Washington, D.C. Approves Sweeping New Ticket-Scalping Laws

Having given initial approval to Councilmember Charles Allen’s RESALE Act on July 1, The District of Columbia Council unanimously passed the Act in a second vote on July 14.

Why it matters:

• When it takes effect on January 1, 2027, Washington D.C. will have some of the strictest anti-scalping ticketing legislation in the US.

What it means:

• The RESALE Act establishes a 10% resale price cap on all secondary tickets, halting excessive markups and price gouging.

• It bans speculative ticket sales by making it illegal for sellers to advertise or sell tickets they don’t possess.

• The Act requires full price transparency, with ticket costs and mandatory fees itemized throughout the purchase process.

• It outlaws surveillance pricing, prohibiting sellers from using buyers’ personal data to manipulate prices.

• It strengthens enforcement and consumer protections.

What they said:

• Councilmember Charles Allen: “Today, the D.C. Council stood with D.C.’s most beloved and iconic music venues, with our storied theaters, and with every music and live theater fan who’s tired of getting ripped off and priced out. Ticket resellers have used technology and unrestrained profits to turn our live entertainment scene into the Wild West.”

• Stephen Parker, Executive Director of NIVA: “Washington, D.C. has raised the bar for ticketing reform nationwide by establishing the strongest consumer protection framework in the country that should be replicated in every state. We hope states across the country will look to Washington, D.C. as the blueprint for the next generation of resale ticketing reform.”

• Audrey Fix Schaefer, Director of Communications for IMP, 9:30 Club, and The Anthem: “We’ve been fighting hard for legislation that will put an end to predatory scalpers from all over the country taking advantage of people in D.C. This will stop opportunistic profiteers from making more than the artists, and it will enable more fans to see more shows, and then cross the street to enjoy a meal in the neighborhood restaurants, since they still have enough money in their pockets. The RESALE Act will keep millions of dollars in D.C.”