Verified October 10, 2026 against the statutes, regulations and sources cited below. The state decides every application. All states
What operators miss in Maryland
- Licensed solo or group practices of licensed health professionals can be exempt, but substance-related disorder programs under COMAR 10.63.03.11 to .14 still need a license.
- The application includes an agreement to cooperate with the local core service agency, local addictions authority or local behavioral health authority.
Does Maryland license behavioral health and addiction treatment programs?
A behavioral health program must be licensed by the Maryland Department of Health before it provides services. Outpatient Level 1, intensive outpatient 2.1, partial hospitalization 2.5, residential 3.1 to 3.7 and outpatient mental health centers all need an accreditation-based license, which cannot be transferred.
- One license with service components
- Community-based behavioral health program license (accreditation-based)
- Issued by Maryland Department of Health
Citation: Md. Code, Health-Gen. 7.5-401; COMAR 10.63.01.03, 10.63.02.02
How does Maryland license each level of care?
Maryland's SUD program license categories follow ASAM levels 1, 2.1, 2.5 and 3.1 to 3.7.
- Outpatient: Outpatient Treatment Level 1 program license (accreditation-based).
- IOP and PHP: Separate program licenses for Intensive Outpatient Treatment Level 2.1 and Partial Hospitalization Treatment Level 2.5 (accreditation-based).
- Residential: Program licenses for Residential Levels 3.1, 3.3, 3.5 and 3.7 (accreditation-based).
- Withdrawal management: Withdrawal management is a service a listed program may provide when its license specifically authorizes it.
Citation: COMAR 10.63.02.02
What does accreditation do for a Maryland license?
The listed programs need an accreditation-based license. A program allowed a license without accreditation must pass a department inspection of every site before the license issues.
- Accreditation required
Citation: COMAR 10.63.02.02, 10.63.06.04
What does Maryland require for owners, sales and moves?
- Background screening: The application discloses license revocations within 10 years and criminal convictions of the applicant, owner, program director or staff; programs must follow a written criminal history policy for staff, contractors and volunteers.
- Ownership change or relocation: A license is valid only for the program and address named. A sale or transfer that changes ownership requires a new license.
Citation: COMAR 10.63.01.05, 10.63.06.02, 10.63.06.09
What does an opioid treatment program need in Maryland?
- State opioid treatment authority: No agency named on SAMHSA list (Catonsville contact at maryland.gov)
- State license: Opioid treatment service authorized on a listed program license (such as Outpatient Level 1 or IOP 2.1).
- 119 opioid treatment programs in 2024 (N-SUMHSS)
How does Maryland treat recovery residences?
Recovery residences that hold meetings or offer support but provide no treatment can be exempted from behavioral health program licensing.
Citation: Md. Code, Health-Gen. 7.5-401(b)(2); COMAR 10.63.01.04
Opening or expanding a program in Maryland?
We confirm what Maryland 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.