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Ohio Recovery Houses & Sober Living: Resources & Directory

Find recovery housing and sober living resources for Ohio: the state law and certification rules, the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health registry and search, Ohio Recovery Housing accreditation, benefits, and organizations that serve Ohioans in recovery. Browse the guide below or choose your county.

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Ohio recovery house rules at a glance

Certifying agency
Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), formerly the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
State certification
Required for every recovery housing residence (Ohio Revised Code 5119.39 to 5119.397; Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 5122-31, emergency rules since August 10, 2026)
Accreditation first
Ohio Recovery Housing, the state affiliate of the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR), or an Oxford House charter
New residences
Register within 30 days of the first move-in; 18 months from the first move-in to get certified

Step by step

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

Every recovery housing residence in Ohio must be accredited and certified. To open one, register with the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) within 30 days after the first resident moves in, earn accreditation from Ohio Recovery Housing or an Oxford House charter, then apply to DBH for state certification with a $15-per-bed fee. A new residence has 18 months from the first resident's move-in to get certified.

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

  1. 1

    Check local zoning and inspections

    Local requirement

    Call your city, village or township zoning office before you sign a lease, and find out which building, fire, water and sewage inspections apply locally. The Fair Housing Act protects people in recovery from discriminatory land-use decisions.

  2. 2

    Register with DBH within 30 days

    State requirement

    File DBH's registration form for each address within 30 days after the first resident moves in, and file an update within 10 days of any change. Your 18-month window to get certified starts at the first resident's move-in.

  3. 3

    Prepare the house to OAC 5122-31

    State requirement

    Meet the bedroom size, bathroom, hot water, temperature and refrigerator rules. Put fire extinguishers on each floor near bedrooms, post evacuation drawings and the 911 and 988 numbers, keep first-aid kits, and install a fire alarm system if nine or more people will live there. No weapons, and no indoor smoking or vaping.

  4. 4

    Screen and train staff

    State requirement

    Before hire and every four years, check owners, operators, managers, staff, volunteers and non-resident occupants against the federal exclusion list, abuser and nurse aide registries, the national sex offender website, SAM.gov and the state offender search. Within 30 days of hire, train staff in first aid, CPR, overdose reversal, fire and disaster response, resident rights, and abuse and neglect reporting.

  5. 5

    Write your policies and resident agreement

    State requirement

    Write a resident rights policy and grievance procedure, a minimum staffing pattern, a disaster plan, and a resident agreement covering obligations, itemized charges, deposits and refunds, house rules and visitation. Set up locked storage for residents' medications and locked records kept for three years.

  6. 6

    Earn accreditation

    State requirement

    Apply for accreditation through Ohio Recovery Housing's RHOADS portal, or charter the home as an Oxford House. Accreditation is required before you apply for state certification.

  7. 7

    Apply to DBH for certification

    State requirement

    Submit your accreditation certificate, required inspections, floor-plan drawing, background checks and the nonrefundable $15-per-bed fee, and send a copy of the application to your county's Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMH) board. Certification lasts two years.

  8. 8

    Stay certified

    State requirement

    Post the certificate, renew at least 90 days before expiration, schedule fire inspections within 12 months of the last one, run quarterly evacuation drills, report incidents to DBH and the county board within 24 hours, and notify DBH within one business day if a utility is 30 days past due. Owners and operators need six hours of continuing education each certification period.

Startup checklist

  • Call your local zoning office about group living rules
  • File DBH's registration form within 30 days of the first move-in
  • Measure bedrooms and count bathrooms against OAC 5122-31
  • Install fire extinguishers and post evacuation drawings on each floor
  • Run background checks on everyone who works or stays at the house
  • Schedule first aid, CPR and overdose-reversal training within 30 days of hire
  • Write your resident rights policy, grievance procedure and resident agreement
  • Set up locked medication storage and locked records
  • Apply for Ohio Recovery Housing accreditation or an Oxford House charter
  • Submit the DBH certification application and $15-per-bed fee
  • Send a copy of the application to your county ADAMH board
  • Calendar renewal 90 days before your certification expires

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