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Montana Recovery Houses & Sober Living: Resources & Directory

Find recovery residence and sober living resources for Montana: the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) registration law, its operating standards, voluntary certification, and statewide organizations that support people in recovery. Browse the guide below or choose your county.

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Montana recovery house rules at a glance

Registering agency
Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Division
State registration
Required for every recovery residence since October 1, 2023 (Montana Code Annotated 53-24-311)
Voluntary certification
Recovery Access Montana (RAM), the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR) affiliate, or the National Sober Living Association (NSLA)
Enforcement
Knowing violations are prosecuted under the Montana Consumer Protection Act

Step by step

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

To open a recovery residence in Montana, check state and local building, occupancy and zoning rules, write the policies Montana Code Annotated 53-24-311 requires, keep opioid overdose medication on site with trained staff and residents, and register the home with the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS).

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

  1. 1

    Plan to register with DPHHS

    State requirement

    Every recovery residence in Montana must register with the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) under Montana Code Annotated 53-24-311. Certification is optional, but decide early whether you want it.

  2. 2

    Check building, occupancy and zoning rules

    Local requirement

    The home must meet state and municipal size, occupancy, safety, building and zoning requirements and local ordinances. Contact your city or county before you sign a lease. The Fair Housing Act protects people in recovery from discriminatory land-use decisions.

  3. 3

    Write your policies and protocols

    State requirement

    Put in writing how the home handles administrative oversight, quality standards (including any limits on narcotic medication), resident expectations, emergencies such as fire, disaster and overdose, and evictions, including how residents get their belongings back.

  4. 4

    Keep overdose medication on site and train everyone

    State requirement

    Opioid overdose medication must be on site and easy to reach, and staff and residents must be trained to use it.

  5. 5

    Set length of stay at admission

    State requirement

    Don't set an arbitrary fixed length of stay. Base each stay on the resident's needs and progress, unless you and the resident agree on transition dates at admission.

  6. 6

    Register the home with DPHHS

    State requirement

    Register through DPHHS's Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Division. For questions about registration or the registry, the division's Prevention Bureau can be reached at (406) 444-3055.

  7. 7

    Consider certification

    Voluntary certification

    DPHHS recognizes certification from Recovery Access Montana (RAM), the state affiliate of the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR), and from the National Sober Living Association (NSLA). The DPHHS registry shows each residence's certifications.

  8. 8

    Stay compliant

    State requirement

    Keep your policies, overdose medication and training current. The law calls for an annual compliance report to the certifying organization on recidivism-reduction programming and the number of residents. Knowing violations are prosecuted under the Montana Consumer Protection Act.

Startup checklist

  • Check state and local building, occupancy and zoning rules
  • Write policies for oversight, quality standards, residents, emergencies and evictions
  • Write down any limits on narcotic medication
  • Put opioid overdose medication where it's easy to reach
  • Train staff and residents to use overdose medication
  • Agree on any transition dates at admission
  • Register the home with DPHHS
  • Decide whether to seek RAM or NSLA certification
  • Calendar the annual compliance report

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