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Georgia Recovery Houses & Sober Living: Resources & Directory

Find recovery residence and sober living resources for Georgia: what the state does and doesn't require, voluntary standards from the Georgia Association of Recovery Residences (GARR), fair housing protections, crisis and treatment lines, and support for residents and families. Browse the guide below or choose your county.

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Georgia recovery house rules at a glance

State license
None. Georgia has no state license or certification for recovery residences or sober living homes
Voluntary standards
Georgia Association of Recovery Residences (GARR) membership and standards
Local rules
City and county zoning, occupancy, and building codes apply
Fair housing
Georgia Commission on Equal Opportunity (GCEO) Fair Housing Division and the federal Fair Housing Act

Step by step

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

Georgia has no state license or certification for recovery residences or sober living homes. To open one, check your city or county zoning and occupancy rules, know your fair housing protections, write clear house policies and resident agreements, and consider voluntary membership in the Georgia Association of Recovery Residences (GARR).

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

  1. 1

    Confirm the home is non-clinical

    State requirement

    Georgia has no state license or certification for recovery residences or sober living homes. That applies to homes that offer a sober, supportive place to live. If the home will provide treatment, it is a different kind of program and falls under the state's treatment rules.

  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 group living is classified, how many unrelated residents are allowed, and what building and fire codes apply.

  3. 3

    Know your fair housing protections

    Local requirement

    The federal Fair Housing Act bars local governments from using zoning or land use rules to exclude group homes for people with disabilities, including people in recovery. Complaints can go to the Georgia Commission on Equal Opportunity's Fair Housing Division or to HUD.

  4. 4

    Write house policies and a resident agreement

    Voluntary certification

    With no state standards to follow, your own written policies set expectations. Cover house rules, fees and what they include, drug and alcohol testing, medication for addiction treatment, visitors, and how a resident moves out. GARR's standards are a useful model.

  5. 5

    Consider GARR membership

    Voluntary certification

    The Georgia Association of Recovery Residences (GARR) maintains standards for recovery residence programs. Membership is voluntary, starts with GARR's application, and puts the residence in GARR's public directory.

  6. 6

    Connect with recovery and crisis supports

    Voluntary certification

    Share the Georgia Crisis and Access Line (GCAL) and 988 with residents, and connect with the Georgia Council for Recovery and local recovery community organizations for peer support.

Startup checklist

  • Confirm the home will not provide treatment
  • Call your city or county zoning office about group living rules
  • Ask about occupancy limits and building and fire codes
  • Review your rights under the Fair Housing Act
  • Write house rules and a resident agreement
  • Set a policy on medication for addiction treatment
  • Review GARR's standards and membership application
  • Post the GCAL and 988 numbers in the house
  • Connect with the Georgia Council for Recovery

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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