Sample Sober Living Sample House Rules

House Rules

General House Rules/Requirements/Guidelines: You are in a Recovery Residence. Your success and continuance in this environment are dependent upon your consistent good behavior and cooperation. Disruptive and/or discourteous behavior will not be tolerated. Any contact with illicit drugs and/or alcohol and/or violation of any of the following rules may result in dismissal. Your initials and signature indicate your understanding and agreement to abide by these rules.

 ____ Consumption or possession of alcohol in any form is prohibited.

 ____ Use or possession of illicit drugs in any form is prohibited.

 ____ Use and/or possession of drugs and/or alcohol on site may result in immediate dismissal. 

 ____ Lying, cheating, and stealing is harmful to everyone in the house and it may result in immediate dismissal.

 ____ Residents are required to submit to a drug and alcohol test at any time as per request. A refusal and/or failure to provide an adequate sample will be treated the same as a positive test result. Dismissal may result from any attempt to cheat/circumvent a test.

 ____ Attendance at mutual aid meetings is strongly encouraged/recommended; the minimum  attendance requirement is (5) meetings per week.

____ Residents are encouraged/recommended to maintain a Home Group.

____ Residents are required to maintain a working relationship with a Sponsor.

____ Residents are required to maintain employment or be going to school. If at any time a resident is/becomes unemployed or not enrolled in school and is capable of working (not injured or sick), he/she must actively seek employment from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Monday through Friday and is not permitted at the house during this time. A resident’s employment is prohibited from interfering with their adherence to any of the other terms of this agreement.

____ Behavior considered to be a “conflict of interest” (i.e., sponsorship, employment, dating, etc.) between residents is prohibited.

 ____ Smoking inside the home is prohibited. Smoking is allowed at [designated area]. This is a smoke free residence. If you smoke you are encouraged to engage in a smoking cessation program.

 ____ Residents are responsible for their personal items/belongings. Residents are responsible for the security and safekeeping of their own personal items/belongings and are to pack and carry their items/belongings when they depart. If for any reason this does not occur, the resident may contact the House Manager regarding the retrieval/disposition of personal items/belongings. Personal items/belongings will not be stored for more than seventy-two (72) hours.

 ____ Disruptive/discourteous behavior, including profanity and racial/ethnic slurs, will not be tolerated and may result in dismissal.

 ____ Overnight guests are prohibited.

____ Guests are not permitted at the house beyond curfew and are only permitted in designated common areas.

 ____ Guests cannot be under the influence or in possession of illicit drugs and/or alcohol.

____ New Resident curfew is 6:00 pm every night for the first 30 days they live in the residence. All others must be in by 10:00 pm Sunday through Thursday and 11:00 pm Friday and Saturday. Residents must adhere to more strict curfews when required (i.e., Parole, Probation, etc.). Failure to return to the house on time can/will result in dismissal.

 ____ House quiet time is 10:00pm to 5:00am. Any activity (i.e., Lights, TV, Telephone conversations, etc.) that disturb another resident’s ability to sleep/rest is prohibited.

_____ No shouting or any loud noise or music at any time

____ House Meetings are held weekly at date/time determined by the House Manager and are mandatory for every resident.

 ____ Overnight/weekend passes are to be submitted to the House Manager a minimum of one week in advance. Authorization will be granted at the discretion of the House Manager .

 ____ Residents are not permitted in any bedroom other than their own.

 ____ Thermostat is to be adjusted by the peer in charge only.

____ Chores are required to be completed daily. The peer in charge is responsible for chore assignments and completion. Failure to complete assigned chores can result in dismissal.

 ____ A good general clean-up of all areas inside and outside the home is required at all times.

 ____ Beds are required to be made upon awakening. Respective areas are to be kept neat, clean, and picked up at all times.

_____ Residents will abide by the Parking Rules (see page 12).

_____No pets are allowed in the home. There is an exception for Service Animals used for assisting disabilities/disorders, and Support Animals will be evaluated on a case by case basis.

____ Turn off lights, TV’s, radios, fans, etc., when not in use.

 ____ Residents are required AT ALL TIMES to wear appropriate dress in common areas.

 ____ Residents or guests may not sleep in common areas of the residence.

 ____ Kitchen appliances, utensils, dishes, pots, pans, etc. will be cleaned and returned to their respective place (immediately) after each use. Countertops will also be cleaned after each use.

 ____ Refrigerator – All food must be covered or be put in a storage container.

 ____ Resident medications must be managed in accordance with the residence’s medication policy (page 12).

____* Knives, Guns, Tasers, Brass knuckles, ammunition, etc. are not permitted AT ANY TIME! If found, items will be removed and dismissal from the residence may be issued. Any weapons found will be turned over to law enforcement.

___ *Designated recovery house staff peers or staff  may inspect in and around bedroom property or belongings at any time and within reason, for the safety and protection of all residents.

___ *Residents will take responsibility for their own health and respect the health and safety needs of all other residents and will take precautions (hand washing, extra cleaning of surfaces, limiting interaction with other residents, appointment with a physician if necessary) when aware of or experiencing exposure to bodily fluids and communicable diseases. See Communicable Diseases Policy page 17.)

___ *Residents agree to each of the following (check all that apply):

[   ] Be employed, attend school or a training program, or volunteer outside of the residence.

[   ] Participate in social, physical, or creative activities.

[   ] Participate in daily or weekly community activities.

Resident Name__________________________________________________________

Signature: _______________________________________ Date: ___________________

**Disclaimer:** The following content was written by the Fletcher Group (https://www.fletchergroup.org) and is provided for example purposes only. For technical assistance and training tailored to recovery homes, we encourage you to reach out to the Fletcher Group directly. We are grateful for their expertise and appreciate the opportunity to share these valuable templates with our audience.

--------------------------------