Advisory Neighborhood Commissions 3C (ANC3C) is one of 46 locally elected bodies which consider a wide range of policies and programs affecting our neighborhoods, including traffic, parking, recreation, street improvements, liquor licenses, zoning, economic development, police protection, sanitation and trash collection, and the District's annual budget. ANC3C is composed of 8 Single Member Districts (SMDs), each represented by a duly-elected Commissioner to represent the the approximately 2,000 residents who live in that SMDs.  The law requires that the recommendations of the Commission on issues and concerns on pending actions by government entities shall be given 'Great Weight' by those entities. Read our annual reports here.

Where is ANC3C

ANC3C includes the Northwest DC neighborhoods of Cathedral Heights, Cleveland Park, Massachusetts Heights, McLean Gardens, Woodland-Normanstone and Woodley Park.  To access an interactive version of the ANC map to find your Commissioner and SMD, click here. 

What Does an ANC Do?

Referred to as “…a unique experiment in neighborhood democracy” by the League of Women Voters, Advisory Neighborhood Commissions were first established by the Home Rule Charter of 1973 and later approved by voter referendum on May 7, 1974. The first Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) elections were held in February 1976.

ANCs function as citizen advisory boards, representing the citizens of a particular neighborhood. As such, the periodic meetings of the ANC serve the same function in an urban context as a town meeting does in a rural one.

The specific role of the advisory neighborhood commissions, as defined by the Code of the District of Columbia, includes advising the district government…

…Each Advisory Neighborhood Commission (“Commission”) may advise the Council of the District of Columbia, the Mayor and each executive agency, and all independent agencies, boards and commissions of the government of the District of Columbia with respect to all proposed matters of District government policy including, but not limited to, decisions regarding planning, streets, recreation, social services programs, education, health, safety, budget, and sanitation which affect that Commission area.” (D.C. Code, Sec 1-309.10(a)).

The law also states that recommendations made by the ANC…

The issues and concerns raised in the recommendations of the Commission shall be given great weight during the deliberations by the government entity. (Sec 1-309.10(d)(3)(A))

Under the law, each ANC Single Member District (SMD) has approximately 2,000 residents. Commissioners serve two-year terms and receive no salary. Contact information for the current ANC3C Commissioners can be found here.