Opening a New Adult Family Home
DSHS licenses the provider, not the house. You need the experience and training first, then a house that passes the local building inspection, then the DSHS license.
Licensing takes months, not weeks, so plan the house, the money and the training to line up.
Your steps, in order
- Is an Adult Family Home Right for You?Qualifications, the 1,000 hours, and what the job really is.
- Training & Education RequirementsAdministrator training, Home Care Aide, specialty training.
- AFH Licensing & CertificationThe application, background checks, the licensing inspection.
- Building Requirements & InspectionsWhat the house needs to pass form 15-604.
- AFH Costs & FeesLicense fees, insurance, training and start-up costs.
- Buying as an Individual or Through an LLCWhich structure, and why forming one later is a change of ownership.
Watch out for
1,000 hours of direct care first.
Within the last 60 months, for the provider or entity representative; licensed physicians, PAs and nurses are exempt.
The house is inspected before the license.
The local building official passes it on DSHS form 15-604; WABO wrote the checklist but does not inspect.
DSHS posts its application queue.
It does not promise a timeline; check the current queue before you set dates.
Guides on opening an adult family home
- Is an Adult Family Home Right for You?: Before you commit: the steps, the time and what the work involves.
- Opening a New Adult Family Home (flow chart step) (this page): The opening path in order, with the guides to read at each stage.
Looking for a figure or a rule? See Rules & key figures or the AFH glossary. General information, not legal or tax advice.
See the whole flow chart
Once licensed → Running a home