ANNISTON, Ala.– The Calhoun County Commission has adopted a resolution establishing local oversight for halfway houses, sober living facilities, and recovery residences operating in the county.
The action is authorized under Alabama Act 2025-109 and begins the process of creating a structured regulatory and licensing framework for those facilities.
Commissioners say these residences play an important role in helping individuals transition from incarceration, treatment, or court-supervised programs back into everyday life. They also emphasized that people living in recovery homes deserve safe, supportive, and well-managed environments.
The resolution allows the county to begin developing standards designed to promote accountability, transparency, and basic operational requirements. Officials say the goal is to protect both facility residents and surrounding neighborhoods, while still supporting recovery and rehabilitation efforts.
As an initial step, all facilities in Calhoun County that meet the definition outlined in the resolution must self-register with the County Commission within 14 days of the resolution’s adoption.
The required self-registration must include the facility’s name and physical address, a contact email for the primary point of contact, and detailed ownership and management information, including a summary of the ownership structure.
Facilities must also provide the types of services offered, physical and mailing addresses, square footage, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, maximum resident capacity and how that number was calculated, current resident census, and emergency contact information.
That information must be submitted in letter form to the Calhoun County Attorney’s Office at 1702 Noble Street, Suite 118, in Anniston.
County leaders say the purpose of the registration process is to better understand where these facilities operate, how they function, and how many individuals they serve — ensuring that future regulations are informed, fair, and effective.
In accordance with Alabama Act 2025-109, the resolution also prohibits registered sex offenders from residing in any facility that houses court-ordered residents or individuals supervised by the Calhoun County Community Punishment and Corrections Authority.
The Commission says its multi-jurisdictional working group — made up of county representatives, legal counsel, healthcare and social service professionals, law enforcement, community stakeholders, and subject-matter experts — will continue reviewing self-registration data and recommending long-term standards for regulation and enforcement.
Commissioner Terry Howell says, quote, “This resolution is about responsibility and opportunity. We are committed to protecting public safety while also recognizing that people seeking recovery and stability deserve dignity, structure, and the chance to improve their lives.”
