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RCW Chapter 70.127 - In-Home Services Agencies (Home Care Agency Licensure)

WashingtonstatuteWashington State Department of Health· effective 1990-07-01

What this rule requires your agency to do

  • 1The agency must maintain professional liability, public liability, and property damage insurance. (RCW 70.127.080)(RCW Chapter 70.127 - In-Home Services Agencies (Home Care Agency Licensure))
  • 2The agency must pay the required license fees established by the department. (RCW 70.127.080; RCW 70.127.090)(RCW Chapter 70.127 - In-Home Services Agencies (Home Care Agency Licensure))
  • 3The agency must comply with criminal background check requirements for its personnel. (RCW 70.127.080 (RCW 43.43.830-842))(RCW Chapter 70.127 - In-Home Services Agencies (Home Care Agency Licensure))
  • 4The agency must submit a written license application on department-provided forms and demonstrate its ability to comply with the chapter and adopted rules. (RCW 70.127.080)(RCW Chapter 70.127 - In-Home Services Agencies (Home Care Agency Licensure))
  • 5The agency must obtain a license from the Department of Health before it advertises, operates, manages, conducts, opens, or maintains an in-home services (home care) agency. (RCW 70.127.020)(RCW Chapter 70.127 - In-Home Services Agencies (Home Care Agency Licensure))
  • 6The agency must adopt and enforce rules addressing recordkeeping, care delivery policies, personnel screening, complaint processes, and quality improvement. (RCW 70.127.120)(RCW Chapter 70.127 - In-Home Services Agencies (Home Care Agency Licensure))
  • 7The agency must not transfer or assign its license without thirty days' prior notice to the department and the department's approval. (RCW 70.127.100)(RCW Chapter 70.127 - In-Home Services Agencies (Home Care Agency Licensure))

Applies to: personal care / home care agencies (in-home services agencies) operating in Washington

Washington's In-Home Services Agencies statute (RCW 70.127) requires any person operating a home care agency to hold a license issued by the Department of Health. It sets out application content, insurance, background-check, fee, and non-transferability requirements, and directs agencies to adopt operating rules.

Regulatory information, not legal advice — always confirm against the cited official source. Verification reduces error; it does not certify compliance.