Last updated 2026-07-25
TL;DR
An assisted living facility license lookup means searching your state licensing agency's public database (or calling them directly) to confirm a facility is licensed, see its inspection history, and check for complaints or enforcement actions. Every state runs its own system; there's no single national database. Start with your state's health or social services department website.
What is assisted living?
Assisted living is a category of licensed residential care for adults, usually seniors, who need help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, medication reminders, and meals but don't need the round-the-clock skilled nursing care a nursing home provides. Residents typically have their own room or apartment, share common spaces, and get support staff on site. The federal government doesn't license assisted living. States do. That's why the rules, the terminology, and even the name of the license vary so much depending on where you live. Some states call it "assisted living," others use "residential care facility," "personal care home," "adult foster care," or "community-based residential facility." The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services notes that states, not the federal government, set licensing requirements for these settings [1]. Because of that patchwork, an assisted living facility license lookup has to start at the state level. There is no federal registry you can search the way you'd search, say, a Medicare-certified nursing home.
What is an assisted living facility?
An assisted living facility is a licensed residential building or campus where staff provide help with activities of daily living, medication management, meals, housekeeping, and some level of supervision, while residents keep as much independence as possible. It sits between independent living (no hands-on care) and a nursing home (24-hour skilled nursing care). Most states require these facilities to hold a specific operating license, renewed annually or every two years, issued by a state agency such as a department of health, department of social services, or office of aging. The license sets the maximum number of residents, the level of care staff can legally provide, staffing ratios, and physical plant requirements like sprinkler systems and exit access. When you do a license lookup, you're really checking three things: is the license active, is the facility licensed for the level of care it's advertising, and does the inspection history show a pattern of problems. States publish this information with different levels of detail. Some post full inspection reports as PDFs; others only confirm status by phone.
What is assisted living facility (the term, explained plainly)
"Assisted living facility" is both a legal license category in many states and a general industry term people use loosely for any residential care setting for seniors. That looseness causes confusion during a license lookup, because a building marketed as "assisted living" to the public might actually be licensed under a different category, like "residential care home" or "personal care boarding home," depending on the state's statute. This matters for verification. If you search a state database for "assisted living" and get zero results for a facility you know exists, try searching by the facility's exact legal name or address instead, and check whether the state uses a different license category name. Most state agency websites list their official license types on the same page as the search tool, which is the fastest way to figure out what you're actually looking for. For general background on how these categories differ from group homes for other populations, see assisted living facility and assisted living facilities.
What is a group home?
A group home is a licensed residential setting, usually a single house in a residential neighborhood, that provides care and supervision for a small number of residents, often people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, mental health needs, or in recovery from substance use. Group homes generally house fewer people than assisted living facilities (commonly under 10) and are licensed under a different chapter of state law than senior assisted living. The term overlaps with assisted living in casual conversation, but the licensing agency and rules are usually distinct. Adult foster care and IDD group homes, for instance, are frequently licensed through a state's developmental disabilities or behavioral health division rather than its aging or health department. If you're trying to verify a group home rather than a senior assisted living facility, you may need to search an entirely different state database. See assisted living for a broader look at where these categories sit next to each other.
How do I look up an assisted living facility's license?
Start with your state licensing agency's website. Most states run a searchable public database or post a downloadable list of licensed facilities. Search by facility name, city, or license number. If no online tool exists, call the agency's licensing division directly; by law in most states, license status and inspection findings are public record. Here's a general step order that works in nearly every state: 1. Identify which state agency licenses assisted living where the facility is located (health department, social services, aging division, or a dedicated licensing bureau). 2. Use the agency's online provider search or facility locator tool. 3. Confirm the license is active, not expired, suspended, or surrendered. 4. Pull the most recent inspection or survey report if the state posts one. 5. Check for a complaint history, substantiated violations, or enforcement actions like fines or admission holds. 6. Confirm licensed capacity (number of beds) matches what the facility is telling you. Example: Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration runs "Florida Health Finder," a public database where you can search assisted living facility licenses, survey results, and complaint history by name or county. California's Community Care Licensing Division similarly maintains a public facility search for residential care facilities for the elderly. Every state has some version of this; the name and depth of detail differ.
What does an assisted living facility license lookup actually show you?
A typical state record shows the license number, license status (active, pending, revoked, expired), licensed capacity, the level of care the facility is approved to provide, the date of the last inspection, and any deficiencies cited. Some states add complaint investigation summaries and administrative penalties. What it usually does not show: staffing turnover, day-to-day quality of care, food quality, or resident satisfaction. A clean inspection record is a floor, not a guarantee. Inspections happen on a schedule (often annually, sometimes less frequent depending on state resources) plus in response to complaints, so a facility could have real problems between visits that haven't surfaced yet. A few things worth flagging as red flags when you pull a record: repeated deficiencies in the same category across multiple inspection cycles, a recent change in ownership with no updated inspection on file, or a license listed as "provisional" or "conditional," which usually means the state found problems serious enough to restrict the license rather than revoke it outright.
What is assisted living vs nursing home?
| Licensing authority | State only | State + federal (CMS) |
|---|---|---|
| Care level | ADL help, some health monitoring | 24-hour skilled nursing |
| Medicare certification | No | Yes, for Medicare-covered stays |
| Public quality ratings | Varies by state, often none | CMS Care Compare star ratings |
| Typical staffing | Aides, medication aides, RN/LPN oversight varies | RNs, LPNs, CNAs required around the clock |
The core difference is the level of medical care. Assisted living provides help with daily living activities and some health monitoring, but residents are generally more independent and don't need continuous skilled nursing. Nursing homes (also called skilled nursing facilities) provide 24-hour nursing care, are certified by CMS for Medicare and Medicaid participation, and serve people with more complex medical needs, including rehabilitation after hospitalization [2]. Licensing reflects that split. Nursing homes are certified under federal Medicare/Medicaid rules in addition to state licensing, which is why you can search them on CMS's Care Compare tool with standardized quality ratings [2]. Assisted living facilities are licensed purely at the state level, with no equivalent federal certification or star-rating system, which is exactly why a national "assisted living lookup" doesn't exist the way it does for nursing homes. | Feature | Assisted living | Nursing home |
What is the difference between assisted living and nursing home for a family choosing care?
For a family deciding between the two, the practical question is medical need, more than preference. If someone needs help remembering medication, getting dressed, or getting to meals, and can otherwise move around and manage most of their day, assisted living usually fits. If someone needs wound care, IV therapy, ventilator support, or has a condition requiring a nurse on hand at all times, that's nursing home territory. Cost and payment source track this difference too. Nursing home stays covered by Medicare are limited to short-term skilled care following a qualifying hospital stay, capped at 100 days per benefit period with a daily coinsurance kicking in after day 20 [3]. Assisted living has no such Medicare pathway at all, which trips a lot of families up (see next section). Medicaid, separately, can cover nursing home care as a mandatory benefit in every state, while Medicaid coverage of assisted living services runs through optional state waiver programs, not as a guaranteed benefit [4].
Does Medicare cover assisted living facilities?
No. Medicare does not cover the cost of room, board, or personal care in an assisted living facility. Medicare.gov states plainly that Medicare and most private insurance policies don't pay for non-medical assisted living costs . Medicare will pay for specific medical services a resident receives, like doctor visits, physical therapy, or a covered home health visit, even if that resident happens to live in an assisted living facility, but it will not pay the facility's monthly rent-like fee for room, board, or supervision. Medicaid is a different story, though still limited. Some states use Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers, authorized under section 1915(c) of the Social Security Act, to cover certain personal care services delivered inside assisted living settings [4]. Medicaid still generally will not pay the room-and-board portion of the bill, only the care services piece, and availability depends entirely on the waiver programs your state has approved. Confirm with your state Medicaid agency and your state licensing agency what, if anything, is covered before assuming any public payment source will apply.
How do I start a group home?
Starting a group home means working through five broad stages: research your state's specific license category and statute, write required policy and procedure manuals, secure and zone a compliant property, hire staff who meet the state's training and background check standards, and pass a pre-licensing inspection before you can accept your first resident. The exact sequence and paperwork differ by state and by population served (senior assisted living vs. IDD group home vs. mental health residential vs. recovery housing all have different licensing chapters, even within the same state). That said, nearly every state licensing process includes these common steps: 1. Identify the correct license category and the state agency that issues it. 2. Read the full administrative code or statute for that license type, more than a summary page. 3. Draft your policy and procedure manual (admissions, medication management, emergency planning, resident rights, staffing plan). 4. Confirm zoning allows a group home use at your chosen property (see [zoning-and-property topics] for local rules). 5. Complete required staff background checks, training hours, and any administrator certification exam. 6. Submit your license application with required fees, which vary widely by state and license type; confirm with your state licensing agency for current amounts. 7. Pass the pre-licensing life-safety and program inspection. 8. Get your license issued, then plan for the ongoing survey/inspection cycle. For the deeper state-by-state process, see assisted living facility and facility assisted living, which walk through category differences in more detail.
How do I start a group home without missing a required step?
The most common way operators get delayed isn't a bad property or bad staff, it's paperwork sequencing: applying before zoning is confirmed, or submitting a policy manual that's missing a section the reviewer expects (like an emergency evacuation plan or a specific medication administration protocol required by that state's code). Pulling the actual administrative code section for your license type before you write anything saves rewrites later. Building your own binder of policies, staffing plans, and forms from scratch, state by state, is the part that eats the most time for first-time operators. That's the gap our $299 one-time State Group Home Licensing Kit is built to close: state-specific policy templates, staffing plan structures, and application checklists so you're not starting from a blank page. It doesn't replace reading your state's code or guarantee approval; no legitimate resource can promise that. Start at /licensing-kit-builder if you want the structured version of the steps above. Whatever resource you use, budget real time for the inspection stage. States typically won't schedule your pre-licensing inspection until your application, background checks, and facility documentation are complete, so gaps in any one area push your whole timeline back.
How do I verify a license before I sign a lease or move a family member in?
Run the lookup yourself, don't rely on a marketing brochure or a sales tour claim. Search the state licensing database by exact facility name and address, confirm the license status is active (not expired, suspended, or under a conditional/provisional designation), and pull the most recent inspection report if the state posts one online. If the state doesn't post inspection reports publicly, call the licensing division and ask for the facility's inspection and complaint history; in most states this is public record you can request even if it isn't posted online. Also ask directly whether the facility is licensed for the specific level of care your family member needs (some states have tiered assisted living licenses, e.g., a basic tier vs. a memory care or higher-acuity tier), since a facility can be legitimately licensed but not licensed for the care level being marketed.
Where do I find the license lookup tool for my specific state?
Search "[your state] assisted living facility license search" plus the word "gov," or go directly to your state's department of health, department of social services, or aging services agency website and look for "licensing," "provider search," or "facility locator." Nearly every state publishes something; Florida's AHCA Health Finder and California's Community Care Licensing Division search are examples of the more detailed, user-friendly versions. If you can't find an online tool for your state, call the licensing division directly and ask for the facility's license number, status, and inspection history. This information is generally public record under state administrative procedure and public records law, even if the state hasn't digitized it into a searchable database yet. Confirm with your state licensing agency for the exact office and phone number, since this varies significantly and older search results sometimes point to outdated agency names or defunct URLs.
Frequently asked questions
What is assisted living?
Assisted living is licensed residential care for adults who need help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, and medication reminders but don't need 24-hour skilled nursing. States, not the federal government, set the licensing rules, so the exact definition and requirements vary by where the facility is located.
What is a group home?
A group home is a licensed residential setting, typically a house, that provides care and supervision for a small number of residents, often people with developmental disabilities, mental health needs, or in recovery. It's usually licensed under a different state statute than senior assisted living, even though the public sometimes uses the terms interchangeably.
What is an assisted living facility?
An assisted living facility is a licensed building where staff help residents with daily living activities, medication management, and meals while residents keep as much independence as possible. States issue the operating license, set the maximum resident capacity, and conduct periodic inspections to confirm the facility meets safety and care standards.
What is the difference between assisted living and nursing home?
Assisted living provides help with daily activities for people who are largely independent; nursing homes provide 24-hour skilled nursing care for people with more complex medical needs. Nursing homes carry federal Medicare/Medicaid certification with CMS quality ratings; assisted living facilities are licensed at the state level only, with no equivalent national rating system.
Does Medicare cover assisted living facilities?
No. Medicare does not pay for room, board, or personal care in an assisted living facility, according to Medicare.gov. Medicare can pay for specific covered medical services, like a doctor visit or physical therapy, delivered to someone who happens to live in assisted living, but not the facility's monthly care fee itself.
How do I start a group home?
You identify the correct state license category, read the full administrative code for it, write required policy manuals, confirm zoning at your property, hire staff who meet background check and training requirements, submit your application with fees, and pass a pre-licensing inspection. Requirements vary significantly by state and by population served.
How do I look up an assisted living facility's license?
Go to your state's licensing agency website (health department, social services, or aging division) and use its public provider search or facility locator tool. If no online tool exists, call the licensing division directly; license status and inspection history are generally public record.
What does assisted living provide?
Assisted living typically provides help with bathing, dressing, mobility, medication reminders, meals, housekeeping, laundry, social activities, and some level of staff supervision around the clock. It does not typically provide 24-hour skilled nursing care; residents needing that level of medical care usually need a nursing home instead.
Is there a national database to look up any assisted living facility's license?
No. There is no single federal or national database for assisted living licenses, because assisted living is licensed entirely at the state level. Nursing homes have a federal equivalent through CMS's Care Compare tool, since they're also Medicare/Medicaid certified, but assisted living has no matching federal system.
What's the difference between assisted living and a group home license?
Assisted living licenses are usually issued for senior residential care through a state's health or aging department, with higher typical resident capacity. Group home licenses often cover smaller residential settings for people with disabilities, mental health conditions, or recovery needs, issued through a different state division like developmental disabilities or behavioral health services.
Can Medicaid pay for assisted living instead of a nursing home?
Sometimes, for care services only, not room and board, and only where a state has an approved Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services waiver covering assisted living settings under section 1915(c) of the Social Security Act. Availability and covered services vary by state; confirm with your state Medicaid agency directly.
What should I look for in an assisted living facility's inspection report?
Check the date of the most recent inspection, any cited deficiencies and whether they were corrected, and whether the same type of violation recurs across multiple inspection cycles. Repeated deficiencies in the same category, or a facility with no inspection on file after a recent ownership change, are worth asking the state licensing agency about directly.
Sources
- Medicaid.gov, Home & Community-Based Services: states set requirements for home and community-based settings including assisted living, not the federal government
- Medicare.gov, Skilled Nursing Facility Care coverage: Medicare-covered skilled nursing facility stays are capped at 100 days per benefit period with coinsurance after day 20
- Medicaid.gov, Home and Community-Based Services 1915(c) waivers: Medicaid coverage of assisted living services runs through optional state HCBS waiver programs under section 1915(c), not as a guaranteed benefit
- Medicare.gov, Long-term care coverage overview: Medicare does not cover the cost of room, board, or non-medical personal care in assisted living facilities
- Medicare.gov: Medicare Part A covers certain skilled nursing facility stays but does not cover custodial care provided in assisted living facilities
- American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL): Assisted living facility regulations, including licensing requirements, vary by state and are enforced by state-specific regulatory agencies
- Medicaid.gov: Medicaid may cover certain long-term care services, distinguishing institutional care coverage from assisted living services
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: Medicare does not generally cover long-term custodial care such as that provided in assisted living facilities or nursing homes
- U.S. Small Business Administration: Starting a group home requires obtaining specific state and local business licenses and permits before operating
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): CMS oversees quality and safety standards enforcement for certified long-term care facilities, distinct from state assisted living licensure