The RHRA licenses and regulates retirement homes. A critical part of the mandate is to guide potential and current operators through the licence application process.
Before beginning the application process, it’s important to understand:
- New owner, new licence. Retirement home licences are not transferable. If you are purchasing a home from a current owner, or if there is any change of controlling interest in a licensee, the licence terminates, and a new licence application is necessary.
- Only in Ontario. Licences from other countries and provinces are not valid in Ontario. Licences to operate a home in Ontario must be applied for in Ontario. Only the RHRA can approve a retirement home licence.
- Valid under these terms. Subject to a licensee paying its fees and maintaining compliance with the Act, a licence is valid unless the Registrar revokes it, the licensee surrenders it, or an event such as a sale or change in controlling interest triggers its termination.
- The difference between retirement homes and long-term care. Retirement homes are governed by the Retirement Homes Act, 2010. Long-term care homes, sometimes referred to as nursing homes, receive funding from the provincial government and are regulated by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) and governed under the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007.
- The Retirement Homes Database. RHRA maintains a Database of all retirement homes. This Register includes: every retirement homes name and address, care services provided in each home, the occupancy of each home, summaries of each home’s inspection reports and any orders imposed on licensed homes under the Act.
- Automatic fire sprinklers. Under the Ontario Fire Code, all licensed retirement homes are required to be equipped with automatic fire sprinklers by January 1, 2019. If the home you are purchasing is not equipped with sprinklers, we strongly encourage applicants to explore the cost of installing sprinklers prior to submitting a licence application.
Application Forms and Checklists
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Application Guide
Application Forms
Important: The RHRA’s licensing forms have changed. If you are submitting any of the application forms below, please ensure that you are using the newest version.
- New Operation Licence Application Form 1 (for first time operators)
- Acquisition Licence Application Form 1 (for operators purchasing an existing retirement home)
- Personal History Report Individual – 2A
- Personal History Report Corporate – 2B
For changes in controlling interest, please contact the RHRA Licensing at licensing@rhra.ca.
A Corporate History Report is required if the Applicant is a for-profit or a not-for-profit corporation. The Corporate History Report must be signed by an authorized officer or representative of the corporation.
A Personal History Report is required for the following applicants:
- a sole proprietor
- all directors and officers and (in the case of a business corporation) any other person(s) who alone or with associates own more than 50 percent of voting shares of the corporation sufficient to elect a majority of the corporation’s board of directors.
- for partnerships, any person (including a spouse, relative, or partnership) having the ability to direct the management and policies of the home.
If you require a hard copy of the forms, call the RHRA at 1-855- 7472, and the forms will be sent to you.
The Application Checklist for a New Operation Application
The following additional documents must be submitted with the application form:
- A copy of the home’s Fire Safety Plan (proof of the approved plan and, if unavailable at the time of application,the draft fire safety plan and proof of submission from the local fire department showing steps towards compliance)
- Documentation confirming that sprinklers are installed and operational (i.e. Contractor’s Material Test Certificate)
- A copy of a Food Handling Certificate for at least one person involved in food preparation (only if the home provides meals to the residents)
- Evidence of Extra Expense Insurance
- Municipal Licence (if any)
- Pre-opening Public Health Inspection Report
- The Home’s full Information Package as required under s. 54 of the Retirement Homes Act (“the Act”)
- The Home’s Procedure for Complaints as required under s.73 of the Act
- The Home’s Emergency Plan as required under s. 60 (4) 1 of the Act
- The Home’s Policy to Promote Zero Tolerance of Abuse and Neglect as required under s. 67(4) of the Act
- Letter and/or CV/Resume outlining previous experience of Applicant
- Letter outlining previous sector experience of Management Company (if any)
- Occupancy Permit
- Documentation confirming that the home is zoned in an area that permits the use of a retirement home
Checklist for Acquisition Licence Application
- A copy of the home’s most recent Fire Safety Plan and proof that the plan has been approved by the local fire department
- A copy of a Food Handling Certificate for at least one person involved in food preparation ( only if the home provides meals to the residents)
- Evidence of Extra Expense Insurance
- Municipal Licence (if any)
- Three most recent Public Health Inspection Reports
- The Home’s full Information Package as required under s. 54 of the Retirement Homes Act (“the Act”)
- The Home’s Emergency Plan as required under s. 60 (4) 1 of the Act
- The Home’s Policy to Promote Zero Tolerance of Abuse and Neglect as required under s. 67(4) of the Act
- Letter and/or CV/Resume outlining previous experience of Applicant
- Letter outlining previous sector experience of Management Company (if any)
If the applicant home intends on using policies that were previously submitted with an RHRA licensing application and deemed sufficient by the RHRA, the applicant does not need to submit the policies with any subsequent applications. If you are unsure whether you need to submit your policies, please contact the RHRA.