APPROVAL OF FACILITY BUILDING PLANS 

This section will provide an overview of the requirements for the approval of facility building plans by Bureau of Fire Services.

• Building plan reviews are required for facilities of 7 or more.
• Plan reviews are required for new construction, conversions, remodeling, alterations, and changes in ownership.
• Sealed architectural plans are submitted to the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Fire Services (BFS).
• Following plan approval and then project completion, onsite inspection by BFS is required.
• Construction or remodeling should not begin until plan review approval is received.

Information about the BFS plan review process may be reviewed at: www.michigan.gov/lara.

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APPLICATION PROCESS 

This section will provide an overview of the application process.

• A proposed facility for 7 or more should first obtain written local zoning approval. The application process cannot proceed without this approval.
• The license applicant submits complete application and application fee.
• When application is received in Lansing, we request environmental health and sanitation inspections and fire safety inspections, as needed (no charge to the applicant), and conduct criminal history background checks.
• Licensing staff cannot conduct an initial onsite inspection without receipt of a completed application and fee.

           Determining Compliance 

• Full compliance with licensing rules is required before an original license can be issued.
• Residents may not be admitted to a home/facility prior to the license being issued.
• We will provide you with written documentation of our findings from all inspections we conduct.
• Initial Inspection - Completed by the licensing consultant after an application and fee is received with proof of ownership or land control (lease) and permission to inspect from the property owner.
  • A written report of the physical plant modifications necessary for licensure is provided to the applicant.
  • The report may include a listing of qualification materials required for the applicant and/or administrator.
  • For group homes, the report may include identification of missing required policy & procedure documents.
• Environmental health and sanitation inspections - Completed by the licensing consultant for homes serving 6 or fewer persons or by the local health authority for homes of 7 or more.
  • Local health authorities inspect when a private well and/or septic system is used by the home.
  • Local health authorities complete a full environmental health inspection (inside & out) of general sanitation, food service and safety for homes for 7 or more.
• Fire Safety Inspections - Completed by the licensing consultant for homes serving 6 or fewer persons. The Bureau of Fire Services (BFS) has fire safety enforcement authority of homes for 7 or more persons.
  • Included items:
    • Fire extinguishers
    • Smoke detectors (family homes)
    • Furnace / hot water heater separation
    • Evacuation plans
    • Wall & ceiling finish - paneling generally not allowed
    • Smoke detection systems (group homes)
    • Exterior door locks (group homes)
    • Door width (group homes)
    • Sprinkler systems (homes for 7 or more)
    • Architectural plans with fire safety systems included (homes for 7 or more)
• Follow-up or Final Inspections - Completed by the licensing consultant.

Prior to a recommendation for licensure, all of the following must be completed:

• Required policies & procedures
• Qualifying information on the applicant and/or administrator
• All noncompliance with physical plant requirements must be resolved
• The home must be fully equipped and ready to accept residents.
• Full fire safety approval.
• Full environmental health approval.

Physical Plant requirements that you should be aware of for the various types of homes: 

• All Homes must have:
  • Required bedroom, dining room, & living square footage space available
  • Acceptable wall finishes (generally no paneling)
  • Handrails at stairs, tubs or showers, & around decks & porches
  • Furnace & hot water heater separation
  • Smoke detectors.
• Additionally, all small group homes (6 or less) must have:
  • Smoke detection systems
  • Full bathrooms on each floor with resident bedroom
  • Non-locking-against-egress locks
  • Minimum requirements for door widths.
• Additionally, all group homes (7 or more) must have:
  • Sprinkler systems & architectural plan reviews and onsite inspection approvals by BFS
  • Written approval to operate an AFC from the local zoning authority.

General Information 

• Application packet contains instructions on how to complete and where to forward applications.
• License issuance:
  No license can be issued until full compliance is achieved.
• At the time of original license issuance, you will receive an Original Licensing Study Report and a letter informing you that a license has been issued. A license to "post" will be mailed to you shortly thereafter. 
• A license is issued to a particular person/entity at a specific location for a certain number of residents (capacity) .
• A temporary license is issued for the first 6 months. It provides the opportunity to demonstrate compliance with quality of care requirements.
• A regular license is issued for 2 years when a facility is in substantial compliance with regulatory requirements.

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