Do I need a license to open a sober living home in New Jersey?
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Yes. Any facility operating as a cooperative sober living residence must hold a Class F license from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Bureau of Rooming and Boarding House Standards. A cooperative sober living residence is a boarding house that serves solely as a home for people recovering from drug or alcohol addiction. Operating without a license can bring a civil penalty of up to $25,000 for each building, and municipal zoning and fire rules apply too.
How much does a Class F cooperative sober living license cost in New Jersey?
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DCA's fee schedule lists $356 a year for a Class F license with 2 to 5 residents and $412 for 6 to 10 residents. Any license issued to a corporation, partnership, or association is $666, and no license fee is more than $666. The license is renewed every year with the same fee.
How do I apply for a Class F license from DCA?
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Complete DCA's Form I (applicant information) and Form II (building and service information), sign the Notice of Authorization for a criminal background report, and mail them with a check payable to Treasurer, State of New Jersey, to the Bureau of Rooming and Boarding House Standards, 101 South Broad Street, P.O. Box 804, Trenton, NJ 08625-0804. The Bureau can be reached at (609) 984-1704 or [email protected].
What rules do cooperative sober living residences in New Jersey follow?
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They follow N.J.A.C. 5:27, including subchapter 13, effective January 6, 2025. A residence needs two operators, one on site from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. and one living in; no more than 10 residents; an alcohol and drug free environment; and no on-site treatment or food, laundry, or financial services. It must provide medication lockboxes, may not use keyed bedroom locks, and must report serious incidents to DCA immediately by phone and in writing within 72 hours. P.L.2025, c.60 adds an immediate email or fax notice to DCA for events that jeopardize residents or staff, a written incident report within five working days, and at least two unannounced inspections a year, and directs DCA to require certified operators and random alcohol and drug testing.
Is GSARR certification the same as a DCA license?
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No. Certification from the Garden State Alliance of Recovery Residences (GSARR), which follows the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR) standards, is voluntary. The Class F license from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) is required by state law. A certified house still needs a DCA license if it operates as a cooperative sober living residence.
Can a New Jersey town use zoning to keep a sober living home out?
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The federal Fair Housing Act bars local governments from using zoning or land use rules to exclude group homes for people with disabilities, but houses still have to follow neutral local zoning and fire rules. Complaints can go to the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights (DCR), which accepts housing complaints within 180 days of the incident, or to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Are there grants or funding for sober living homes in New Jersey?
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There was no open state solicitation for recovery housing when this guide was checked on October 28, 2026. Half of New Jersey's opioid settlement money goes to counties and larger municipalities, and each county's County Alcohol and Drug Use Director is the lead agency for local funds. State solicitations paid for with settlement money are posted on the state's opioid settlement site. The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) offers capital financing for special needs housing.
How do I list my sober living home in this guide for free?
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Request a free listing. You choose what it shows, such as who the home serves and its licenses or certifications. The street address is shown only if you want it to be. Listing never requires ARKHE software.
What's the difference between sober living, a cooperative sober living residence, and a treatment program in New Jersey?
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New Jersey law calls a licensed sober living home a cooperative sober living residence: a home only for people recovering from drug or alcohol addiction, where residents support each other's recovery. It has two operators and up to 10 residents, and it may not provide counseling, therapy, or clinical treatment on site. Treatment programs are separate, and the state's Addiction Services Treatment Directory lists them.
How do I find a licensed sober living home in New Jersey?
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Search the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) RBHS Facility List and filter the facility type to Cooperative Sober Living Residence to see Class F licensed homes and their inspection reports. Oxford House's vacancy site lists open beds in Oxford Houses. ReachNJ, at 1-844-732-2465, can also connect you to services.
Where can I get help for drug or alcohol use in New Jersey?
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Call ReachNJ at 1-844-REACHNJ (1-844-732-2465). A live person answers 24/7 and connects New Jersey residents to treatment and support, regardless of insurance or ability to pay. Community Peer Recovery Centers offer recovery coaching and support groups, and NJ Connect for Recovery, at 855-652-3737, supports family members and friends.
What is a County Alcohol and Drug Use Director?
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Each of New Jersey's 21 counties has a County Alcohol and Drug Use Director, listed in a statewide directory by the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS). The director is also the county's lead agency for local opioid settlement funds. This guide lists each county's office under Homes by county.
What should I ask a sober living home before moving in?
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Ask whether the home holds a Class F license from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and whether it is certified by the Garden State Alliance of Recovery Residences (GSARR). Ask about costs and what they include, the house rules, drug screening and curfew, how residents can be asked to leave, and whether medication for addiction treatment is allowed. Licensed homes must provide lockboxes for prescription medications.