Facility Licensing Information:
Since 1945, North Carolina has had a public law requiring Adult Care Homes to be licensed. The purpose of the license is to ensure that each home meets minimum standards, regarding personal care services, health care, food service, activities, resident records, medication administration, fire safety, sanitation, staff qualifications, staffing ratios and physical environment.
Licensure standards are enforced by the Division of Health Service Regulation. Durham County Department of Social Services is responsible for monitoring each home’s compliance with standards. The State requires bi-monthly visits to the home. In Durham, each home is visited unannounced once a month. In addition, any concerns called into the Department of Social Services are evaluated by an Adult Home Specialist.
Persons interested in opening a Family Care Home in Durham County should contact Durham County Department of Social Services at 919-560-8000. The Department of Social Services will assist an applicant in putting together their application which will be forwarded by the Department of Social Services to Division of Health Service Regulation (DHSR) for the licensing procedure to continue. Monthly Family Care Home licensing seminars are held monthly at Durham County Department of Social Services. The rules and regulations for a Family Care Home can be found at https://www2.ncdhhs.gov/dhsr/index.html.
Persons interested in opening an Adult Care Home should contact the Division of Health Service Regulation (DHSR) at 919-855-3765. There is a certificate of need process in place for the opening of a new Adult Care Home. The rules and regulations for Adult Care Homes can be found at
https://www2.ncdhhs.gov/dhsr/index.html.