Who Needs a Licence and How to Get One?
Who Needs a Licence?
The Supportive Living Accommodation Licensing Act requires that supportive living settings are licensed if they provide accommodation and support services for four or more individuals and provide or arrange for services related to safety and security, and offer or arrange for at least one meal a day or housekeeping services. 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
The following facilities are not licensed under the Supportive Living Accommodation Licensing Act; however, they are still required to follow the long-term care accommodation standards:
- Nursing homes under the Nursing Homes Act
- Auxiliary hospitals under the Hospitals Act
Resources
Accommodation Standards and Licensing Publications and Forms
For more information on the standards that must be met to receive a licence, please refer to the Supportive Living Accommodation Standards.
How to Get a Licence
To apply for an initial licence
- Send a letter of intent with information about the supportive living setting that requires a license. The letter must include the following information:
- Brief overview of the operation;
- Detailed outline of the services to be provided;
- The number of individuals requiring support and their relationship to the operator;
- The location of the accommodation;
- The proposed start-up date;
- Funding source(s);
- The ownership of the accommodation (e.g. is the building owned, rented or leased by the service provider or clients?);
- 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 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 the following documents:
- Confirmation of current corporate status of the operator(s) of the supportive living accommodation, if applicable;
- Confirmation of insurance coverage;
- A copy of the:
- Most recent health inspection;
- Safety code approval for a new or renovated supportive living accommodation;
- Zoning approval; and,
- Most recent fire inspection report for pre-existing buildings.
To renew a licence
- Alberta Seniors will automatically send a licence application/licence renewal form to the individual or organization that holds the current licence before it expires.
- The application must be completed and submitted with proof of liability insurance.
