General criteria

Residential care homes must meet or exceed the following requirements: (1) Plans for construction or remodeling must be submitted to the Department for review and approval prior to the start of construction. (2) Mobile homes shall not be approved. (3) The residential care home shall be constructed or remodeled to provide an adequate living arrangement for residents. (4) On and after the effective date of this subsection, each residential care home that undergoes design changes or construction and each newly licensed residential care home shall be designed and constructed in conformity with requirements for accessibility to physically disabled persons as specified in Chapter 11 of the International Building Code, 2003 Edition, published by the OAC 310:680 OKLAHOMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH 14 October 01, 2017 International Code Council. (5) Any first-time residential care home shall have a minimum of fifty (50) square feet of outside yard space for each licensed bed up to 100 beds (5,000 sq. ft.) For each additional licensed bed, a minimum of twenty-five (25) square feet shall be provided. (6) A multiple building residential care home shall be considered as a unit and be subject to the provisions of these regulations as if the home was a single building. Each building of a multiple building unit shall be no more than 175 feet from the building housing the kitchen and dining room. (7) All first-time licensed homes shall have seating capacity at dining room tables for the number of licensed beds. (8) Each residential care home shall maintain sufficient equipment and furnishings to provide for the needs of all residents. (9) Each residential care home shall be maintained in good repair for operation and appearance. (10) Each residential care home shall be free from safety hazards.