I AM LOOKING FOR ANY INFORMATION ON OPENING A HALFWAY HOUSE IN THE
PHILADELPHIA AREA. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT TYPE OF PERMITS I WILL NEED,
WHAT RESTRICTIONS THERE ARE, WHAT KIND OF FORMS I WILL NEED, SUCH AS
WAIVERS FOR TENNETS IN THE HOUSE. INFO ON FIRE CODE, ROOMING HOUSE
PERMIT ETC...

Dear Industry:

The subject of halfway houses is a complex one.  We'd suggest a good
lawyer to create a checklist for you as to halfway house regulations. 
The following URLs re pertinent to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
regulations for halfway houses. There are certainly Philadelphia city
regulations as well which I have been unable to find on the internet.
The following law firm does work with halfway house regulation and
licensing:
      
         http://www.hangley.com/prac_gove.htm
"As we enter the 2000s, there is even greater pressure on governments
to find and exploit opportunities to improve their financial condition
by developing revenue generation and cost saving initiatives. Members
of the Governmental Practice Group have had significant experience
inside and outside government in identifying and implementing such
initiatives. They can be a valuable resource to governments that need
to confront change in the traditional manner of operations."


         http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol26/26-5/26_5_p2.pdf
         http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol26/26-5/171.html
"RULES AND REGULATIONS, Title 28--HEALTH AND SAFETY, DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH, [28 PA. CODE CHS. 701 AND 704], Staffing for Drug and Alcohol
Treatment Activities"

The above listed references , detail Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
regulations regarding staffing at halfway houses.

         http://www.paproviders.org/index.html
The above URL provides information on a "provider group" which is a
basic organization that can supply more practical experience to
individuals or groups who are starting or operating halfway houses.
You need to be a member to get the benefit of their various reports.

        http://www.cga.state.ct.us/2002/olrdata/hs/rpt/2002-R-0436.htm
        http://www.state.ma.us/dph/bsas/Documents/Forms/revised.appln.pdf
        http://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-278.html#NRS278Sec021
The above URLs provide general information from states other than
Pennsylvania.

The detail you require cannot be found easily on the internet and
further searching is outside the cost parameters of your question.  If
I can clarify any of the information I have provided, please don't
hesitate to ask before you rate this answer.

Thank you for using Google Answers.

seedy

Search strategy on Google:  "halfway houses" + regulations
                            "halfway houses" + regulations + PA