Type A Assisted Living Facility

Up to 16 ambulatory seniors with a state license

State Licensed — Most Common

To open a Type A Assisted Living Facility in Texas, you need a license from Texas HHSC. It serves up to 16 residents, and the exact government fees total about $762 (HHSC Type A License: $300 base + $15 per bed. 8-bed = $420 total. 16-bed = $540 total. 3-year cycle (26 TAC §553.47)). Below is every step, fee, and official link.

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

Path

Advanced path

Gov't fees (total)

$762

State license

Required

Max residents

Who this serves

Elderly and disabled adults who can self-evacuate and do not need nighttime nursing assistance

Best fit: Someone ready to build a real licensed care business with 4–16 residents

Common questions about opening a Type A ALF in Texas

Do I need a license to open a Type A ALF in Texas?

HHSC Type A License: $300 base + $15 per bed. 8-bed = $420 total. 16-bed = $540 total. 3-year cycle (26 TAC §553.47).

How much does it cost to open a Type A ALF in Texas?

The exact government fees total about $762. 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 Type A ALF in Texas have?

17+ residents = Type A Large with stricter fire safety rules

How much can a Type A ALF earn per resident in Texas?

Roughly $2,500–$5,500 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 Type A License (8-bed facility)

$300 base + $15 × 8 beds (26 TAC §553.47)

$420

per 3 years

HHSC Type A License (16-bed facility)

$300 base + $15 × 16 beds (max $2,250 for any size)

$540

per 3 years

Texas LLC Formation (SOS filing)

$300

one time

DPS Background Check

Required for owner and all direct care staff ($11.50 IdentoGO + $15.00 DPS + $13.25 FBI = $39.75)

$39.75

per person

HHSC Life Safety Code Inspection

1st & 2nd inspection: $0. 3rd+ inspection for same application: $25/bed, $1,000 minimum.

one time

HHSC Health Survey Inspection

1st & 2nd inspection: $0. Build-to-pass on the first try.

one time

Local building permit (for renovations)

Only required if making structural changes — no permit needed for cosmetic work

$75–500

one time

Local business registration

Varies by city — typically under $100

$0–100

annual

Guaranteed minimum (gov't fees)

$762

VARIABLE

Costs That Depend on Your Property & Choices

Sprinkler system if installed (NFPA 13D residential)

$8,000–$18,000/one time

Sprinklers are NOT required for a small (≤16-bed) Type A — but if you choose to (or local fire code requires it), a 1-story home can use NFPA 13D (residential grade), significantly cheaper than commercial NFPA 13

Fire alarm system

$2,000–$5,000/one time

Get licensed fire alarm contractor quotes — required by Life Safety Code

General liability + E&O insurance

$3,000–$7,200/annual

We connect you with vetted ALF insurers — Markel, Philadelphia Insurance, GuideOne — and pull quotes for you

Bedroom & common area furnishings

$8,000–$20,000/one time

Per resident bedroom + dining room + living area

Policies & procedures manual

$0–$800/one time

HHSC has free templates. Paid consultants offer pre-built packages — not required but saves time

Emergency exits, signs, lighting

$500–$2,000/one time

Required — exit signs, emergency lighting, fire extinguishers

Physical & Building Requirements

Stories allowed

Any with proper egress — 1-story is the simplest path

Sq ft / resident (single room)

80 sq ft min

Sq ft / resident (shared room)

60 sq ft min

Bedroom min width

8 ft

Bathroom ratio

1 toilet + 1 sink per 6 residents; 1 tub or shower per 10 residents

Sprinklers

Not required for a small (≤16-bed) Type A (26 TAC §553.115) — a facility MAY provide NFPA 13, 13R, or 13D if it installs sprinklers. Verify local fire code.

•Single bedroom: 80 sq ft minimum
•Shared bedrooms: 60 sq ft per resident, max 4 per room, no more than 50% of residents in shared rooms
•Minimum bedroom width: 8 feet
•Basements cannot be used for resident bedrooms or living space (NFPA 101)
•Common area: 120 sq ft minimum (floor), then 15 sq ft per resident (26 TAC §553.112 existing / §553.212 new)
•Dining area: 120 sq ft minimum (floor), then 15 sq ft per resident
•1-story small Type A: exempt from evacuation floor plan posting requirement
•Deep-fat frying is not permitted in the kitchen

Can I Use My Home?

✓

1-Story Home

✓

2-Story Home

2,500

sq ft minimum

bedrooms

→1-story (4–6 residents): best path — sprinklers are not required for a small Type A, but if installed (or required by local fire code) NFPA 13D residential grade is the cheapest option; no evacuation plan posting
→2-story: requires full fire alarm system + posted evacuation plans per floor — add $3k–$8k
→Calculate space needed: (residents × 80 sq ft) + 240 sq ft dining/common minimum
→Basements cannot be used for any resident living space

Why operators choose this

+Most common ALF license in Texas — abundant resources, training, and vendor knowledge
+Can be operated from a converted home
+Real business: 16 residents × $2,500–$5,500 = $40k–$88k/month potential
+Night staff can sleep on-site (not required to be awake) — lower labor cost than Type B
+Sprinklers are not required for a small (≤16-bed) Type A — and if you do install them, NFPA 13D on 1-story is the lowest-cost option

Know before you start

–A longer, multi-step licensing path — we guide every step
–If you install sprinklers, that is the largest variable cost ($8k–$18k) — though not required for a small Type A
–Cannot serve memory care or dementia residents (requires Type B)
–Unannounced HHSC inspections after opening

Key Restrictions — Know These Before You Start

!Residents MUST be able to self-evacuate without staff help
!Cannot serve bedfast residents
!Cannot advertise dementia or Alzheimer's specialization (that requires Type B)
!No RN is required on staff for Type A under Chapter 553 — skilled-service nurse-delegation rules apply only if you provide certain health services
!Night staff must be "immediately available" — can be sleeping in the facility, not required to be awake
!No deep-fat frying in the kitchen

Apply Directly

Every link goes to the exact page — no searching.