What does “WABO” mean for an Adult Family Home?
The Washington Association of Building Officials (WABO) and DSHS developed the Adult Family Home Local Building Inspection Checklist. DSHS directs AFH applicants to that checklist and to resources for finding the local building official.
Check the property before you buy or sign a long lease
Washington requires local building approval before AFH licensing. A house that looks accessible can still need corrections once the AFH code, bedroom classification, exits, ramps, alarms, grab bars and local requirements are applied.
- Confirm which city or county building department has jurisdiction.
- Ask for the current AFH inspection process and fee.
- Compare the proposed resident bedrooms and exits with the current checklist.
- Identify any unpermitted additions or later alterations before relying on an old approval.
- Estimate correction costs before making the property decision final.
Use the current AFH Local Building Inspection Checklist
DSHS Form 15-604 is the current statewide AFH local-building checklist. The applicant completes the property/applicant sections and provides a floor plan for all floors. The plan identifies proposed resident sleeping rooms and components used for exiting, such as stairs, ramps, platforms, lifts and elevators.
The local building official then evaluates the home against the applicable AFH building provisions and local requirements. WAC 388-76-10700 requires this approval before licensing and again after certain construction changes that affect a resident’s ability to exit or change/add/modify a resident bedroom.
DSHS Form 15-604 — AFH Local Building Inspection Checklist ↗WAC 388-76-10700 — Building official inspection & approval ↗
What property features get special attention?
Washington’s AFH building provisions in WAC 51-51-0330 apply to newly constructed AFHs and existing single-family homes being converted to AFH use. The rule covers several physical-safety areas.
- Sleeping rooms are classified based on how residents can exit.
- Bedroom and bathroom door hardware has AFH-specific requirements.
- Smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms must meet the applicable code.
- Sleeping rooms require compliant emergency escape and rescue openings.
- Fire apparatus access and water supply must meet local-jurisdiction requirements.
- Grab bars, ramps, ramp handrails, stair handrails and bathing areas have specific code provisions.
Separately, WAC 388-76-10695 requires resident-use areas to have direct access to an exit without passing through a room or garage that can be locked or blocked from the other side, and they cannot be accessible only by ladder, folding stairs or trap door.
WAC 51-51-0330 — Section R330 Adult family homes ↗WAC 388-76-10695 — Structural requirements ↗
Septic and well requirements can add another inspection
If the home uses a septic system, DSHS says the system must be inspected by the local health authority or an approved inspection entity. Documentation needs to show that the system is approved, how many people—not just bedrooms—it can accommodate, and that the inspector knows the property will be used as an AFH.
DSHS’s administrator-training material also notes that a well-water inspection can apply when the home is not on a public water system. These property systems can create significant cost or timing issues, so evaluate them early.
DSHS — Getting your home ready for inspection ↗Passing the local building inspection is not the final AFH inspection
The local building inspection addresses the building-code side of AFH readiness. DSHS Residential Care Services then performs a separate initial licensing inspection. DSHS’s current preparation checklist says the home should be move-in ready and notes that the onsite initial inspection usually takes about three to five hours depending on the home and preparation.
The DSHS inspection goes beyond building structure and looks at the physical environment, required postings, records, emergency preparation and other licensing requirements.
What should “WABO-ready” mean to you?
“WABO-ready” is common marketplace language, not a substitute for checking the actual documents. Before paying a premium for a supposedly ready property, ask to see:
- The completed local AFH building inspection checklist and approval.
- The floor plan associated with that approval.
- The date of approval and the approving local jurisdiction.
- Permits or records for any alterations completed afterward.
- Septic/well documentation when applicable.
- Whether the property was only building-approved or was actually part of a licensed AFH.
Washington AFH property FAQ
Does WABO inspect Adult Family Homes?
WABO collaborated with DSHS on the statewide local-building checklist. The inspection/approval required by WAC 388-76-10700 is performed by the local building official or jurisdiction. DSHS/RCS separately conducts the licensing inspection.
Do I need a floor plan?
Yes. DSHS’s prospective-provider materials say a floor plan for each level must be submitted with the building inspection checklist and AFH application. The local checklist asks you to identify proposed resident bedrooms and exit components.
Can I use an old WABO/local building approval from a previous owner?
Do not assume an old approval automatically covers your plan. Verify the approval with the local jurisdiction, confirm the approved floor plan, and identify any construction changes made since the inspection. Licensing/ownership changes have separate DSHS requirements.
Is a local building inspection the same as the DSHS initial inspection?
No. The local building inspection addresses building-code approval for AFH use. DSHS/RCS performs a separate initial licensing inspection covering broader AFH licensing requirements.