Federal · Title 40 — Public Buildings, Property, and Works

40 U.S.C. § 8121: Improper appropriation of streets

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

This statute authorizes the Secretary to prevent unauthorized use of federal public streets and property in DC, reclaim illegally appropriated property, and report findings to Congress. It does not restrict lawful temporary government use.

Read the full statutory text

prevent the improper appropriation or occupation of any public street, avenue, square, or reservation in the District of Columbia that belongs to the Federal Government; reclaim the street, avenue, square, or reservation if unlawfully appropriated; prevent the erection of any permanent building on property reserved to or for the use of the Government, unless plainly authorized by law; and report to Congress at the beginning of each session on the Secretary’s proceedings in the premises, together with a full statement of all property described in this subsection, and how, and by what authority, the property is occupied or claimed. This section does not interfere with the temporary and proper occupation of any part of the property described in subsection (a), by lawful authority, for the legitimate purposes of the Government.

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.