Boarding Home Facility

Room & board for 3+ seniors — no personal care required

No State License

To open a Boarding Home Facility in Texas, you do not need a state license — you enroll with Texas HHSC. It serves no state cap on residents, and the exact government fees total about $338 (No state license. Some cities require a local permit (Houston does). Many Texas cities require nothing). 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

Unlimited

Who this serves

Elderly (65+) or disabled adults who manage their own daily activities and just need safe housing with meals

Best fit: Someone who wants to provide housing without a medical care license — operate a home, not a clinical facility

Common questions about opening a Boarding Home in Texas

Do I need a license to open a Boarding Home in Texas?

No state license. Some cities require a local permit (Houston does). Many Texas cities require nothing.

How much does it cost to open a Boarding Home 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 Boarding Home in Texas have?

No state cap — local jurisdictions may set limits

How much can a Boarding Home earn per resident in Texas?

Roughly $800–$2,500 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

Texas HHSC State License

No state license required for boarding homes

one time

Texas LLC Formation (SOS filing)

$300

one time

Local boarding home permit (Houston/Harris County)

Houston: ~$307 first year (permit $81 + admin ~$33.56 + inspection $192), then ~$81/yr renewal (plus ~$192 annual inspection if applicable). Most TX cities: free or under $50. We confirm your city's exact requirement as part of your roadmap.

$81–307

annual

DPS Background Check

Required for operators and key staff

$39.75

per person

Local business registration

Varies by city — most under $50

$0–50

annual

Guaranteed minimum (gov't fees)

$338

VARIABLE

Costs That Depend on Your Property & Choices

General liability insurance

$1,500–$3,600/annual

Required — boarding home policies available from Markel, Philadelphia Insurance

Home setup & furnishings

$2,000–$8,000/one time

Per bedroom if furnishing — can require furnished or unfurnished

Fire safety upgrades (if needed)

$0–$3,000/one time

Smoke detectors, extinguishers, exit signs — most homes are close to compliant already

Physical & Building Requirements

Stories allowed

Any

Sq ft / resident (single room)

70 sq ft min

Sq ft / resident (shared room)

60 sq ft min

Bedroom min width

No minimum

Bathroom ratio

Per local residential code — no state minimum

Sprinklers

Varies by local jurisdiction — we confirm your city's exact requirement as part of your roadmap

•Bedroom minimum: 70 sq ft for single occupancy, 60 sq ft per person in shared rooms (Boarding Home Model Standards)
•Residents per bedroom: per local occupancy code
•Must have a shared sitting/communal living area
•Requirements vary by city — Houston and Harris County have specific rules; many areas have none

Can I Use My Home?

✓

1-Story Home

✓

2-Story Home

1,000

sq ft minimum

bedrooms

→1-story home: simplest path — no additional requirements
→2-story home: fine — no extra state-level requirements
→Need 70 sq ft per single bedroom, 60 sq ft per person in shared rooms
→Must have a common living/sitting area for residents

Why operators choose this

+No state license required
+Guaranteed government fees under $400 total
+One of the fastest paths in Texas — few steps
+No capacity cap at the state level
+Simpler operations than ALF — no medical oversight required

Know before you start

–Cannot provide personal care — limits your resident pool to independent seniors
–Local requirements vary — we confirm your city's exact requirement as part of your roadmap
–If a resident needs more help over time, you cannot legally provide it without upgrading your license

Key Restrictions — Know These Before You Start

!CANNOT provide personal care — no bathing, dressing, or toileting assistance
!May assist with self-administration of medication, but CANNOT administer or supervise medication — that crosses into personal care, which requires an ALF license
!Cannot serve residents who need assisted living level care
!If you provide personal care to 4 or more unrelated residents, you cross into assisted living and need an Assisted Living license (Type A or Type B) to continue legally

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.