CARR Certification

The Colorado Agency for Recovery Residences (CARR) has been approved as the certifying body for recovery residences in Colorado. Pursuant to 27-80-129, recovery residences are required to obtain a certification from CARR in order to operate in Colorado and receive referrals from health care providers or health care facilities for individuals in need of recovery support services. As the approved certifying body, CARR will ensure that any premises, place, facility, or building they certify as a recovery residence meets the minimum standards to operate a recovery residence in Colorado. CARR will ensure recovery residences provide safe and healthy housing environments that support individuals in achieving and sustaining substance use disorder recovery.

You can access the digital forms needed to join CARR below.

Apply for Certification

This form is the new online application for new and returning applicants to apply for certification of residences with CARR.

The cost of certification is:

  • Organization Fees: $500 Per organization
  • Residence Fees: $200 Per Home

*Please note: starting January 1, 2025

The fees associated with the cost of certification are:

  • Affiliation Fee – $500 for your organization
  • Residence Inspection Fee – $100/bed/residence

Re-application Process: The re-application process could take up to thirty days to complete. You will be required to submit any updates to your policy and procedures. In addition, you will be required to upload a current Certificate of Insurance and a Certificate of Good Standing from the Colorado Secretary of State issued within the past thirty days. A new physical inspection will be scheduled and completed with no findings before a recertification is approved.

CARR Forms

CARR Application Forms Packet

This packet includes CARR Assurances, CARR Code of Ethics, CARR levels summary and CARR Inspection Requirements.

CARR Forms

If you just need a specific form, rather than the whole packet, please download it below.

CARR Assurances

CARR Code of Ethics

CARR Inspection Requirements

CARR Levels Summary

Certified Recovery Residence

The Colorado Agency for Recovery Residences (CARR) has been approved as the certifying body for recovery residences in Colorado. Pursuant to C.R.S. §27-80-129, recovery residences are required to obtain a certification from CARR in order to operate in Colorado and receive referrals from health care providers or health care facilities for individuals in need of recovery support services. As the approved certifying body, CARR will ensure that any premises, place, facility, or building they certify as a recovery residence meets the minimum standards to operate a recovery residence in Colorado. CARR will ensure recovery residences provide safe and healthy housing environments that support individuals in achieving and sustaining substance use disorder recovery.

Application Submission Process: Become a Colorado Certified Recovery Residence

Submission of online application for each location of said program(s) shall be completed online. ALL fees and required documentation must be submitted and paid prior to inspections. CARR will email an invoice for fees once all applications documentation and an inspection date have been set.

To become a CARR Colorado Certified Recovery Residence, you must adhere to specific standards, ethics, and rules.

Before starting the recovery residence certification process, please have the following documents completed, and review the “Level of Recovery Residence“ your organization is operating. The below documents will need to be submitted during the application process:

  1. Mission and Vision Statement
  2. Colorado Certificate of Good Standing
  3. Liability Insurance
  4. Property Owner Permission
  5. Good Neighbor Policy
  6. Statement of Non-Discriminatory Practices
  7. Marketing Materials
  8. Medication Protocol
  9. Resident’s Rights
  10. Financial Obligations
  11. Services Provided
  12. Recovery Goals
  13. Client Expectations
  14. Client/Resident Privacy Policy
  15. Client/Resident Relapse Policy
  16. Emergency Escape Policy
  17. Discharge Policy
  18. House Manager Duties/Obligations
  19. Staff Policy and Procedures
  20. Staff client financial affairs with resident’s policy
  21. Code of Ethics signed by staff
  22. Policy on payment agreements, record system, and documentation
  23. Client refund policy with space for client’s signatures
  24. Policy on client feedback/grievance policy
  25. Peer interactions, recovery interactions, community recovery as part of the approach
  26. Staff training
  27. Rodent and Bug infestation Policy and Procedure
  28. Policy on sexual misconduct, sexual relations, or abuse of staff and residents
  29. Staff credentials (Levels 3+ only)

Signed documents must be emailed to: info@carrcolorado.org

For a more detailed description of the certification process please click the button below:

CARR is a 501(c)(3) organization as defined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). All certification fees are used for the operation of CARR. As such all IRS Form 990 filings are available through the IRS.

Fee Change Notification: Any modifications to certification fees will be communicated through the CARR website with a minimum of thirty days of the implementation of the updated fee structure. Additionally, all organizations holding an active certification will receive a notification via email using the contact information provided during the certification process.

Certification and designation revocation, denial, suspension, limitation or modification.

1. At CARR’s discretion, a certification or designation may be revoked, denied, suspended, modified, or have limited certification or designation. Written notification of the basis for action shall be sent by certified mail to the last known address of the agency and is effective ten (10) days from the date the letter was mailed. If the affected agency disagrees with the decision, it may appeal per Section 21.105 or other judicial reviewing body as may be determined by the court.

2. A certification or designation may be summarily suspended pending proceedings for suspension or revocation in cases of a deliberate or willful violation of applicable statutes and regulations or where the public health, safety, or welfare requires emergency action.

3. A certification or designation may be revoked, denied, suspended, modified, or limited for reasons including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Non-compliance with these rules, applicable federal and state laws and regulations, or certification requirements.
  • Negligence resulting in risk to individuals, staff, public health, or safety;
  • Knowingly using or disseminating misleading, deceptive, or false information about other agencies, including, but not limited to, advertising;
  • Exercising undue influence on or otherwise exploiting individuals to obtain or sell services, goods, property, or drugs for financial or personal gain;
  • Accepting commissions, rebates, or other forms of remuneration for referring persons to or by the certified or designated agency;
  • Evidence of agency fraud or misrepresentation;
  • Failure to provide persons with information required by these rules and applicable state and federal statutes, rules, and regulations;
  • Failure to submit required data in an accurate and timely manner to CARR or its authorized representatives;
  • Withholding access to clinical, staff, or fiscal records, or administrative information when requested by CARR;
  • Sale, use, or distribution of alcohol or illicit drugs, or unauthorized sale or distribution of prescription or over-the-counter drugs on recovery residence premises or during recovery residence activities off-premises;
  • Knowingly using and/or disseminating false information about these rules, CARR rules, and state or federal regulations, or other information essential to interpreting or managing an individual’s status, case management, or interagency coordination.
  • Commits a fraudulent insurance act as defined in Section 10-1-128, C.R.S.
  • Failure to comply with a written plan of action.

4. Denial: Denial of Certification will occur when, during the Recovery Residence inspection process, evidence exists that the program exhibits substantial deficiencies that do not adhere to the CARR standard and prevent compliance. Recovery Residence will be given a written document within thirty (30) days following inspection with all inspections and changes necessary to follow compliance and guidelines of CARR.

5. Modification Process for Certification: Modifications to the certifications process are subject to change. Modifications and alterations will be updated and posted to the CARR website sixty (60) days prior to implementation.

Right to Appeal: In compliance with C.R.S. §27.80.129(10): Any certified recovery residence or client adversely affected or aggrieved by a decision made by the certifying body pursuant to this section has the right to appeal to the Colorado department of personnel and administration, office of administrative courts and may subsequently seek judicial review of the certifying body’s action.