COLUMBUS, Ohio (AVC News) — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has signed an executive order giving the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health authority to establish a statewide certification program for recovery housing operators.
The order is intended to strengthen oversight of recovery housing and address potential fraud, waste and abuse while protecting people living in recovery residences.
Recovery housing provides substance-free living environments where people can develop healthy routines, life skills and peer support while continuing their recovery.
The state says the number of recovery houses in Ohio has grown significantly, from 356 in 2022 to more than 1,700 today.
With that growth, the Department of Behavioral Health says it has identified a need for stronger oversight. Officials say some recovery houses, particularly in southern Ohio, have opened without necessary certification and have operated with unsafe or poor living conditions.
Under new emergency rules, the Department of Behavioral Health will administer a centralized certification program with consistent statewide standards.
The department will also have direct authority to receive complaints, investigate potential problems and enforce compliance. Potential cases of fraud, waste and abuse can be referred to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.
DeWine said the state has a responsibility to ensure recovery programs operate with accountability, transparency and integrity while supporting Ohioans working toward long-term recovery.
Attorney General Andy Wilson said his office has “zero tolerance for fraud” and will assist the Department of Behavioral Health and local prosecutors in enforcing the new requirements.
The new system is expected to strengthen monitoring, improve transparency and accountability, and provide additional protections for recovery housing residents.
The Department of Behavioral Health says it will work with recovery housing operators, local behavioral health organizations, county ADAMH boards, recovery advocates and other stakeholders as the new certification program is implemented.
Last Updated on August 11, 2026 by AVC News
