Assisted Living / Nursing Homes

This section of HERC contains environmental compliance information for assisted living care and nursing home communities. This section was prepared by HERC staff and reviewed by representatives of the American Healthcare Association (AHCA) and the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL).

Although the assisted living care and nursing home sector is not associated with major environmental issues, it is regulated by federal and state environmental laws and regulations, as are all U.S. businesses. Examples of applicable regulatory topics for this sector include management and disposal of unused pharmaceuticals and medical waste and facility issues such as stormwater, boiler and generator operation, and renovation/construction activities.

The purpose of this section is to educate assisted living care and nursing home community owners and managers about applicable rules in an effort to assure continuous compliance. This section also contains links to federal and state agency websites where you can find more detailed information, points of contact, permits, regulations, etc. Also, many environmental regulations are modified or updated every few years. This site will help you keep track of these changes as they occur.

Use the navigation below to access applicable sections.

Environmental Topic Summaries. Research specific environmental topics using these pages. Each one covers both federal and state regulations. Using these resources, you can determine if the rules apply to your assisted living care and nursing home community and what you need to do in order to comply. The topics are divided into four groups. Click on a group name to visit that page.

  • Buildings & Grounds (e.g., green building, landscaping, stormwater)

  • Construction Activities (e.g., permitting, lead/asbestos/PCB issues)

  • Utilities (e.g., emergency generators, boilers, HVAC, storage tanks)

  • Wastes (e.g., unused meds, medical waste, hazardous waste, universal waste, vehicle wastes)