Adult Foster Care Home

Care for 1–3 adults in your own home

No State License

To open a Adult Foster Care Home in Texas, you do not need a state license — you enroll with Texas HHSC. It serves up to 3 residents, and the exact government fees total about $338 (HHSC enrollment only — no state license required. Fastest path in Texas). Below is every step, fee, and official link.

Reviewed by Erika Crossley, Texas senior care startup specialist · Information last verified June 2026

Path

Fastest path

Gov't fees (total)

$338

State license

None

Max residents

Who this serves

Adults with physical, mental, or emotional limitations who need a supportive home environment

Best fit: Someone who wants to live alongside the people they care for — your existing home, no commercial build-out required

Common questions about opening a Adult Foster Care in Texas

Do I need a license to open a Adult Foster Care in Texas?

HHSC enrollment only — no state license required. Fastest path in Texas.

How much does it cost to open a Adult Foster Care in Texas?

The exact government fees total about $338. On top of that, variable startup costs (insurance, any required modifications, and similar) depend on your property and market. Government fees are fixed; variable costs are estimates.

How many residents can a Adult Foster Care in Texas have?

3 or fewer = HHSC-enrolled Adult Foster Care, no license. The 4th resident requires an Assisted Living license — and since Texas no longer issues the legacy Type C license, a new operator needs a Type A or Type B ALF license.

How much can a Adult Foster Care earn per resident in Texas?

Roughly $1,200–$3,500 per resident per month, depending on private pay vs. Medicaid, acuity, and your market.

Actual Costs

Government fees are exact. Variable costs are estimates — tips show how to minimize them.

EXACT

Government Fees — You Will Pay These

HHSC Adult Foster Care Enrollment

No application fee

one time

Texas LLC Formation (SOS filing)

$300

one time

DPS Background Check

Required for provider and all household adults ($11.50 IdentoGO + $15.00 DPS + $13.25 FBI = $39.75)

$39.75

per person

Local business registration

Most cities: free or nominal. We confirm your city's exact requirement as part of your roadmap.

$0–50

one time

Guaranteed minimum (gov't fees)

$338

VARIABLE

Costs That Depend on Your Property & Choices

General liability insurance

$1,200–$2,400/annual

We connect you with vetted AFC insurers — Markel and Philadelphia Insurance — and pull quotes for you

Home setup (bedroom furniture, supplies)

$2,000–$6,000/one time

Facebook Marketplace + IKEA covers most of this

First aid & safety supplies

$200–$500/one time

Required smoke detectors, first aid kit, fire extinguishers

Physical & Building Requirements

Stories allowed

Any — no restriction

Sq ft / resident (single room)

Residential standard

Sq ft / resident (shared room)

Residential standard

Bedroom min width

No minimum

Bathroom ratio

Standard residential — no state ratio requirement

Sprinklers

Not required — standard residential code

•You must live in the same home as residents (your primary residence)
•Residents cannot be housed in a detached building
•Residents must share common living areas with you

Can I Use My Home?

✓

1-Story Home

✓

2-Story Home

1,200

sq ft minimum

bedrooms

→1-story home: ideal, simplest path — no additional requirements
→2-story home: fine — residents can be on any floor
→Need at least 1 private bedroom per resident
→No commercial-level fire safety upgrades required

Why operators choose this

+Zero state licensing fee
+The fewest steps — the fastest path in Texas
+Guaranteed government fees under $400 total
+Use your existing home — no commercial build-out
+Medicaid reimbursement available

Know before you start

–You must live there full-time — your home is your business
–Hard cap at 3 residents limits income potential
–Revenue ceiling makes scaling require a new license type

Key Restrictions — Know These Before You Start

!You (the provider) must live in the home full-time — this is your home
!Maximum 3 residents to stay license-free: 3 or fewer = HHSC-enrolled Adult Foster Care with no license. A 4th resident requires an Assisted Living license, and since Texas no longer issues the legacy Type C license, that means a Type A or Type B ALF license.
!No skilled nursing or medical procedures
!Private pay vs Medicaid: the ~$3,500 top end is private-pay only. Medicaid does NOT cover room & board (the resident pays that from their own income); the Medicaid AFC service rate is a small per-day amount on top.

Apply Directly

Every link goes to the exact page — no searching.

We keep these links and fees current — regulations change, so we re-confirm yours when you start.