Get Licensed as an Adult Foster Care Group Home

Licensing is the process by which the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Community and Health Systems (BCHS) regulates adult foster care group homes. The process requires that adult foster care licenses are in compliance with the rules for adult foster care group homes.

Step I - You must read the Adult Foster Care Licensing Rules for Adult Foster Care Group Homes  (12 or less)  or Licensing Rules for Adult Foster Care Large Group Homes  (13-20) and the Adult Foster Care Act (1979 PA 218) prior to completing the online application.

Internet Explorer is required to complete the online application.

Note: You must have a credit card or a debit card to pay the fee online (Discover or American Express Cards are not accepted) Click here if you do not have a credit card or a debit card.

Step II – The application must be completed online including submission of the application fee.

Small Group Home 3 – 6   $150.00                       Large Group Home 13 – 20   $500.00
Small Group Home 7 – 12   $200.00

You are required to submit additional information as part of your application. All items must be returned together and sent to:

LICENSING RECORD CLEARANCE REQUESTS (BCAL-1326A-FP)
A Licensing Record Clearance Request will need to be completed and submitted for:
The License Applicant, if the license applicant is an individual.
The Licensee Designee, if the license applicant is a corporation/LLC, etc. This is the individual authorized to act on behalf of the corporation/LLC, and must be named on the application. You may only designate one individual. 1979 PA 218, Sec. 12(21) requires the applicant, if an individual, the licensee designee, owner, partner, or director of the applicant who has regular direct access to residents or who has on-site facility operational responsibilities to submit fingerprints for a criminal history check.  After completing the fingerprint process, return the completed, signed and dated form with your application.

If additional forms are needed, please contact the Licensing Unit at 1-866-856-0126. This information is mandatory. Your application will not be processed until this information has been received and the Clearance Request conducted.

LICENSING INFORMATION REQUEST (BCHS-AFC 100) 

 A Licensing Information Request will need to be completed and submitted for:
The Administrator. This is the person responsible for the daily operation of the facility and must be named on the application. You may only designate one individual.
Members of the household, 18 years of age or older, who live in the facility and are not AFC residents or staff of the facility. These individuals must be listed on the application.

Medical Clearance Request (BCAL-3704-AFC). You must provide a Medical Clearance Request (BCAL 3704-AFC), or its equivalent, completed by a licensed physician or their designee for each license applicant and each responsible person. It cannot be dated more than 6 months prior to license issuance. It is recommended that you do not have the Medical Clearance Request completed until you speak to a consultant.

FIRE SAFETY PLAN REVIEW (7 or more residents)   
If your application is for 7 or more residents, your facility will need to be inspected by the Bureau of Construction Codes and Fire Safety. You are required to submit building plans to the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Construction Codes and Fire Safety (BCCFS) for approval. You must submit form BCC-979 with your plans. This form, and the fire safety administrative rules for AFC’s of 7 or more, may be obtained by visiting the LARA-BCCFS website.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INSPECTIONS
The local health authority completes inspections for private water supply and/or sewage disposal systems for family and group homes.  These inspections are conducted every two years.

NOTE: UPON ASSIGNMENT OF A LICENSING CONSULTANT AND PRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT OF NEW CONSTRUCTION, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT YOUR FLOOR PLANS TO YOUR CONSULTANT FOR REVIEW AND FOR APPROVAL.

The Department will arrange both the fire and environmental health onsite inspections.
Upon receipt of your completed application, application fee, and the receipt and processing of all record clearance requests, your application will be forwarded to the appropriate field office and assigned to a licensing consultant. The licensing consultant will contact you regarding your application.

NOTE: Prior to submitting a corporate application, you must first form your corporation/LLC through the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs AND obtain a Federal Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service.

Please note that once you have submitted your application you may not add or delete a licensee name from the application or change the facility type you have indicated on your application. These changes require that you submit a new application and a new fee. Fees are non-transferable. When a new application is required, fees previously submitted cannot be credited to the new application.

It is therefore strongly recommended that you contact the local field office and speak with a licensing consultant prior to submitting your application and fee to assure that you are submitting the correct application, for the correct facility type, with the appropriate licensee name. You may find the local field office listing online at http://www.michigan.gov/afchfa. Click on the “contact information” button in the “contact us” box.

For additional information, please contact the Licensing Unit at 866-685-0006.