Florida Behavioral Health & Substance Use Licensing Guide

Substance use licensing

Department of Children and Families (DCF)Office of Licensing; applications through LEADS

Law and rules

Chapter 397, F.S.; Rule 65D-30, F.A.C.

Residential mental health & crisis

Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA)Crisis stabilization, short-term residential and residential treatment

Fees per component

$300 to $400 for private providersEffective October 16, 2025

Accreditation

Required to renew clinical treatment componentsDCF lists CARF, COA, Green Apple and The Joint Commission

Who licenses behavioral health programs in Florida?

Substance use treatment is licensed by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) Office of Licensing, which licenses each licensed service component under Chapter 397, Florida Statutes, and Rule 65D-30, F.A.C. Applications run through DCF’s LEADS portal, which replaced PLADS.¹

Residential mental health and crisis services fall under the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), which licenses crisis stabilization units, short-term residential treatment facilities and residential treatment facilities. A crisis stabilization unit must first be designated by DCF as a Baker Act receiving facility.^{2, 3}

Hospitals licensed under Chapter 395 and crisis stabilization units are exempt from Chapter 397 licensure, as are individual licensed practitioners, within limits.⁴ AHCA’s health care clinic license (Chapter 400, Part X) excludes Chapter 394, 395 and 397 licensees only for services within their license.⁵

Licensed service components

DCF licenses each service you provide as a separate component. The components it names are:¹

• Addictions receiving facility
• Day or night treatment, and day or night treatment with community housing
• Detoxification
• Intensive inpatient treatment
• Intensive outpatient treatment
• Medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorders
• Outpatient treatment
• Residential treatment
• Intervention, prevention and aftercare

Licensure is required unless an exemption applies, and operating without a required license is a third-degree felony. DCF issues probationary, regular (annual) and interim licenses, and licenses are not transferable: each covers only the listed components and locations.⁴

Recovery residences are certified voluntarily through DCF-approved credentialing entities, but licensed providers may refer clients only to certified recovery residences.^{1, 4}

How to apply for a DCF substance use license

1. Confirm you are not exemptCheck the exemptions in section 397.4012, F.S.⁴
2. Apply in LEADSApply online, or with form CF-MH 4024, and pay the fees first. Related forms include an attestation of good moral character and an HIV/AIDS education confirmation.¹
3. Assemble the required proofSection 397.403 lists identity, competence and financial proofs, insurance, screening information, fire, safety, health and zoning proof, an outline of services and your recovery residence list.⁶ DCF’s rule adds a CPA audit covering 12 months, professional liability coverage of at least $250,000 per claim and $750,000 aggregate, and physician DEA registration where it applies.⁷
4. Complete Level 2 screeningOwners, directors, chief financial officers and clinical supervisors undergo Level 2 background screening under Chapter 435. A disqualified person has 90 days to obtain an exemption.⁴
5. Respond to DCF’s reviewDCF flags an incomplete application within 30 business days and decides within 90 days of a complete new application.⁸
6. Start on a probationary licenseNew components begin with a 90-day probationary license. For methadone, DCF verifies SAMHSA certification and DEA registration, then issues the regular license after the probationary inspection. Renew at least 60 days before expiration.⁷

Licensing fees

DCF’s fee rule, effective October 16, 2025, sets fees per licensed component:⁹

Public providers pay $200 to $350. For AHCA-licensed crisis stabilization and short-term residential facilities, AHCA lists a fee of $197.92 per bed and asks for applications at least 60 days ahead.²

How accreditation counts in Florida

Florida builds accreditation into licensing:

• Required to renew. Renewing a license for a clinical treatment component requires accreditation; the first renewal needs only proof that you have applied.⁶
• Recognized accreditors. DCF lists CARF, COA, Green Apple Accreditation Commission of Social Services and The Joint Commission.¹
• Fewer documents and inspections. Accreditation replaces the identity, competence and financial proofs and the CPA audit, and DCF accepts accreditation surveys in place of its own inspection. It still inspects when reports are missing, accreditation lapses or is provisional, or complaints arise.^{10, 7}
• AHCA facilities. For crisis stabilization and short-term residential facilities, accreditation is voluntary, and CARF, COA and The Joint Commission are deemed.²

Choosing an accreditor? Read CARF vs. The Joint Commission.

Other approvals you may need

• Zoning and fire safety: proof is part of the DCF application.⁶
• Medicaid: AHCA’s provider enrollment policy, updated through Rule 59G-1.060 effective April 8, 2026.¹¹
• Opioid treatment programs: SAMHSA certification and DEA registration. Florida’s statute no longer includes a state needs assessment for new programs.^{7, 12}
• Health care clinic license: confirm with AHCA whether services outside your DCF license need one.⁵

Recent changes (2025 to 2026)

• October 16, 2025: amendments to Rule 65D-30 addressed mobile medication-assisted treatment units, updated federal methadone rules, and application and fee changes.¹³
• October 23, 2025: the medication-assisted treatment needs assessment rule (65D-30.0141) was repealed.¹⁴
• April 8, 2026: Florida Medicaid’s provider enrollment policy was updated by rule.¹¹
• July 1, 2026: Chapter 2026-123 (SB 1030) amended section 397.407. Majority-ownership and contractual transfers now count as transfers; a change of 5% or more in controlling interest triggers Level 2 screening for the new party’s officers, directors, managing members and controlling persons; and a provider adding a level of care with no violations or enforcement in the prior 12 months does not have to admit clients during probation.¹⁵

More in our regulatory updates.

Confirm these with the agency

• Whether your outpatient mental health services need an AHCA health care clinic license or exemption.
• The current CF-MH 4024 version, LEADS onboarding and fee schedule.
• That a telehealth-only substance use provider’s physical office is still within licensure.¹⁶
• How any ownership or contractual change affects your license, since licenses are not transferable.

Sources

1. Florida DCF, Substance Abuse and Mental Health licensing. myflfamilies.com
2. Florida AHCA, Crisis stabilization units. ahca.myflorida.com
3. Florida Statutes, s. 394.875 (2025). flsenate.gov
4. Florida Statutes, Chapter 397 (2025). flsenate.gov
5. Florida Statutes, s. 400.9905 (2025). flsenate.gov
6. Florida Statutes, s. 397.403 (2025). flsenate.gov
7. Florida Administrative Register, Rule 65D-30 application requirements. flrules.org
8. Florida Administrative Register, Rule 65D-30 processing timelines (effective October 20, 2024). flrules.org
9. Florida Administrative Register, Rule 65D-30 fees (effective October 16, 2025). flrules.org
10. Florida Statutes, s. 394.741 (2025). flsenate.gov
11. Florida Administrative Code, Rule 59G-1.060. flrules.org
12. Florida Statutes, s. 397.427 (2026). flsenate.gov
13. Florida Administrative Code, Rule 65D-30.0142. flrules.org
14. Florida Administrative Code, Rule 65D-30.0141 (repealed). flrules.org
15. Florida Senate, SB 1030 (2026), enrolled text. flsenate.gov
16. Florida Administrative Register, DCF declaratory statement notice (March 13, 2026). flrules.org

This guide summarizes Florida statutes, rules and agency pages as of the date above. It is general information, not legal advice. Requirements change; confirm with DCF and AHCA before you apply.