Residential Group Care

Florida Department of Health Rules – Chapter 64E-12, Florida Administrative Code
Frequency: Once per year.
Form: DH 4029

The level of food hygiene standards that apply to the kitchen depend on the maximum number of residents the facility is approved to house.

10 or fewer beds:

DOH Rules – Chapter 64E-12, Florida Administrative Code
Frequency: Once per year as part of the physical plant inspection
Form Used: DH 4029

11 or more beds must apply for and obtain a food hygiene permit:

A state DOH food permit is needed when a facility serves food and has a maximum capacity of 11 residents or more.  Prior to opening or operating, a set of plans drawn to scale and a completed food hygiene permit application must be submitted to the local county health department for a food hygiene plan review. There is a fee associated with the required plan review.

To apply for a food hygiene permit, visit the food hygiene or contact your local county health department’s environmental health section.

DOH Rules – Chapter 64E-11, Florida Administrative Code
Frequency: Once per quarter or as determined by the level of food service.
Form Used: DH 4023 

An adult family care home is licensed by the Agency for Health Care Administration, is limited to five residents who are disabled and the operator does live in the home as a family unit. These do not provide staffed care.

A group home is a generic term the Florida Department of Health uses for a variety of care homes. These can be for children, 19 years or less and licensed under the Florida Department of Children and Families or Agency for Health Care Administration if they serve disabled clients. Depending on the arrangement, some live as family units like a foster family and others can be staffed or even staffed with “house parents” who play a parenting role and are paid for their role, in addition to having additional staff support. 

Group homes that serve persons with disabilities are regulated by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. 

The specific residential group care facility types the Florida Department of Health has inspection authority in are listed in section 381.006(16), Florida Statutes. The Florida Department of Health’s residential group care facilities list includes assisted living facility, adult family-care home, short-term residential treatment center, residential treatment facility, home for special services, transitional living facility, crisis stabilization unit, hospice, and intermediate care facility for persons with developmental disabilities. 

• For the purpose of the DOH’s residential group care program, the term “Short-term Residential Treatment Center” includes the following DCF licensed residential facilities: addictions receiving facilities, detoxification, programs, and Residential Level 1, Residential Level 2, Residential Level 3, Residential Level 4, and Residential Level 5 programs. 
• For the purpose of the DOH’s residential group care program, the term “Residential Treatment Facility (RTF)” includes AHCA licensed facilities which are community-based residences for individuals exhibiting symptoms of mental illness who are in need of a long-term structured living environment.  These facilities were designed to provide long-term residential care with an overlay or coordination of mental health services. An AHCA license covers five levels of care that range from having nurses on staff for 24 hours daily to independent apartment residences that receive only weekly staff contact.

The Department of Health (DOH) inspects any DCF or AHCA licensed residential group care facility listed above using Chapter 64E-12, Florida Administrative Code. These DOH group care environmental health inspections are conducted once annually by environmental health field staff from the local county health department (CHD).  While there is no state DOH fees related to annual residential group care environmental health inspections, more than half of Florida 67 local CHDs do have local inspection fees passed/approved through the local Board of County or City Commissioners.  For information on local fees, please contact the local county health department directly.

In various residential facilities an environmental health inspection  helps the facility ensure good sanitary health and safety practices are in place related to construction, operation, and maintenance among the residents, employees, and visitors to the facility.  Our purpose is to prevent or minimize the risk of transmitting disease, injury, or bodily harm. The inspector will look throughout the facility to ensure it is being properly maintained.

The list below includes some of the primary areas the environmental health inspector checks for during their inspection visit.

• House Keeping
• Lighting
• Vermin/Animal Control
• Bed/Bedding
• Water Supply
• Liquid & Solid Waste
• Housing
• Sanitary Facilities
• Outdoor Area & Equipment
• Indoor equipment/furnishings

Areas Related To Disease Control and Injury Prevention Need Special Attention

• Food Hygiene & Sanitation
• Sanitary bedding
• Solid Waste/garbage
• Sanitary Facilities (Restrooms & Bathing Facilities)
• Repair and Upkeep
• Safe Outdoor Recreational Area
• Vector and Vermin Control
• Water Temperature

Good management practices for facility pest control and head lice information.

Information can be found at the University of Florida’s web site Integrated Pest Management.

The Florida Department of Health is not the licensing agency for group homes. A group home is a generic term used for a variety of care homes. These can be for children 19 years or less and licensed under the Department of Children and Families or the Agency for Persons with Disabilities if they serve disabled clients. 

• If the home serves disabled clients, contact the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, or by phone at 850-488-4257.
• If the facility serves children, who are not disabled and are 19 years of age or less, contact the Florida Department of Children and Families, or by phone at 866-762-2237.
• If the facility serves elderly clients, contact the Agency for Health Care Administration, or by phone at 888-419-3456 or 850-412-4304.

The Florida Department of Health does conduct both food hygiene and group care/physical plant related inspections in group homes and other residential facilities. Once you begin the licensing process with the licensing agency, contact the local health department in the county you intend to locate your group home prior to construction, remodel and/or before opening for food hygiene, group care, drinking water supplies from a well, pool, and septic requirements/inspections/plan reviews.

• A listing of group homes that serve persons with disabilities is available through the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. 
• Group homes that serve children will be regulated by the Department of Children and Families.
• Certain group homes for the elderly may be licensed by the Agency for Health Care Administration.