Consolidated Adult Foster Care Ruleset Now in Effect

The single Adult Foster Care (AFC) ruleset took effect November 3, 2025. The previous family home, small group home, large group home, congregate, certification of specialized programs and fire safety rules for homes licensed for 6 or fewer residents are all rescinded as of November 3. This new ruleset brings all AFC types under the same rules and makes several changes to reduce the regulatory burden on providers without jeopardizing resident safety.

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) consultants will now begin to reference the new rules when they work with and review AFCs. The department expects that family homes and congregate homes will notice the biggest changes. In instances where the new rules require something that the old rules did not, consultants will discuss the change with providers whenever possible and give reasonable time to come into compliance with any new requirements. The state AFC licensing division is in the process of updating their website to make sure the content aligns with the new ruleset. Questions? Email HCAM’s Jenny Post.