R501. Health and Human Services, Human Services Program Licensing.

R501-18. Recovery Residence Services.

R501-18-1. Authority and Purpose.

(1) Sections 26B-2-104 and 26B-2-117 authorize this rule.

(2) This rule provides the basic health and safety standards for recovery residences.

R501-18-2. Definitions.

The terms used in this rule are defined in Rules R501-1 and R380-600 and Section 26B-2-101. Additionally:

(1) "Deemed site" means:

(a) the same as defined in Section 26B-2-110; and

(b) a human services program identified by a single geographic location and linked to the parent program, if one exists.

(2) "Good standing" means the same as defined in Section 26B-2-110.

(3) "Recovery residence" means the same as defined in Section 26B-2-101.

(a) Recovery residence includes sober living.

(b) Recovery residence does not include a residential vocational or life skills program.

(4) "Supportive services" includes:

(a) vocational services;

(b) peer support;

(c) skills training; and

(d) community resource referral.

R501-18-3. Scope.

Each provider shall comply with any applicable federal, state, or local law, rule, or ordinance, including:

(1) Rule R380-80;

(2) Rule R380-600;

(3) Rule R501-1;

(4) Rule R501-14; and

(5) this rule.

R501-18-4. Legal Requirements.

(1) The provider shall comply with Rule R501-14 for background screenings by either:

(a) participating in the background clearances for any staff; or

(b) obtaining an approval by the Division of Licensing and Background Checks for an exemption as outlined in Rule R501-14.

(2) A provider that offers clinical treatment services shall obtain a residential treatment license or applicable separate outpatient or day treatment license.

(a) Clinical treatment may not be a mandatory condition of residence.

(b) Clinical treatment may not be offered within the recovery residence.

(3) A provider that offers social detoxification services shall obtain a separate social detoxification license before offering any social detoxification services.

(4) A provider may not provide housing or services to a client in active withdrawal without a social detoxification license issued by the department.

(5) A recovery residence program shall only serve adults.

R501-18-5. Administration.

(1) The provider shall ensure that clients receive supportive services from a person associated with the licensee or from a licensed professional.

(2) The provider may not offer, entice, refer, or recommend medical cannabis for residents in a recovery residence or as treatment for substance use disorder, as it is not considered a qualifying condition in Subsection 26B-4-203(2).

R501-18-6. Staffing.

(1) The provider shall contract with, or otherwise provide as needed, referral information for client access to a:

(a) physician;

(b) psychiatrist;

(c) mental health therapist (LCMHT); or

(d) substance use disorder counselor (SUDC).

(2) The provider shall identify a director who shall have:

(a) Utah licensure, in good standing, as a SUDC, licensed clinical social worker or equivalent; or

(b) two years experience in one of the following:

(i) administration of a recovery residence;

(ii) substance use disorder treatment education; or

(iii) recovery or support services education.

(3) The director's responsibilities that may not be delegated include:

(a) monitoring each aspect of the program and operation of the facility;

(b) policy and procedure development, implementation, compliance, and oversight;

(c) clearly defining responsibilities of the director, manager, and staff of the program;

(d) supervision and training of staff; and

(e) overseeing client activities.

(4) The director may manage directly or employ a manager to work under the supervision of the director.

(a) The director shall perform the manager's duties when the manager is on scheduled or unscheduled leave unless the manager designates a substitute manager.

(b) The manager or substitute manager may not be a currently enrolled client.

(5) In addition to the staff training requirements of Rule R501-1, the director shall maintain documentation of 40 hours of training covering the following topics for the director, manager, and any direct care staff:

(a) recovery services in substance use disorder settings;

(b) peer support;

(c) emergency overdose reversal;

(d) recognition and response to substance-related activities; and

(e) current certification in First Aid and CPR.

(6) An employee may not work unsupervised with clients until training is completed and documented.

(7) The director or manager shall conduct daily on-site visits to ensure client safety and support clients.

(a) The director or manager shall document visits per-site, not per-client.

(b) The director or manager shall use site visits to assess and document:

(i) general safety;

(ii) general cleanliness;

(iii) verification that only admitted residents reside or stay overnight at the residence;

(iv) no presence of alcohol or substances of abuse unless lawfully prescribed; and

(v) that medications are in locked storage.

(8) The director or manager shall have documented face-to-face or telephone daily contact with each admitted client.

(9) The director or manager shall ensure there is always administrative on-call availability and remain able to respond to the recovery residence staff and the Office of Licensing (OL) immediately by phone, or at the residence in-person within one hour.

(10) The provider shall ensure a director, manager, or substitute manager is on-site seven days per week to assess safety and support clients.

(11) The provider shall schedule and document daily visits.

R501-18-7. Direct Service.

(1) In addition to client record requirements of Rule R501-1, the provider shall ensure that each recovery residence client record contains:

(a) intake documentation indicating that the client meets the admission criteria, that includes:

(i) the client is not currently using or withdrawing from alcohol or substances of abuse; and

(ii) the client is not presenting with a current clinical assessment that contraindicates this level of care;

(b) any client medications;

(c) any client allergies;

(d) any client chronic conditions;

(e) any client communicable diseases;

(f) individual recovery plan that includes:

(i) documentation of each service provided by the program, including a disclosure that no clinical treatment services occur on-site at the recovery residence; and

(ii) documentation of each referred supportive service, not directly associated with the recovery residence site;

(g) a signed written lease agreement for the recovery residence, if required; and

(h) a signed agreement indicating that the client was notified in writing before admission regarding:

(i) program and client responsibilities related to transportation to and location of off-site services;

(ii) program and client responsibilities related to the provision of toiletries, bedding and linens, laundry, and other household items;

(iii) program and client responsibilities related to shopping, provision of food and preparation of meals;

(iv) fee disclosures including Medicaid number, insurance information and identification of any other entities who may be billed for the client's services; and

(v) rules of the program.

(2) The recovery plan shall contain the signature and title of the program representative that prepared the plan and the signature of the client.

R501-18-8. Building and Grounds.

In addition to the physical facility requirements of Rule R501-1, the provider shall:

(1) maintain a client to toilet ratio of 1:10;

(2) maintain a client to tub or shower ratio of 1:8;

(3) adhere to the following if a fire clearance is not required from the local fire authority:

(a) a bedroom on the ground floor shall have a minimum of one window that may be used to evacuate the room in case of fire; and

(b) a bedroom that is not on the ground floor shall have a minimum of two exits, at least one of which shall exit directly to outside the building that may be used to evacuate the room in case of fire;

(4) provide either equipment or reasonable access to equipment for washing and drying of linens and clothing;

(5) maintain an environment free from non-prescribed substances and alcohol;

(6) ensure client mail addressed to the program site is opened by the client in the presence of program staff to ensure that no contraband enters the program; and

(7) ensure any unlawful items found on-site are turned over to law enforcement and a critical incident report made to OL.

R501-18-9. Medical Standards.

(1)(a) The provider may not admit anyone who is currently in an intoxicated state, withdrawing from alcohol or drugs, or otherwise unable to understand terms and consent to reside in the recovery residence.

(b) Any qualifying recovery residence provider:

(i) may not deny any client services solely based on a client receiving medication assisted treatment; and

(ii) shall ensure any client continues the medication assisted treatment while receiving services from the provider.

(2) A provider shall ensure any client overseeing the management that client's medications keeps any prescription and non-prescription medication in individually accessed locked storage that is not accessible to other clients.

(3)(a) The provider shall ensure that a non-expired opioid reversal kit is safely maintained and available onsite.

(b) The provider shall ensure staff and clients are trained on the proper use of the opioid reversal kit.

(4) Medical cannabis is permitted in a recovery residence if:

(a) an individual has a medical cannabis card issued by the department;

(b) the cannabis is obtained from a department-licensed pharmacy with identifying information on the label; and

(c) the cardholder is instructed and adheres to the requirement to ensure medication is not shared and always remains locked when not in active use.

R501-18-10. Requirements for Granting Deemed Status to a Mental Health or Substance Use Disorder Treatment Site.

(1) The department may grant deemed status to the site of a mental health or substance use disorder treatment program if:

(a) the provider's license for the site is in good standing;

(b) the site only serves adults;

(c) the site is currently accredited from a department-approved national organization; and

(d) the provider submits the licensing documentation from the accrediting organization to the department, including any applicable:

(i) inspection record;

(ii) finding; and

(iii) corrective action plan and a progress report on the site addressing any corrective action plan.

(2) A site with deemed status may opt out of a department renewal inspection.

(3) The department may investigate any complaint or incident involving a deemed site.

(4) The provider is responsible for any renewal licensing fee for each deemed site.

(5) The department shall revoke the deemed site status if:

(a) the site receives any moderate, high, or extreme noncompliance licensing violation from department;

(b) the required accreditation documentation is not submitted to the department;

(c) the accreditation documentation includes any noncompliance violation finding equal to any moderate, high, or extreme state licensing finding level; or

(d) the provider no longer receives national accreditation for the deemed site.

(6) For any provider with multiple deemed sites:

(a) each site must meet the requirements to be granted deemed status; and

(b) the revocation of deemed status for any single site does not impact the status of any other site unless any condition listed in Subsection (5) applies to the other site.

KEY: licensing, human services, recovery residence

Date of Last Change: January 26, 2026

Notice of Continuation: December 2, 2024

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 26B-2-104; 26B-2-117