Assisted living in Maryland: how it is licensed.
Who licenses assisted living in Maryland, and what to check before you choose.
What Maryland calls it
In Maryland, assisted living is licensed under the term “Assisted Living Program”. Other states use different names, so it helps to know the exact term when you search.
Who licenses and inspects
Maryland Department of Health, Office of Health Care Quality is the agency that licenses these communities. It is the official place to check a community’s license and inspection history. The state also lists an official facility search tool.
Paying for care
Medicare generally does not cover long term custodial care.
Maryland's Community Options Waiver lists assisted living services among its waiver services for adults who need nursing facility level of care and meet financial rules. Eligibility rules apply.
Checking a community
The Office of Health Care Quality page lists licensed assisted living programs as a downloadable Excel file; its consumer page says survey reports for programs with 10 or more beds are on the Maryland Health Care Commission site.
Help and complaints
Maryland Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (Department of Aging) supports residents of long term care and their families.
Also worth knowing in Maryland
Maryland providers must make a completed Uniform Disclosure Statement covering staffing, services and fees available on request, and assisted living programs are assigned one of three levels of care.
Sources we checked (October 2026)
Licensing rules change. We checked the pages below. Confirm with the state agency.
Questions
Who regulates assisted living in Maryland?
Maryland Department of Health, Office of Health Care Quality.