Library: Policy

340:100-6-30. General criteria for physical plant

Revised 9-15-23

(a) Plans for construction or remodeling must be submitted to Oklahoma Human Services and state fire marshal for review and approval prior to the start of construction.

(b) Mobile homes are not approved.

(c) Within the corporate limits of a municipality, any new group home must be at least 1200 feet from any other group home and from any similar community residential facility serving persons in drug, alcohol, juvenile, child, parole, and other programs of treatment, care, supervision, or rehabilitation in a community setting, per Section 863 of Title 60 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

(d) The group home must have interior and exterior features compatible with other residences in the surrounding neighborhood.

(e) A group home must be located:

(1) in an area where the local fire department responds to emergencies; and

(2) adjacent to an all-weather road.

(f) Each group home provider ensures that resident rooms and areas are clean, comfortable, orderly, and provide reasonable privacy.

(1) Each single resident bedroom must contain a minimum of 80 square feet of floor space.

(2) All resident bedrooms must contain a minimum of 60 square feet per person for double or triple occupancy.  All new group homes must limit the number of service recipients occupying a bedroom to two.

(3) Each resident bedroom must include:

(A) a clothes closet or armoire;

(B) additional space as needed to accommodate bedside assistance and the use and storage of mobility devices and prosthetic equipment;

(C) at least one outside operable window of adequate size installed in a vertical wall that can be used as an emergency exit, unless otherwise approved by the state fire marshal or representative;

(D) windows that have adjustable coverings to provide privacy;

(E) direct access to exits and other areas of the home without passing through another resident's bedroom, a bathroom, or outside; and

(F) a full door that can be closed to provide privacy.

(4) Each resident must have:

(A) an individual bed of proper size with an adequate mattress, pillow, and bed linens that are clean and in good condition;

(B) a bedside table;

(C) a bureau, or its equivalent, for storing personal belongings;

(D) a chair; and

(E) an adequate supply of clean towels and wash cloths, and individual soap.

(5) Male and female residents are not housed in the same or connected bedrooms, that do not have a full floor-to-ceiling partition and door that can be closed and locked, except a husband and wife may occupy the same bedroom.

(6) Residents are encouraged to reflect their personal preferences in decorating and furnishing the group home.

(g) Each group home must provide at least one full-size bathroom for resident use.

(1) A home for six or more residents must have at least two full-size bathrooms for resident use.

(2) Bathrooms must:

(A) include a stool, sink, and tub or shower; and

(B) provide privacy.

(h) All licensed group homes must provide common living areas with seating for all residents, excluding the dining room area.

(i) Tobacco use of any sort is prohibited within the group home.  Cigarette butts are properly disposed of in designated areas located outside the home.

(j) Each group home and its yard must be clean, well-maintained, safe, free from hazards, and adapted to meet the needs of all service recipients.

(1) Surroundings must be kept clean and free from accumulated rubbish, weeds, ponded water, refuse, discarded furniture, old newspaper, or other items of a similar nature that may create a health hazard.

(2) The group home provider employs effective methods to prevent the entrance and harborage of insects, spiders, and rodents.

(3) All garbage must be properly stored and safely disposed of per local ordinance.

(A) Trash cans in service recipient areas must be kept clean.

(B) Outdoor garbage waste containers must be covered and insect and rodent resistant.

(C) Outside storage of garbage in plastic bags is prohibited.

(D) Sanitary garbage disposal must be provided.

(4) Sanitary sewage disposal must be provided per Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) rules.

(5) The interior of the group home must be safe, clean, well-maintained, free of hazards, and adapted to meet the needs of all service recipients.

(A) The home must be free from offensive odors, accumulation of dirt, rubbish, dust, and safety hazards.

(B) Floors and floor coverings must be clean and in good condition.  Floor polishes must provide for a non-slip finish.

(C) Walls and ceilings must be in good condition and cleaned regularly.  All group homes must have walls capable of being cleaned.

(D) Deodorizers must not be used to cover up odors caused by unsanitary conditions or poor housekeeping practices.

(E) Combustibles, such as cleaning rags and compounds, must be kept in closed metal containers in areas away from living areas.

(F) No items may be stored in the hot water heater closet or furnace closet.

(G) General laundry must be placed in linen hampers or carts.

(H) Linens or clothing soiled with human body fluids must be placed in bags or nonporous containers with lids tightly closed.

(6) The group home must have:

(A) a kitchen and equipment to store, prepare, and serve food in a sanitary manner;

(B) utility service and adequate heating, cooling, and plumbing;

(C) lighting that is adequate for the service recipient's activities in each room;

(D) safe water supply per OSDH rules; and

(E) temperature extremes not less than 65 degrees Fahrenheit nor more than 85 degrees Fahrenheit for all areas service recipients occupy.

(7) Each service recipient's bedroom must have at least one electrical outlet.