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Texas Recovery Houses & Sober Living: Resources & Directory

Find Texas recovery house and sober living resources: voluntary accreditation under Health and Safety Code Chapter 469, the Texas Recovery Oriented Housing Network (TROHN) certification process and directory, Oxford House, and organizations that serve Texas. Browse the guide below or choose your county.

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Texas recovery house rules at a glance

Sets accreditation standards
Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)
State license
None. Accreditation is voluntary (Health and Safety Code Chapter 469)
Accrediting organizations
National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR), through the Texas Recovery Oriented Housing Network (TROHN), and Oxford House, Inc.
State money
Since September 1, 2025, only accredited recovery houses may receive state money

Step by step

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

Texas doesn't license recovery houses, but only accredited houses may receive state money. To get accredited through the Texas Recovery Oriented Housing Network (TROHN), check local zoning, designate and train a responsible party, write your policies, and pass TROHN's application, interview, and onsite review.

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

  1. 1

    Decide whether you need accreditation

    State requirement

    Accreditation is voluntary, but since September 1, 2025, only accredited recovery houses may receive state money. Make sure your home fits the state definition: a peer-centered, alcohol- and drug-free shared living environment with no personal care services.

  2. 2

    Check zoning with your city or county

    Local requirement

    Call the local zoning office about group living and occupancy rules before you sign a lease. The federal Fair Housing Act protects people in recovery from discriminatory land-use decisions.

  3. 3

    Choose your accreditation path

    State requirement

    Texas accreditation comes through the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR), certified in Texas by the Texas Recovery Oriented Housing Network (TROHN), or through Oxford House, Inc. for democratically run Oxford Houses.

  4. 4

    Designate and train a responsible party

    State requirement

    Every accredited house except an Oxford House needs a responsible party who completes the accreditor's training. With TROHN, that starts with the Recovery Housing Administrator Curriculum.

  5. 5

    Write your policies and house documents

    State requirement

    TROHN's application asks for policies and procedures, house rules, a staffing plan, and a resident agreement, plus attestations on ethical marketing and conflicts of interest.

  6. 6

    Apply, interview, and pass the onsite review

    State requirement

    Complete TROHN's online application and self-assessment, then its document review, interview, and onsite review of each property. The home must be at least 50% occupied for at least 60 days. TROHN lists a price of $1,000 plus $15 per bed.

  7. 7

    Stay accredited

    State requirement

    Report a change of responsible party within 30 business days. Never pay or accept payment for referrals, and don't advertise anything false or misleading. Violations can lead to a suspension of up to six months during an audit, a corrective action plan, or revocation.

Startup checklist

  • Decide whether you'll seek state money or referrals that require accreditation
  • Confirm the home provides no personal care services
  • Call your city or county zoning office about group living rules
  • Choose TROHN (NARR) or Oxford House accreditation
  • Designate a responsible party and complete the administrator training
  • Write policies, house rules, a staffing plan, and a resident agreement
  • Sign ethical marketing and conflict-of-interest attestations
  • Reach at least 50% occupancy for 60 days before the onsite review
  • Submit the TROHN application and self-assessment
  • Prepare for the interview and onsite review
  • Set a process to report responsible party changes within 30 business days

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