Adult family homes
The right home
for the care you give.
Help finding, buying and preparing a property for an adult family home in Seattle.
Photo: Binyamin Mellish on Pexels
Choosing a home for an adult family home business is different from buying a family home. Layout, exits, accessibility and location all matter for licensing and for the people who will live there.
I help providers find properties that can meet state requirements and plan any changes before they apply.
What makes a home work
Planned for licensing.
Bedrooms
Room for each resident
Each resident bedroom must be an outside room with natural light. New homes need at least 80 square feet of usable floor space for one resident and 120 square feet for two, not counting closets. No more than two residents share a room.
Official source →Exits
Safe ways out
Windows and doors used for emergency escape have to stay usable, and the home needs an evacuation plan. DSHS checks the property and its safety features before a license is issued.
Official source →Access
Easy to move through
Single-level living, bedrooms on the main floor, wider halls and doorways, and room for a ramp or no-step entry all make a home easier to license and to live in.
Official source →Location
Easy to reach
Families, caregivers and visitors come and go every day. Washington law treats an adult family home as a residential use for zoning.
Official source →Size
Planned for the right number
Most adult family homes serve up to six residents. A home can be approved for seven or eight only after DSHS review and added requirements.
Official source →Helpful links: DSHS: becoming a provider · DSHS home locator. Information here is general and not legal advice.
How Desi helps
Purchasing a home
Find a property that can meet state requirements, with a plan for any changes before you apply.
Support and guidance
Straight answers on layout, upgrades and timing, plus introductions to local inspectors, contractors and lenders.
Let's talk
Planning an adult family home?
I help with the property side of adult family homes and am not a placement service.