Verified October 10, 2026 against the statutes, regulations and sources cited below. The state decides every application. All states
What operators miss in Florida
- A new provider gets a 90-day probationary license that cannot be reissued.
- The license application must name every recovery residence the provider plans to refer patients to or accept patients from (397.403(1)(j)).
- Telling a patient a residence's name or address counts as a referral; violations carry a $1,000 administrative fine per occurrence.
Does Florida license behavioral health and addiction treatment programs?
Acting as a substance abuse service provider without a DCF license or exemption is a third-degree felony. DCF issues one license per site listing each service component; adding a component needs approval first, and relocating a site needs 30 days' notice.
- One license with service components
- Substance abuse service provider license
- Substance use programs: Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF)
Citation: Fla. Stat. 397.401, 397.407; Fla. Admin. Code R. 65D-30.003
How does Florida license each level of care?
- Outpatient: Licensed as a service component on the site license.
- IOP and PHP: Licensed as service components on the site license.
- Residential: Licensed as a service component on the site license.
- Withdrawal management: Nonhospital inpatient detoxification is a licensed component; it may not exceed licensed capacity by more than 10 percent, or for more than 3 consecutive working days or 7 days in a month.
Citation: Fla. Stat. 397.401(6), 397.407(6)
What does a Florida license cost?
- Renewal: $100 per licensed service component for late renewal filing; regular fee amounts not confirmed (as of October 2026)
Citation: Fla. Stat. 397.407(1)-(2)
How often does a Florida license renew?
- Renews every year
- Due 60 days before expiry; DCF may deny a renewal filed fewer than 30 days before expiry
What does accreditation do for a Florida license?
Clinical treatment components must be accredited by a DCF-recognized accreditor at each location: the first renewal needs proof of application for accreditation and later renewals need proof of accreditation. Accreditation can stand in for parts of the initial application.
- Accreditation required
Citation: Fla. Stat. 397.403(2)-(3); Fla. Admin. Code R. 65D-30.003(2)
What does Florida require for owners, sales and moves?
- Background screening: Owners, directors, chief financial officers and clinical supervisors are background-screened as part of the application.
- Ownership change or relocation: A license cannot be transferred; a transfer includes a majority ownership change. Relocating a site needs 30 days' notice to DCF.
Citation: Fla. Stat. 397.407(5)-(6)
What does an opioid treatment program need in Florida?
The heading of Fla. Stat. 397.427 still mentions a needs assessment, but its current text contains none; whether DCF runs one was not confirmed.
- State opioid treatment authority: No agency named on SAMHSA list (contact at myflfamilies.com, Florida DCF)
- State license: DCF license; a medication-assisted treatment provider for opiate addiction may not be licensed unless it also provides supportive rehabilitation programs.
- 127 opioid treatment programs in 2024 (N-SUMHSS)
Citation: Fla. Stat. 397.427
How does Florida treat recovery residences?
Certification is voluntary through a DCF-approved credentialing entity, with application and annual renewal fees each capped at $100. A licensed provider may not refer patients to, or accept referrals from, a residence that is not certified and run by a certified administrator.
- Voluntary certification
- NARR affiliate: Florida Association of Recovery Residences
Citation: Fla. Stat. 397.487, 397.4873
Opening or expanding a program in Florida?
We confirm what Florida requires for your services and levels of care, prepare the application and every attachment for your owner or officer to sign, and track it to a decision. An outpatient program license is $1,995 per site. Every fee is flat and never depends on admissions or census.