Who Needs a Licence and How to Get One
Who Needs a Licence?
The 
Social Care Facilities Licensing Act requires supportive living settings to be licensed if they provide accommodation and support services for four or more adults. A new or renewal licence must be applied for if the facility:
- Is new or unlicensed – apply for an initial licence
- Has an existing licence that is expiring – renew a licence
- Has changed ownership – apply for an initial licence
- Has moved to a new location – apply for an initial licence
For more information on the standards that must be met to receive a licence, please refer to the Supportive Living Accommodation Standards.
The following facilities are not licensed under the Social Care Facilities Licensing Act; however they are still required to follow the accommodation standards:
- Lodges as defined in the Alberta Housing Act
- Nursing homes under the Nursing Homes Act
- Auxiliary hospitals under the Hospitals Act
How to Get a Licence
To apply for an initial licence
- Send a letter of intent with information about the supportive living setting that needs licensing. The letter must include this information:
- Brief overview of the operation;
- Detailed outline of the services to be provided;
- Type and number of people who will live there;
- Location;
- Start-up date;
- Funding source(s);
- Ownership of the accommodation (e.g. is the building owned, rented or leased by the service provider or clients?);
- Description of the organization or individual who will operate the setting. This can include a list of other settings and services operated by the organization or individual; and
- If it is a new operation, a currently operating but unlicensed operation, an operation that is moving to a new location, or an existing operation being purchased.
- After receiving the above information, Alberta Seniors and Community Supports will determine if the setting needs to be licensed. If a licence is required, a licence application/licence renewal form will be sent to the individual or organization who applied for a licence. The application must be completed and submitted with these documents:
- Municipal zoning approval
- Municipal building approval
- Fire inspection approval
- Health inspection approval
- Proof of liability insurance
- Proof of Corporate Status, if applicable or list of Board of Directors
For more information on the standards that must be met to receive a licence, please refer to the Supportive Living Accommodation Standards.
- Alberta Seniors and Community Supports will automatically send a licence application/licence renewal form to the individual or organization who holds the current licence before it expires.
- The application must be completed and submitted with proof of liability insurance.
For more information on the standards that must be met to receive a licence, please refer to the Supportive Living Accommodation Standards.
