Initial Community Residence Facility
Licensure Application Procedures

To get a community residence facility license, an applicant must contact the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs and the Child and Residential Care Facilities Division.

I. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs
Building and Land Regulation Administration
Zoning Division
941 North Capitol Street, NE
Second Floor

A. Certificate of Occupancy (C of O)

1. Complete a C of O application.
2. Get inspections from the Building and Land Regulation Administration.
   • Fire Safety
   • Building/Construction
   • Electrical
   • Plumbing
3. C of O issued upon approval of all inspections.

   NOTE: YOU HAVE 90 DAYS TO COMPLETE THE C OF O PROCESS

II. Child and Residential Care Facilities Division
825 North Capitol Street, NE
2nd Floor

A. Application

1. Submit a completed licensure application package, including:
   • Copy of C of O
   • Complete, signed application
   • Clean-Hands Act Certification
   • Food Handler's Certification (Department of Health, Food Inspection Branch, 442-5919)
   • Current Health Certification for Staff
   • Insurance Verification Form
   • License Fee (check or money order made payable to DC Treasurer)
   • Program Statement
   • Reference Letters (3)
   • Corporation Form, if applicable
   • Original Certificate or Good Standing (within the last 30 days), if applicable
   • Waiver of Employment, if applicable

   NOTE: AN INCOMPLETE APPLICATION PACKAGE WILL BE RETURNED TO YOU WITHOUT ACTION.

2. Get an initial inspection from:
   • Social Worker
   • Sanitarian

3. Receive and respond to a Statement of Deficiencies and Plan of Correction (SOD/POC).
   • C&RCFD inspector writes and sends to applicant a Statement of Deficiencies/Plan of Correction form within 15 days of inspection.
   • Applicant has 10 days from the receipt of the Statement of Deficiencies to submit a Plan of Correction with completion dates.
   • Applicant has 30 days from date of inspection to correct the deficiencies.
   • Inspectors may conduct a follow-up inspection within 10 days following the 30-day correction period or upon notification of applicant, if contact is made within 30-day inspection period.
   • An application shall be denied if deficiencies are not corrected within the 30-day time period.
   • The applicant may reapply for a license.

4. Health Regulation Administration shall issue an initial 90-day provisional license.
5. C&RCFD staff shall conduct an unannounced on-site inspection 45 days after the 90-day provisional license has been issued to determine continued compliance.

B. Initial Regular License

Health Regulation Administration shall issue a regular license for one year if the facility is in full or substantial compliance with the regulations.

NOTE: The initial licensure process shall not exceed 60 days.

C. Provisional License

1. Health Regulation Administration shall renew a provisional license.
2. HRA shall issue a second 90-day provisional license if the facility is not in substantial compliance, but deficiencies do not pose serious or imminent danger to the public. The facility has 60 days to correct deficiencies.
3. A letter from the Child and Residential Care Facilities Division identifying the specific deficiencies that continue to be outstanding shall be sent to the facility.
4. The C&RCFD staff shall conduct on-site inspection 60 days after the issuance of the second 90-day provisional license to determine if the facility is in compliance.
5. The HRA shall issue a license for one year if the facility is in substantial compliance.

D. Community Residence Facility License will be distributed via US Mail.

E. Required Regulations

• Title 22 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulation (DCMR), Public Health and Medicine
• Chapter 31, Licensure of Health Care and Community Residence Facilities
• Chapter 34, Community Residence Facilities (CRF)
• Chapter 35, Group Homes for Mentally Retarded Persons (GHMRP)
• Chapter 38, Community Residence Facilities for Mentally III Persons (Mental Health Community Residence Facilities)

These regulations can be obtained from: