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Assisted living facility license requirements by state
Residential care with personal care and supervision. Whether each state requires a license, who issues it, what it costs, certificate of need and the Medicaid rate, with the official source for each.
- States compiled
- 51 of 51
- Require a state license
- 51
- No state license
- 0
- States with a CON program
- 37of states compiled
On this page
By state
Assisted living facility requirements in every state
States still being compiled are marked; we only publish a state once its details are confirmed against the official source.
| State | License | Issuing agency | Fee | Renewal | CON program | Medicaid rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Assisted living facility license (family, group or congregate by size); separate specialty care assisted living facility (SCALF) license for residents with significant cognitive impairment | Alabama Department of Public Health, Bureau of Health Provider Standards | Application fee is set by statute (Code of Ala. §22-21-24… | Every year · Licenses run for the calendar year and expire December 31. Online renewal runs October 1 to December 31; a facility that has not renewed (and paid any late fees) by January 31 is no longer licensed. | Yes | $4.06per 15 min |
| Alaska | Assisted living home license | Alaska Department of Health, Residential Licensing | An application fee must go with the application; the amou… | — | Yes | $9.30per 15 min |
| Arizona | Assisted living facility license, either an assisted living home (10 or fewer residents) or an assisted living center (11 or more); adult foster care homes are a subclass. Licensed for supervisory, personal or directed care services. | Arizona Department of Health Services, Bureau of Residential Facilities Licensing | $50 | — | No | $6.88per 15 min |
| Arkansas | Assisted living facility license, Level I or Level II; residential care facilities are licensed separately | Arkansas Department of Human Services, Office of Long Term Care (Division of Provider Services and Quality Assurance) | — | Every year · Annual renewal is required for all ALF and RCF licenses (HHS 2015). Renewal fee amounts were not found in a source reviewed. | Yes | $1.68per 15 min |
| California | Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE) license, for settings commonly called assisted living or board and care | California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division (Adult and Senior Care Program; Centralized Applications Bureau) | A non-refundable application fee is due with the applicat… | An annual licensing fee is due on or before the facility anniversary date; paying late adds a 50% late fee. | No | $36.35per hour |
| Colorado | Assisted living residence license. A Medicaid-certified ALR is an alternative care facility (ACF); a supportive living program residence is also certified by HCPF. | Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division | Fees follow CDPHE's facility fee schedule, published each… | — | No | $7.28per 15 min |
| Connecticut | Assisted living services agency (ALSA) license. The managed residential community (the housing) registers with DPH rather than being licensed. Residential care homes are licensed separately. | Connecticut Department of Public Health, Facility Licensing and Investigations Section | — | — | Yes | $7.63per 15 min |
| Delaware | Assisted living facility license (rest homes, family care homes and residential care homes are licensed separately) | Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Health Care Quality | — | — | Yes | $39.35per hour |
| District of Columbia | Assisted living residence (ALR) license; community residence facilities are a separate, lower-acuity license | DC Health, Health Regulation and Licensing Administration — Community Residence Facilities Branch | — | — | Yes | $7.89per 15 min |
| Florida | Assisted living facility license: a Standard license, plus optional Specialty licenses for Extended Congregate Care, Limited Nursing Services and Limited Mental Health | Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), Bureau of Health Facility Regulation — Assisted Living Unit | AHCA posts a licensure fee letter for ALFs; the amounts w… | Renewals are filed through AHCA's Online Licensing system. | Yes | $6.85per 15 min |
| Georgia | Assisted living community (ALC) license, for a personal care home with 25 or more residents licensed to provide assisted living care. Smaller settings are personal care home (PCH) licenses, which cover 2 or more unrelated adults. | Georgia Department of Community Health, Healthcare Facility Regulation Division (Personal Care Home Program) | — | — | Yes | $6.89per 15 min |
| Hawaii | Assisted living facility license. Adult residential care homes (ARCH) and expanded ARCHs are separate licenses. | Hawaii Department of Health, Office of Health Care Assurance — State Licensing Section | — | — | Yes | $4.00per 15 min |
| Idaho | Residential assisted living facility (RALF) license | Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Division of Licensing and Certification — Residential Assisted Living Facility Program | $500 | Every year · Facilities file an annual report and renewal application at least 30 days before the license expires. | No | $6.11per 15 min |
| Illinois | Assisted living establishment or shared housing establishment license. Supportive living facilities are a separate Medicaid program run by HFS. | Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Assisted Living | — | Every year | Yes | $30.80per hour |
| Indiana | Residential care facility license. Facilities that only offer room, meals and limited help without giving medications or residential nursing do not need one. | Indiana Department of Health, Long-Term Care Division — Residential Care Facility Licensing and Certification Program | Licensure fee is $200 for the first 50 beds plus $10 for … | — | Yes | $8.59per 15 min |
| Iowa | Assisted living program certification (Iowa's equivalent of a license) | Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL), Adult and Special Services | — | Every 2 years · HHS's 2015 profile reported a conditional certification first, an inspection within 3 months, and then a 2-year certification. | Yes | $10.50per 15 min |
| Kansas | Adult care home license as an assisted living facility or residential health care facility. Boarding care homes and home plus are smaller adult care home licenses. | Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS), Survey, Certification and Credentialing Commission | Many adult care home licensure forms, including those for… | — | No | $4.98per 15 min |
| Kentucky | Assisted living community license under 902 KAR 20:480, in three types: social-model ALC, ALC with basic health care (ALC-BH), and ALC with dementia care (ALC-DC). Communities were previously certified by DAIL under 910 KAR 1:240. Personal care homes are licensed separately (902 KAR 20:031). | Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Office of Inspector General, Division of Health Care (previously DAIL certification) | OIG requires an 'applicable licensing fee' with Form OIG-… | — | Yes | $9.00per 15 min |
| Louisiana | Adult residential care provider (ARCP) license at one of four levels: Level 1 personal care home, Level 2 shelter care home, Level 3 assisted living, Level 4 adult residential care with intermittent nursing | Louisiana Department of Health, Health Standards Section | A non-refundable licensing fee set by the department is d… | Every year · A license expires on the last day of the twelfth month after issuance unless renewed on time. | Yes | $4.77per 15 min |
| Maine | Assisted housing license as an assisted living facility (private apartments) or residential care facility (levels by capacity); private non-medical institutions are licensed under the same program | Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Licensing and Certification — Assisted Housing Program | Fees are listed in the online application form; amounts a… | — | Yes | $9.87per 15 min |
| Maryland | Assisted living program license at Level 1 (low), Level 2 (moderate) or Level 3 (high); optional Alzheimer's special care unit | Maryland Department of Health, Office of Health Care Quality (OHCQ) | $0 | — | Yes | $9.72per 15 min |
| Massachusetts | Assisted living residence certification (Massachusetts certifies rather than licenses ALRs) | Massachusetts Executive Office of Aging & Independence (Elder Affairs), Assisted Living Certification Unit | $200 | Every 2 years · The $125-per-unit Certificate to Operate fee is paid every two years. | Yes | $56,676.00per month |
| Michigan | Home for the aged license (21 or more residents aged 55+, or a smaller HFA operated with a nursing home) or adult foster care license (family, small group, large group or congregate). 'Assisted living' is not a licensing category. | Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Community and Health Systems — Adult Foster Care & Homes for the Aged Licensing Division | — | — | Yes | $27.00per hour |
| Minnesota | Assisted living facility license, or assisted living facility with dementia care license (licensure in effect since August 1, 2021) | Minnesota Department of Health, Health Regulation Division — Assisted Living Licensure | — | — | No | $5.25per 15 min |
| Mississippi | Personal care home–assisted living license (personal care home–residential living is a separate license for residents who walk independently); optional Alzheimer's/dementia care unit designation | Mississippi State Department of Health, Health Facilities Licensure and Certification | — | — | Yes | $136.50per day |
| Missouri | Assisted living facility (ALF) license or residential care facility (RCF) license; ALFs may serve residents needing more help to evacuate | Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Section for Long-Term Care Regulation — Licensure and Certification Unit | — | — | Yes | $9.75per 15 min |
| Montana | Assisted living facility license. All facilities meet Category A requirements and may add Category B (nursing needs), C (cognitive impairment) or D endorsements. | Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General — Licensure Bureau | A license application fee is required; the amount is on t… | — | Yes | $9.23per 15 min |
| Nebraska | Assisted living facility license, required for anyone providing assisted living services to 4 or more residents | Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health — Licensure Unit | Initial and renewal license fees: 1–10 beds $950; 11–20 b… | Every year · Licenses expire April 30 each year. DHHS mails a renewal notice at least 30 days before; renew with the application and the same bed-based fee, online or by mail. | Yes | $28.00per hour |
| Nevada | Residential facility for groups license (from 3-bed homes to communities of 150+ beds), with optional endorsements including assisted living and Alzheimer's/dementia care | Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health, Bureau of Health Care Quality and Compliance | — | — | Yes | $6.25per 15 min |
| New Hampshire | Assisted living residence–residential care facility license (He-P 804) or supported residential health care facility license (He-P 805) | New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Health Facilities Administration (Health Facilities Licensing) | $15 per licensed bed for residential and supported reside… | Renewal uses the same application form and per-bed fee schedule. | No | $8.00per 15 min |
| New Jersey | Assisted living residence, comprehensive personal care home, or assisted living program license | New Jersey Department of Health, Division of Certificate of Need and Licensing | — | — | Yes | $26.68per hour |
| New Mexico | Assisted living facility license (any facility caring for two or more adults who need help with daily living activities) | New Mexico Health Care Authority (Division of Health Improvement) | Non-refundable fees are due with initial, amended and ren… | Every year · Apply for renewal within 30 business days before expiration, with the fee and the annual fire inspection report. | No | $7.46per 15 min |
| New York | Adult care facility operating certificate (adult home or enriched housing program). A facility may also be licensed as an assisted living residence (ALR), with added certification as an enhanced ALR or special needs ALR. The Medicaid Assisted Living Program (ALP) runs in adult homes or enriched housing. | New York State Department of Health, Division of Adult Care Facilities and Assisted Living | — | — | Yes | $35.36per hour |
| North Carolina | Adult care home license. Family care homes (2–6 beds) use a separate, county-initiated application path. | North Carolina DHHS, Division of Health Service Regulation — Adult Care Licensure Section | Non-refundable licensure fee of $400 plus $19 per bed, pa… | — | Yes | $107.42per month |
| North Dakota | Assisted living facility license (5+ living units / 5+ unrelated people). Basic care facilities are a separate state license that makes them eligible for state basic care funding. | North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services — Health Response and Licensure Section, plus Food and Lodging licensing | $75 | Every year · Assisted living facilities apply for a license every year. | No | $9.59per 15 min |
| Ohio | Residential care facility license. Any assisted living facility that meets the residential care facility definition in R.C. 3721.01 is regulated as one. | Ohio Department of Health, Office of Health Assurance and Licensing | $320 for each 50 beds or part thereof (1–50 beds $320; 51… | Every year · There is an annual renewal licensing and inspection fee of $320 per 50 persons (or part) of licensed capacity (R.C. 3721.02(E)). | Yes | $8.26per Fifteen minutes |
| Oklahoma | Assisted living center license (residential care homes and continuum of care facilities are separate licenses) | Oklahoma State Department of Health, Health Facility Systems | — | — | Yes | $5.50per 15 min |
| Oregon | Assisted living facility or residential care facility license, with optional memory care endorsement | Oregon Department of Human Services, Aging and People with Disabilities — Community-Based Care Licensing | — | — | Yes | $42.24per hour |
| Pennsylvania | Assisted living residence license (55 Pa. Code ch. 2800) or personal care home license (55 Pa. Code ch. 2600) | Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, Office of Long-Term Living — Bureau of Human Services Licensing | — | — | No | $4.87per 15 min |
| Rhode Island | Assisted living residence (ALR) license (6 or more unrelated adults), with optional Special Care Unit and Limited Health Services licenses | Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH), Center for Health Facilities Regulation | Initial, change-of-ownership or change-of-address license… | — | Yes | $41.25per day |
| South Carolina | Community residential care facility license (room, board and personal care for 2 or more unrelated adults for more than 24 hours) | South Carolina Department of Public Health, Healthcare Quality — Healthcare Facility Licensing | Annual license fee of $10 per licensed bed or $75, whiche… | Every year · Renewal is annual. Renewing 30 or more days after expiration may add a late fee of $75 or 25% of the license fee, whichever is greater. | Yes | $6.25per 15 min |
| South Dakota | Assisted living center license, with special approvals for services such as medication administration and care of cognitively impaired residents | South Dakota Department of Health, Office of Health Facilities Licensure and Certification | — | — | No | $10.81per 15 min |
| Tennessee | Assisted care living facility (ACLF) license; residential homes for the aged are licensed separately | Tennessee Health Facilities Commission — Board for Licensing Health Care Facilities | Non-refundable fee by bed capacity: under 25 beds $1,040;… | — | Yes | $6.59per 15 min |
| Texas | Assisted living facility license, Type A (residents can follow directions in an emergency and don't need routine night attendance) or Type B (residents need evacuation help and night attendance); optional Alzheimer's certification | Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Long-Term Care Regulation | — | — | No | $4.57per 15 min |
| Utah | Assisted living facility license, Type I (residents exit without help) or Type II (residents exit with limited help from one person); sized as limited capacity, small or large | Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Licensing and Background Checks (DLBC) — health facilities | — | — | No | $21.21per 15 min |
| Vermont | Assisted living residence license, or residential care home license at Level III or Level IV | Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living (DAIL), Division of Licensing and Protection | — | — | Yes | $12.98per 15 min |
| Virginia | Assisted living facility license (congregate residential settings providing personal and health care services and 24-hour supervision to 4 or more adults) | Virginia Department of Social Services, Division of Licensing Programs | — | — | Yes | $17.97per hour |
| Washington | Assisted living facility license (7 or more residents; adult family homes for 2–8 residents are licensed separately) | Washington Department of Social and Health Services, Aging and Long-Term Support Administration — Residential Care Services; applications through the Business Analysis & Applications Unit (BAAU) | — | — | Yes | $8.18per OF |
| West Virginia | Assisted living residence license; residential care communities are a separate license (residents must be able to self-evacuate) | West Virginia Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification (OHFLAC) | OHFLAC fee schedule (effective June 1, 2024) lists Assist… | Renewal fee $9.88 per bed (OHFLAC schedule effective June 1, 2024). | Yes | $6.75per 15 min |
| Wisconsin | Community-based residential facility (CBRF) license (5+ unrelated adults). Residential care apartment complexes (RCACs) must be registered (private pay only) or certified (may serve Medicaid waiver tenants). Adult family homes are licensed or certified separately. | Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Division of Quality Assurance — Bureau of Assisted Living | CBRF licensing fee is $389 plus $50.25 per resident of li… | Every 2 years · The CBRF fee recurs every two years. | Yes | $5.25per 15-min. |
| Wyoming | Assisted living facility license (may include secured units and dementia-dedicated facilities) | Wyoming Department of Health, Aging Division — Healthcare Licensing and Surveys (HLS) | A license fee goes with the application, and a survey fee… | — | No | $8.25per 15 min |
Medicaid rate: the companion care fee-for-service rate, linked to the state's fee schedule. Fees as printed by the licensing agency; where it gives a range or formula, the page for that state has the wording.