Communal Living Facilities

The Jefferson County Department of Health regulates Communal Living Facilities (CLFs) to protect residents’ health and safety. CLFs, also known as boarding homes, adult foster homes, or adult group homes, are public or private facilities housing three or more residents not related to the owner or operator. Residents pay compensation to occupy the unit. In Jefferson County, permitted CLFs are classified as rooming homes, which provide only living or sleeping quarters, or boarding homes, which also provide meals. The following are excluded from these regulations: assisted living facilities, nursing homes, hotels, motels, apartments, dormitories, fraternity and sorority houses affiliated with colleges or universities, and foster or group homes governed by another agency. The health department does not issue permits for foster homes or group homes housing youth or minor children.