“What is an ANC?” and other FAQs.

What is an ANC?

First established in 1976, Advisory Neighborhood Commissions are non-partisan, neighborhood bodies made up of locally-elected representatives called Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners. ANCs were established to bring government closer to the people, and to bring the people closer to government. Commissioners serve two-year terms without pay.

A Commissioner’s main job is to be their neighborhood’s official voice in advising the District government on issues affecting their community. Although District agencies are not required to follow an ANC’s advice, they are required by law to give an ANC’s recommendations “great weight.” Moreover, District law says that agencies cannot take any action that will significantly affect a neighborhood—including zoning, streets, recreation, education, social services, sanitation, planning, safety, budget, and health services—unless they give the affected ANC 30 days’ advance notice. 

Commissioners may also initiate recommendations for improving city services, conduct neighborhood improvement programs, and monitor resident complaints. 

What is a Single Member District?

Each ANC is divided into a number of smaller areas called Single Member Districts (SMDs), which consist of about 2,000 people per district. One Commissioner is elected to represent each SMD.

What are the boundaries of ANC 5B?

Click here for a map of ANC 5B boundaries.

How often do ANC Commissioners meet?

Pursuant to DC Code §1-309.11(b)(1), each Commission must meet at least nine times per year. The full ANC 5B Commission (which includes Commissioners from SMD 5B01, 5B02, 5B03, 5B04, and 5B05) holds regular, public meetings on the fourth Wednesday of every month, except for July, August, and December. Meetings must be announced at least seven days in advance. You can find a calendar of upcoming meetings here.

How do I bring business, or otherwise make a presentation, before the ANC?

Pursuant to DC Code §1-309.11(b)(3), “[e]ach Commission shall set aside a portion of each public meeting to hear the views of residents within the Commission area and other affected persons on problems or issues of concern within the Commission area and on proposed District government actions that affect the Commission area.  Community views shall be adequately considered in positions taken by the Commission.”

Any resident wishing to raise a concern or complaint may do so at regularly-scheduled meetings.

If you have a business item, such as a liquor license application or zoning variance/special exception request, that you’d like to bring before the ANC, you should contact the Commissioner of jurisdiction—within whose district your business, construction project, or other activity is located—to discuss the action and be added to the public meeting agenda. Prior to that meeting, you should also meet with any community group(s) that are or would be affected. You can determine what SMD your business or project is located in here, and the name and contact information for the Commissioner who represents that SMD here.

If you have a business item that requires urgent attention or is of an emergency nature, you should immediately contact the Commissioner of jurisdiction and ask her/him to work with you and the Chairperson of the Commission to schedule consideration by the full Commission.