---
kind: "section"
citation: "40 U.S.C. § 8103"
title: "40"
title_heading: "Public Buildings, Property, and Works"
number: "8103"
heading: "Application of District of Columbia laws to public buildings and grounds"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/40/8103"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Public Buildings and Works"
  - "Part D — Public Buildings, Grounds, and Parks in the District of Columbia"
  - "Chapter 81 — Administrative"
  - "Subchapter I — General"
---

# §8103. Application of District of Columbia laws to public buildings and grounds

- (a) **Application of Laws.—** Laws and regulations of the District of Columbia for the protection of public or private [property](/usc/40/102.md?p=9) and the preservation of peace and order are extended to all [public buildings](/usc/40/3301.md?p=a-5) and public grounds belonging to the [Federal Government](/usc/40/3701.md?p=a) in the District of Columbia.
- (b) **Penalties.—** A person shall be fined under [title 18](/usc/18.md), imprisoned for not more than six months, or both if the person—
  - (1) is guilty of disorderly and unlawful conduct in or about those [public buildings](/usc/40/3301.md?p=a-5) or public grounds;
  - (2) willfully injures the buildings or shrubs;
  - (3) pull downs, impairs, or otherwise injures any fence, wall, or other enclosure;
  - (4) injures any sink, culvert, pipe, hydrant, cistern, lamp, or bridge; or
  - (5) removes any stone, gravel, sand, or other [property](/usc/40/102.md?p=9) of the Government, or any other part of the public grounds or lots belonging to the Government in the District of Columbia.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–217, Aug. 21, 2002, 116 Stat. 1205.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 8103 | 40:101. | July 29, 1892, ch. 320, § 15, 27 Stat. 325; Pub. L. 90–108, § 2, Oct. 20, 1967, 81 Stat. 277. |

In subsection (b), the word “enclosure” is substituted for “inclosure” to use the more understood term.