Pinkowski Law & Policy Group LLC

10/16/2026

Thinking about opening a residential assisted living home? Before you buy the house, there are some important questions you need to ask.

Can you legally operate an assisted living home at that location? How many residents can you accommodate? What happens if the property is in an HOA? And how do federal fair housing laws affect your rights?

These are questions we help residential assisted living owners navigate every day at Pinkowski Law. And getting the answers wrong can be expensive.

Today at the Assisted Living Conference, Michelle Pinkowski will be speaking on “Zoning, Fair Housing & the 10 Questions Every RAL Operator Should Ask.”

We’ll talk about some of the legal issues that can make or break a residential assisted living project, and what prospective owners should investigate before committing to a property.

We’ll also be sharing our new Field Guide, Before You Buy the House: 10 Questions Every Residential Assisted Living Owner Should Ask Before Closing.

If you’re attending the conference, we hope you’ll join us for the presentation. And be sure to stop by the Pinkowski Law booth to say hello and pick up your copy of the guide!

10/15/2026

We’re here! And apparently we’re very excited about it. 😂

Pinkowski Law is back at the Assisted Living Convention, and we’re ready for another few days of reconnecting with old friends, making new ones, and talking about all things residential assisted living.

Come find us at our booth! We’d love to see you.

And don’t miss Michelle’s presentation tomorrow (Friday) at 10 AM:

“Zoning, Fair Housing & the 10 Questions Every RAL Operator Should Ask.”

Because nothing says a good time like talking about zoning law! 🎉

10/14/2026

You’ve found the perfect house for your new residential assisted living business.

Great location. Good bones. Beautiful outdoor space. You can already imagine your future residents living there.

But before you make an offer, there are some important questions you need to answer.

Does the zoning allow your intended use? How many residents can you accommodate? What building and fire code requirements will apply? And what if the property is in an HOA?

Here’s something that surprises many new operators: Just because your state offers an assisted living license for a certain number of residents doesn’t necessarily mean you can accommodate that many people in a particular house.

At Pinkowski Law, we help residential assisted living entrepreneurs navigate these questions before they make costly commitments.

We’ve also put together a free Field Guide, Before You Buy the House: 10 Questions Every Residential Assisted Living Owner Should Ask Before Closing.

If you’re attending the Assisted Living Conference in Glendale this week, stop by our booth and pick up a copy.

We’d love to help you get started on the right foot.

10/13/2026

Thinking about starting a residential assisted living business?

It’s an exciting opportunity, but there’s a lot more to it than finding a house and welcoming your first residents.

Over the years, we’ve worked with many entrepreneurs who are entering the assisted living industry. Some come from healthcare backgrounds. Others are real estate investors or business owners who see an opportunity to provide a much-needed service.

Whatever your background, there are some important steps to take before getting started.

You’ll need a solid business plan, a realistic understanding of your financing needs, the right team of professionals, and a property that meets the legal requirements for your intended use.

And that’s just the beginning!

We’ll be at the Assisted Living Conference in Glendale, Arizona, this week, talking with people who are exploring this exciting industry.

If you’re attending, stop by the Pinkowski Law booth. We’d love to hear about your plans and help you understand some of the legal considerations involved in getting started.

10/12/2026

Thinking about buying an existing residential assisted living home instead of starting from scratch?

There are some advantages to purchasing an established operation, but there are also legal issues that buyers sometimes overlook.

For starters, you are actually purchasing two different things: the real estate and the assisted living business operating inside it.

And those two purchases may require separate contracts.

Why does this matter?

Because buying the house doesn’t necessarily mean you’re acquiring everything you need to operate the business. And buying the business without securing the property could create a whole different set of problems.

There are also questions about licensing, existing contracts, business liabilities, and what happens if one part of the transaction falls through.

These are all issues worth addressing before you close.

We’ll be at the Assisted Living Conference in Glendale this week, and we’d love to talk with anyone considering purchasing their first residential assisted living business.

Stop by the Pinkowski Law booth and say hello!

08/04/2026

I have been thinking about overregulation lately.

Colorado’s assisted living rules grew 73% since 2011. We ask whether care improved and what resident outcomes CDPHE should measure.

04/15/2026

Check out our new blog on What You Need to Know About Fair Housing, HOAs, and Group Homes. If you've ever had questions about whether an HOA can stop your assisted living or group home, this is for you!

If you are looking at opening a group home, assisted living residence, or sober home in a residential neighborhood, one of the first questions is almost always the same: Can the HOA stop me? It is a fair question. It is also one of the areas where people get flooded with bad information, strong op