TRENTON, N.J. — Sober living residences in New Jersey would be required to obtain state licenses and comply with new oversight rules under legislation advanced Thursday by the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
The bill would require the state Department of Human Services to license and regulate sober living homes, which provide voluntary transitional housing for people who have completed drug or alcohol rehabilitation programs but are not yet ready to live independently.
Unlike traditional halfway houses, which are already regulated by the department, sober living homes generally do not offer structured counseling, training services or licensed staff. Instead, they rely on peer accountability to maintain sobriety. A 2024 report from the State Commission of Investigation warned that the lack of oversight leaves such residences vulnerable to fraud and exploitation.
“Sober living residences are an important step on the road to recovery for people who have completed rehab but aren’t quite ready to go out on their own,” said bill sponsor Assemblyman Michael Inganamort, a Republican from Morris, Sussex and Warren counties. “The legislation aims to protect those residents from bad actors who want to take advantage of the lack of regulation to bilk patients and insurance companies, while also reinforcing the role of municipalities in the approval process.”
Sober living homes are privately owned and may seek voluntary certification through organizations such as the Garden State Alliance of Recovery Residences, which follows national standards. Operators must also obtain a Class F license from the state Department of Community Affairs to run a cooperative sober living residence.
If enacted, the bill, known as A2198, would require municipal approval for sober living residences located within 500 feet of a school. Facility administrators and anyone responsible for handling government benefits would be subject to criminal background checks.
The proposal would also expand residents’ rights by requiring facilities to provide notice before eviction, except in cases where a resident poses an immediate threat to others in the home. It would establish a statewide residential registry, updated daily, listing vacancies and other information.
The Garden State Alliance of Recovery Residences says there are more than 50 certified sober living homes across New Jersey.
The bill is part of Inganamort’s Small Town Rescue Plan, released last year, and previously cleared the Assembly Oversight Committee in May 2024.
