all public and semi-public swimming pools. See the full list, with each statute, on this page.
Do you need medical direction for an AED in the District of Columbia?
No. District of Columbia law doesn’t require a physician to oversee an AED program. You can still choose one: AED Log’s Medical Direction add-on is $65 per AED per year.
Is AED training required in the District of Columbia?
Yes. The acquirer must make sure its Facility AED Coordinator (the person who acquired the AED, or a designee) is trained or certified in CPR and AED use through the AHA, the Red Cross or an equivalent course (D.C. Code § 7-2371.02(a)(1)).
Does District of Columbia law require AED inspections?
Yes. Anyone who acquires an AED must keep it maintained and tested to the maker's operating guidelines and keep written records of that work (D.C. Code § 7-2371.02(a)(2)).
Do you have to register an AED in the District of Columbia?
There’s no formal registration, but you must report the AED. Anyone who acquires an AED must tell the Fire and EMS Chief (or a designee) and the 911 call center about the AED, its type and its location, and must tell the Chief if it is removed. The Chief may issue citations once rules are adopted.
What does District of Columbia law require after an AED is used?
AED acquirers must make sure that anyone who uses the AED on a person in cardiac arrest calls 911 as soon as possible (D.C. Code § 7-2371.02(a)(4)).
Are AEDs required in District of Columbia schools?
District of Columbia law requires AEDs at every school: DC Public Schools, public charter, independent, private and parochial (at least one AED, placed where the school cardiac emergency response plan says and per AHA, Red Cross or similar guidelines).
Do District of Columbia schools need a cardiac emergency response plan?
Yes. Every school in the District (DC Public Schools, public charter, independent, private and parochial) had to adopt and carry out a cardiac emergency response plan by the start of School Year 2025-2026, using the Fire and EMS model plan as a guide.
Do gyms in the District of Columbia need an AED?
No. District of Columbia law doesn’t require health clubs or gyms to have an AED.
Do swimming pools in the District of Columbia need an AED?
District of Columbia law requires AEDs at all public and semi-public swimming pools (the AED must be on the deck near the pool's edge or inside the facility in a room that cannot be locked).
Do government facilities in the District of Columbia need an AED?
District of Columbia law requires AEDs at each Department of Parks and Recreation facility regularly staffed by a paid District employee (at least one AED on site, with a trained person present during operating hours; new facilities are added within 45 days of opening).
What does the District of Columbia Good Samaritan law cover?
Anyone who gives emergency medical care or help in good faith at an accident or emergency outside a hospital, without expecting pay from the injured person, is not liable for acts short of gross negligence. Helpers without a medical license must step back when a licensed provider takes over.
Does the District of Columbia Good Samaritan law protect someone who uses an AED?
Yes. Anyone who uses an AED in good faith without pay, and the person or entity responsible for its site, are protected unless grossly negligent or willful; on-duty licensed health professionals are excluded (D.C. Code § 7-2371.03).