AFCH License Information

AFCH LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

In the State of Florida, all adult family care homes (AFCHs) must obtain and maintain an AFCH license from the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) Long Term Care Unit.

For the purposes of licensing, an "adult family care home" means a full-time, family-type living arrangement, in a private home, under which a person who owns or rents the home provides room, board, and personal care, on a 24-hour basis, for no more than five (5) disabled adults or frail elders who are not relatives.

AFCH licenses are required to be displayed in a conspicuous place visible to the persons who enter the home.

AFCH LICENSE APPLICATION/RENEWAL/FEES

A complete license application packet, including forms and instructions, may be obtained by submitting a written request to AHCA, or the application packet may be downloaded electronically from the (AHCA) Long Term Care Unit. Written requests should be forwarded to:

A person who intends to be an adult family care home provider must own or rent the adult family care home that is to be licensed and reside therein. Application for a license or biennial license renewal must be signed under oath, and shall be accompanied by the required licensing fee.

Access to a licensed adult family care home must be provided at reasonable times for the appropriate officials of the department, the Department of Health, the Department of Children and Family Services, the agency, and the State Fire Marshal, who are responsible for the development and maintenance of fire, health, sanitary, and safety standards, to inspect the facility to assure compliance with these standards. In addition, access to a licensed adult family care home must be provided at reasonable times for the district long-term care ombudsman council.

A license is not transferable or applicable to any location or person other than the location and person indicated on the license. Any license granted by the agency must state the maximum resident capacity of the facility, the type of care for which the license is granted, the date the license is issued, the expiration date of the license, and any other information deemed necessary by the agency.

Although the maximum number of residents is limited to five (5) disabled adults or frail elders who are not relatives of the provider, the actual licensed capacity of each adult family care home shall be based on the service needs of the residents and the capability of the provider to meet the needs of the residents. Adult relatives of the provider who require personal care and supervision and reside in the home for more than 30 days shall be considered residents only for the purposes of determining capacity.

NOTE: Each adult family care home must designate at least one licensed space for a resident receiving Optional State Supplementation. The Department of Children and Family Services shall specify by rule the procedures to be followed for referring residents who receive optional state supplementation to adult family care homes. Those homes licensed as adult foster homes or assisted living facilities prior to January 1, 1994, that convert to adult family care homes, are exempt from this requirement.