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Arkansas Recovery Houses & Sober Living: Resources & Directory

Find sober living and recovery housing resources for Arkansas: what the state does and doesn't regulate, voluntary certification, local zoning and fair housing protections, treatment and crisis help, and support for Arkansans in recovery. Browse the guide below or choose your county.

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Arkansas recovery house rules at a glance

Licensing agency
None. Arkansas has no state license or certification for recovery housing
State license
Not required for non-clinical sober living; parolee transitional housing is licensed separately by the Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADC)
Voluntary certification
Arkansas Alliance of Recovery Residences (AARR)
State funding
AARR-certified homes are favored for State Opioid Response (SOR) funding

Step by step

How to open a recovery house or sober living home in Arkansas

Arkansas has no state license or certification for recovery housing, so opening a sober living home starts with local zoning, fair housing law, and your own house policies. Certification from the Arkansas Alliance of Recovery Residences (AARR) is voluntary, and the state favors certified homes for State Opioid Response (SOR) funding.

The steps most new operators follow to open a recovery house in Arkansas, in order. Each one links to the official form or rule behind it.

  1. 1

    Decide who your home will serve

    State requirement

    Arkansas requires no state license for a non-clinical sober living home. If you plan to house people on parole, the Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADC) licenses transitional housing, so contact it before you open.

  2. 2

    Check zoning and occupancy with your city or county

    Local requirement

    Call the local planning or zoning office before you sign a lease or buy. Ask how the property is zoned for group living and what occupancy and building rules apply.

  3. 3

    Know your fair housing obligations and protections

    State requirement

    The federal Fair Housing Act bars disability discrimination in housing. It protects your residents from discriminatory land-use decisions, and it applies to your own admissions too. The Arkansas Fair Housing Commission enforces fair housing law in the state.

  4. 4

    Write house rules and a resident agreement

    Voluntary certification

    With no state standards, your house policies set expectations: substance use rules, guests, chores, fees, medication for addiction treatment, and what happens after a relapse. Put them in a written agreement each resident signs.

  5. 5

    Choose and train a house manager

    Voluntary certification

    Pick a house manager and consider Arkansas peer recovery certification through the Department of Human Services, starting with the Core Peer Recovery Specialist level.

  6. 6

    Consider AARR certification

    Voluntary certification

    Certification from the Arkansas Alliance of Recovery Residences (AARR) is voluntary. The state favors AARR-certified homes for State Opioid Response (SOR) funding.

  7. 7

    Connect residents with support

    Voluntary certification

    Post the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and the DHS Mental Health & Addiction Support Line. Help residents apply for Medicaid through Access Arkansas and get job help from Arkansas Rehabilitation Services.

Startup checklist

  • Decide whether the home will house people on parole and, if so, contact ADC
  • Call your city or county planning office about group living rules
  • Review the Fair Housing Act and the Arkansas Fair Housing Commission's role
  • Write house rules and a resident agreement
  • Set your policy on medication for addiction treatment
  • Choose a house manager and look into DHS peer recovery certification
  • Decide whether to pursue voluntary AARR certification
  • Post 988 and the DHS support line in the house
  • Gather Medicaid, treatment, and job resources for residents

Free launch consult

Opening your first house?

Talk it through with an operator for 30 minutes. We’ll go over your model, zoning, policies, and the license or certification you need, and you’ll leave with a clear next-step checklist.

Request a free launch consult

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