Find clean and sober home and sober living resources for Hawaii: the Department of Health's voluntary Clean and Sober Homes Registry, fair housing sources, helplines, and organizations that serve the islands. Browse the guide below or choose your county to find local information.
Step by step
Hawaii has no state license for clean and sober homes or sober living homes. Registration with the Department of Health's Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division (ADAD) is voluntary and free: apply online, prepare your policies and safety self-assessment, and pass a walk-through inspection. Only homes that are registered and in good standing may advertise as registered clean and sober homes.
The steps most new operators follow to open a recovery house in Hawaii, in order. Each one links to the official form or rule behind it.
A registered clean and sober home is a dwelling unit shared by up to eight unrelated adults recovering from substance abuse, with alcohol- and drug-free living. It is not a treatment center, which provides clinical care.
Hawaii has no state license for clean and sober homes, but building, housing, fire and other codes apply. Check zoning and occupancy rules with your county before you sign a lease or buy. The federal Fair Housing Act bars zoning rules that exclude group homes for people with disabilities.
Prepare a mission statement, code of ethics, resident rights and fee policies, screening criteria, house rules, written policies on keeping the home alcohol- and drug-free, and good neighbor policies.
Get general liability insurance, set up an accounting system for resident transactions, and complete a signed and dated safety self-assessment. Install working smoke detectors and fire extinguishers and post an emergency plan.
Create an ehawaii.gov account, submit the Initial Application, then complete the Clean and Sober Home Details form when the Division emails you. There is no fee.
Have your supporting documents ready for the walk-through. Homes rated in good standing are listed on the registry and receive a certificate of registration. A home not in good standing can schedule a new inspection after it meets the standards.
Keep meeting the registry standards. ADAD reviews complaints about homes, and only registered homes in good standing may advertise as registered clean and sober homes.
Free launch consult
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.
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