The International Federation of L'Arche Communities is incorporated in France, with main offices in Paris and in Montreal, Canada. The Federation is governed by a General Assembly composed of representatives from its more than 135 member communities, each of which, including L'Arche Greater Washington, DC, is incorporated, governed, and operated independently; and by an international board of directors. The General Assembly meets once every three years, in different cities around the world. 

The Federation is divided into zones, one of which is L’Arche USA.  Within L’Arche USA, there are sixteen independent communities in fourteen states, one of which is L’Arche Greater Washington, DC. L’Arche USA is administratively sub-divided into regions, and L’Arche Greater Washington, DC, is part of the L’Arche USA Eastern Region.