In 2023, Kentucky passed House Bill 248 to strengthen safety and accountability in recovery residences, often called sober living homes. Previously, many of these homes operated with limited oversight, raising concerns about living conditions and quality of care. The new law requires recovery residences to meet national certification standards and gives local governments the authority to oversee compliance.

The Urban County Council is developing local policies under this new framework. A draft ordinance has been introduced to regulate recovery residences, and the Council is now seeking input from the community.

Helpful Terms & Definitions:

Cabinet - Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services

Certifying Organization - Any organization that develops and administers professional certification programs requiring minimum standards for the operation of recovery residences that has been recognized and approved by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services

Recovery Residence - any premises, place, or building that:

(1) Holds itself out as a recovery residence, alcohol, illicit drug, and other intoxicating substance-free home for unrelated individual, or any other similarly named or identified residence that promotes substance use disorder recovery through abstinence from intoxicating substances;

(2) Provides a housing arrangement for a group of unrelated individuals who are recovery from substance use disorders or to a group of parents who are recovering from substance use disorder and their children, including peer-to-peer supervision models; and

(3) Does not include any premises, place, or building that is licensed or otherwise approved by the Cabinet or any other agency of state government to operate as a residential or inpatient substance use treatment facility.

Substance Use Disorder - the recurrent use of alcohol and/or drugs causes clinically significant impairment, including health problems, disability, and failure to meet major responsibilities at work, school, or home.

Public Input Meeting & Digital Forum Launch

The Council’s Social Services & Public Safety Committee (SSPS) held a special meeting on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, to hear feedback in person, and announced the launch of this online digital forum. If you could not attend, you are invited to share your thoughts in the forum below. Your input will help guide the Council as it finalizes its work.

Watch the Public Input Meeting on LexTV!