Do I need a license to open a sober living home in Connecticut?
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No. Connecticut does not license or certify sober living homes, and the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) does not oversee them. Every sober living home must still follow the disclosure and advertising rules in Public Act 18-171, and local zoning rules apply. Certification is voluntary.
What does a Connecticut sober living home have to say on its website?
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Under Public Act 18-171, a sober living home's website and publications must state in bold that it is not licensed or certified to provide substance use disorder treatment. The home may not make outcome claims or imply it is a treatment facility. Violations are an unfair trade practice under the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act.
How do I get my sober house on the DMHAS list in Connecticut?
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First get certified by the Connecticut Alliance of Recovery Residences (CTARR) or another certifier the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) recognizes. As of August 2026, DMHAS recognizes the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR) with its Connecticut affiliate CTARR, the National Sober Living Association with its local affiliate New Life II, and the National Coalition of Recovery Residences. Then report your certified status to DMHAS, keep at least two doses of an opioid antagonist such as naloxone on site, train all residents to give it when any resident has an opioid use disorder diagnosis, and report your available beds when you first report and weekly after that. DMHAS does not certify homes itself, and uncertified homes can't be listed.
What is the DMHAS sober house list?
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Under Public Act 18-171, the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) posts on its website a list of the sober living homes that have reported their certified status, with the number of beds available at each, and updates it weekly. Being on the list is voluntary and open only to certified homes. DMHAS says it does not monitor, certify, or oversee sober living homes, so the list is not a state license or endorsement.
How much does CTARR certification cost?
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The Connecticut Alliance of Recovery Residences (CTARR) lists an annual certification fee of $300 plus $3 per bed, which includes one onsite inspection, and $100 for each additional property. Certification lasts one year.
Can a Connecticut town use zoning to keep a sober living home out?
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The federal Fair Housing Act bars local governments from using zoning or land use rules to exclude group homes for people with disabilities, including people in recovery, but homes still follow neutral zoning and occupancy rules. Complaints can go to the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) within 300 days, or to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
How do I list my sober living home in this guide for free?
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Request a free listing. You choose what it shows, such as who the home serves and its certifications. The street address is shown only if you want it to be. Listing never requires ARKHE software.
Is a sober living home in Connecticut a treatment program?
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No. The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) describes sober living homes as alcohol- and drug-free residences that provide no formal substance use treatment. State law requires each home to say in bold on its website that it is not licensed or certified to provide treatment.
Where is the DMHAS sober house list in Connecticut?
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The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) shows available certified sober living home beds on its Connecticut Addiction Services Availability site (ctaddictionservices.com), which has a Sober Houses section, and links to it from its Certified Sober Living Homes page. The homes there are certified and chose to report to DMHAS, and they report open beds weekly. Open beds are not a guarantee of admission, so call the home and ask about its screening or waitlist.
How do I find a certified sober living home in Connecticut?
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The Connecticut Alliance of Recovery Residences (CTARR) publishes a directory of certified homes. The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) availability site shows open beds by level of care, including sober houses. Oxford House also lists open beds in its self-run homes.
Where can I get help for drug or alcohol use in Connecticut?
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Call the Substance Use Services Access Line at 1-800-563-4086, any time. It is funded by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) and connects people to assessment, outpatient care, medications for addiction, withdrawal management, and residential programs. You can also dial 211 for local services.
What should I ask a sober living home before moving in?
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Ask for the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) disclosure form, which DMHAS publishes for prospective residents, and read it before you sign. Ask about costs and what they include, house rules, whether medication for addiction treatment is allowed, and whether the home is certified. The Connecticut Alliance of Recovery Residences (CTARR) also has a selection guide and a grievance form.
Where can I find recovery support in Connecticut?
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The Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) offers free help through eight Recovery Community Centers, telephone recovery support calls, virtual support meetings, and recovery coaching. Call 866-205-9770.