California Daycare Self-Inspection Checklist (Printable)

Recent and upcoming changes

Emergency and disaster plan meets Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1596.868 (from Jan. 1, 2027); quarterly drills per shift documented; plan reviewed, signed and dated yearly. Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1596.868 Centers · Family child care
Health and safety training for all caregivers, plus 12 hours a year (from October 1, 2027) Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1596.866 Centers · Family child care From October 1, 2027, every staff member who provides care in a center or family child care home, every family child care licensee, and every substitute adult must have the 16 hours of health and safety training (15…
Family child care: licensee absences and substitute adults Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1597.63 Family child care A family child care licensee may be absent while children are in care for no more than 20% of the hours the home provides care in a calendar month.
Medication rule now covers all medications Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1596.798 Centers · Family child care AB 150 removed the word "inhaled" from this section, so it now covers any medication a licensee or staff member gives a child.
State anaphylaxis policy (compliance from January 1, 2028) Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1596.7985 Centers · Family child care CDSS must publish an anaphylaxis policy for child care by July 1, 2027.
Whole and 2% milk now allowed for children 2 and older Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1596.808 Centers · Family child care Since June 8, 2026, licensed facilities may serve unflavored whole, 2%, 1% or nonfat milk to children 2 and older.
No collecting immigration status (AB 495, from January 1, 2026) Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1597.640 Centers · Family child care Licensed child care facilities and their staff may not collect information or documents about the citizenship or immigration status of children or family members, unless state or federal law, or a state- or federally…
In-ground pool: compliant 60-inch enclosure (plus cover/alarm at homes, second barrier at centers), life ring and rescue pole in view, daily safety inspection log. Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1596.814 Centers · Family child care

Who needs a license

Who is exempt from licensing Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1596.792 Centers · Family child care Care is exempt from licensing when a family child care home cares for the children of only one other family in addition to the operator's own, when a relative provides the care, and in some unpaid parent cooperatives …
Small and large family child care homes Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1596.78 Family child care A family child care home is in the provider's own home (house, townhouse, apartment or other dwelling, owned or rented) and serves up to 14 children for less than 24 hours a day.
Single license child care centers Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1596.951 Centers California now issues one child care center license that can cover infant, toddler, preschool and school-age components (and mildly ill care) at one address.
Large family child care home experience requirement Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 102369 Family child care An applicant for a large family child care home license must show at least one year of experience as a licensed small family child care home operator, or one year as an administrator, director or teacher at a licensed…
Drop-in child care centers Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1596.7916 Centers A drop-in child care center offers care only with no contract or set schedule for any child.

Staff-to-child ratios and capacity

Preschool rooms: 1 teacher per 12 children, 1 teacher + 1 aide per 15, or a fully qualified teacher + qualified aide per 18. Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101216.3 Centers
Infant rooms (under 2): 1 teacher per 4 infants; 1:2 on outings; up to 12 sleeping infants per teacher only with full staff immediately available. Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101416.5 Centers
School-age center ratios Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101516.5 Centers School-age child care centers need 1 teacher and 1 aide for every 28 children in attendance, and a teacher alone may supervise no more than 14.
Nap-time ratio (centers) Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101230 Centers While children are napping, one teacher may supervise up to 24 napping children, but only if the other teachers needed for the regular 1:12 ratio are immediately available at the center.
Toddlers in a preschool program Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101216.4 Centers A preschool may run a separate toddler component for children 18 to 36 months, with written parent permission and space kept apart from older and younger children.
Count every child in care plus your own children under 10: small home 4 infants, or 6 with ≤3 infants (8 only under § 1597.44 conditions); large home 12 with ≤4 infants (14 only under § 1597.465 conditions) with an assistant present. Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 102416.5 Family child care
Water activities (centers) Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101216.6 Centers During water activities in or near a swimming pool, a deep portable pool, or a natural body of water such as an ocean, lake or river, centers must keep at least 1 adult for every 6 children, and at least one adult…

Group size and space

Indoor space Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101238.3 Centers Centers need at least 35 square feet of indoor activity space per child, based on total licensed capacity.
Outdoor space Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101238.2 Centers Centers need at least 75 square feet of outdoor activity space per child, based on total licensed capacity.
Family child care: capacity is the group limit Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 102416.5 Family child care In a family child care home, the capacity on the license is the most children allowed at any one time, including the provider's own children under 10.

Director and teacher qualifications

Center director Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101215.1 Centers A center director must have one of the following before employment: (1) a high school diploma or GED, 15 semester units (12 in ECE/child development core courses and 3 in administration or staff relations), and 4 years…
Each teacher has ≥6 ECE units (or a CDA Assistant Permit) and is adding 2 units per term until 12; transcripts or permits on file at the center. Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101216.1 Centers
Teacher aides Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101216.2 Centers Aides must work under the direct supervision of a teacher.
Infant care teachers and directors Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101416.2 Centers To be hired, an infant care teacher needs 3 semester units of ECE or child development plus 3 units about infant care.
Every staff member and volunteer has a TB test/health screening on file; a pediatric CPR + first-aid certified person is present at all times. Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101216 Centers
Family child care: assistant providers and substitutes Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 102352 Family child care In a family child care home, an assistant provider must be at least 14 and is someone who mainly helps care for children.
Every employee and volunteer has proof of flu (yearly, Aug 1 to Dec 1), pertussis and measles immunization, or a valid exemption or flu declination on file. Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1596.7995 Centers · Family child care

Background checks

Every staff member, volunteer and adult household member (family child care) has a CDSS clearance, exemption or approved transfer on file before their first day. Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1596.871 Centers · Family child care
Child Abuse Central Index check Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101170.2 Centers · Family child care Everyone who needs a criminal record clearance must also have a Child Abuse Central Index (CACI) check, submitted to the California DOJ (form LIC 198A) along with their fingerprints, before they start work or first come…
Clearance transfers Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101170 Centers · Family child care A person who already has a CDSS clearance from another licensed facility may have it transferred instead of being fingerprinted again.
TrustLine for license-exempt providers Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1596.66 License exempt A license-exempt child care provider paid in whole or in part with state Alternative Payment Program or federal Child Care and Development Block Grant subsidy funds must be registered with TrustLine (fingerprints, DOJ…

Training

Required person(s) hold current EMSA-approved pediatric first aid and CPR cards (renew every 2 years) and a preventive health practices certificate (incl. 1 hour nutrition). Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1596.866 Centers · Family child care
Anaphylaxis and epinephrine in first aid/CPR (from January 1, 2026) Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1596.866 Centers · Family child care On and after January 1, 2026, the required pediatric first aid or CPR course must include preventing and treating anaphylaxis, including emergency use of epinephrine auto-injectors.
Every licensee, administrator and employee has a mandated reporter training certificate dated within the last 2 years (new hires within 90 days). Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1596.8662 Centers · Family child care
On-the-job training at centers Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101216 Centers All center staff must get on-the-job training, or have related experience, in nutrition and food handling, housekeeping and sanitation (including universal precautions), child care and supervision, helping with…
Inhaled medication training Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1596.798 Centers · Family child care Anyone who obtains or renews a pediatric first aid certificate under § 1596.866 must complete training in giving inhaled medication: nebulizers and inhalers, cleaning, storage, side effects, and when to call the parent…

Health and illness

Daily health check at arrival Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101226.1 Centers No child with obvious signs of illness, such as fever or vomiting, may be accepted.
Isolating sick children Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101226.2 Centers Centers must be able to isolate and care for a child who becomes ill during the day.
Illness, injury and first aid Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101226 Centers Notify the parent immediately if a child becomes ill or has an injury more serious than a minor cut or scratch, and record minor injuries that needed first aid.
Reporting to licensing Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101212 Centers Report the following to CDSS by phone or fax by the next working day: a child's death, any injury needing medical treatment, any unusual incident or child absence that threatens a child's safety, suspected abuse,…
Family child care: illness and home safety basics Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 102417 Family child care In a family child care home, a child who shows signs of illness must be separated from the other children, and a child with a communicable disease kept apart until the infectious stage is over.
Center building built before 2010: lead test of drinking water on file and less than 5 years old. Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1597.16 Centers

Facility, furniture and hazards

Chemicals and poisons locked and out of reach (not with food); no firearms on site; center clean and in good repair; walkways clear. Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101238 Centers
Room temperature 68–85°F; hot water 105–120°F; furniture intact, no sharp or loose parts; playground equipment anchored; no recalled items or baby walkers; exits unblocked. Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101239 Centers
Pools and bodies of water (centers) Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101238 Centers Pools, hot tubs, spas, fixed wading pools and fish ponds must be made inaccessible with a locked cover strong enough to hold an adult, or with a fence at least 5 feet high that doesn't block the view.
Smoke detector and fire extinguisher working; stairs gated (under-5s); medicines, chemicals locked away; firearms locked, ammo separate; pool fenced 5 ft or locked cover; no baby walkers. Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 102417 Family child care
No baby walkers Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1596.846 Centers · Family child care A baby walker may not be kept or used on the premises of any licensed child care facility.
Earthquake Preparedness Checklist (optional) Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1596.867 Centers · Family child care Every facility must attach the state's Earthquake Preparedness Checklist to its emergency and disaster plan and make it available to the public, but the licensee chooses which items, if any, to follow, and licensing…

Emergency and disaster plans

Written disaster plan on site; disaster drill at least every 6 months, documented and kept 1 year (quarterly per shift from Jan. 1, 2027). Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101174 Centers
Family child care disaster plan and drills Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 102417 Family child care Each family child care home needs a written disaster plan on the CDSS form.
Current roster of children Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1596.841 Centers · Family child care Every child care facility must keep a current roster of children with each parent's name, address and daytime phone number and the child's physician's name and phone number, and show it to licensing on request.

Medication

Medications locked/out of reach, in original labeled containers with child's name and date; written parent authorization on file; every dose recorded and parent told daily. Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101226 Centers
Medication authorization and daily records (all facilities) Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1596.798 Centers · Family child care Before giving a child any medication, have written authorization from the parent that includes permission to contact the child's health care provider, plus written instructions from the provider.

Immunizations and health records

Every enrolled child has an up-to-date immunization record (or a conditional admission follow-up date, or a valid CAIR-ME medical exemption) on file. Cal. Health & Safety Code § 120335 Centers · Family child care
Medical exemptions only on the state form Cal. Health & Safety Code § 120372 Centers · Family child care Since January 1, 2021, the only medical exemption a child care program may accept is the standardized electronic form a physician issues through the California Immunization Registry (CAIR-ME).
Each child's physician medical assessment (incl. TB test) on file within 30 days of enrollment. Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101220 Centers
Family child care immunization records Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 102418 Family child care Family child care homes must make sure children are immunized as Title 17 requires before admission and keep each child's immunization record in the home.

Food and nutrition

Menus posted a week ahead; dated copies of menus as served kept 30 days; snacks offered mid-morning and mid-afternoon (full-day). Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101227 Centers
Water freely available; no sweetened drinks (incl. flavored milk); ≤1 serving of 100% juice per day. Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1596.808 Centers · Family child care
Family child care: food from home Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 102417 Family child care In a family child care home, food a child brings from home must be in a container labeled with the child's name and stored or refrigerated properly.

Napping and safe sleep

Each infant under 12 months has a signed LIC 9227 sleeping plan; infants placed on their backs; no swaddling; heads uncovered. Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101430 Centers
15-minute sleep-check log for each sleeping infant (date, name, time, staff initials). Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101429 Centers
Cribs and bedding (infant centers) Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101439.1 Centers Each infant who can't climb out needs a crib or portable crib that meets U.S.
Signed LIC 9227 for each infant; back to sleep; no swaddling, no car-seat sleep, empty crib; 15-minute checks documented; door open, same floor. Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 102425 Family child care
Napping for preschoolers Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101230 Centers Every child must get a chance to nap or rest without disturbance.
Overnight care in family child care Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 102426 Family child care A family child care provider caring for children overnight must stay awake whenever children are awake.

Discipline and children's personal rights

LIC 613A personal rights posted and a signed receipt in each child's file; no corporal punishment, humiliation or withholding food, sleep or toileting. Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101223 Centers
Discipline Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101223.2 Centers No form of discipline or punishment that violates a child's personal rights is allowed, even with the parent's consent.
Personal rights (family child care) Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 102423 Family child care Children in a family child care home have the same core rights, and the licensee can't waive them even with parent consent: dignity, safe and comfortable accommodations, parents informed about how to file a confidential…
Parents may drop in Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1596.857 Centers · Family child care A parent or guardian who shows identification may enter and inspect the facility without notice during normal hours or any time their child is there.

Records

Each child's file complete: contacts, admission agreement, medical assessment, allergies, emergency consent, medications, outing permissions. Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101221 Centers
Personnel records (centers) Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101217 Centers Keep a personnel record for the licensee, administrator and each employee at the center, available to licensing.
Family child care child records Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 102421 Family child care In each child's file, keep the parent's signed and dated receipt for the required notices (§ 102419(d)) for at least 3 years after the child leaves.
Centers: parents' rights notices at admission Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101218.1 Centers When accepting each child, give the parent the Notification of Parents' Rights (LIC 995) and the Caregiver Background Check Process form (LIC 995E), and keep the signed acknowledgment in the child's file.
Family child care: notices at enrollment Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 102419 Family child care When you accept each child, give the parent the Notification of Parent's Rights (LIC 995A), the Caregiver Background Check Process (LIC 995E) and Family Child Care Consumer Awareness Information (LIC 9212), and keep the…
Posting inspection reports and giving them to parents Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1596.8595 Centers · Family child care Any licensing report with a Type A citation (a violation that would be an immediate risk to children if not corrected) must be posted on or next to the inside of the main door for 30 consecutive days, along with the…
Family child care: insurance or parent affidavits Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 102417 Family child care A family child care home must have liability insurance of at least $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 aggregate, a $300,000 bond, or a signed affidavit from each parent acknowledging that the home has no such coverage.

Sign-in and sign-out

Every child signed in and out with the adult's full legal signature and the time; sheets kept at least one month. Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101229.1 Centers
School-age children who arrive or leave on their own Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101529.1 Centers At school-age centers, staff must sign in a child who arrives alone.
Accept children in person Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101226.1 Centers A child may be accepted only after staff have had contact with the adult who brings them, and that adult must wait until the child has been checked for illness and accepted before signing in.

Transportation

Drivers properly licensed; every child in an appropriate car seat or belt; seating capacity not exceeded; no child left in a parked vehicle; car-seat law sign posted at entrance. Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101225 Centers
Transporting infants (centers) Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101425 Centers Only licensed drivers 18 or older may drive infants (under 2).
Transportation (family child care) Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 102417 Family child care Family child care homes must use properly licensed drivers, stay within the vehicle's seating capacity, keep vehicles in safe condition, secure every occupant in an appropriate restraint, secure infants in an infant car…

Inspections and penalties

How often centers are inspected Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1597.09 Centers · Family child care Every licensed center is subject to unannounced inspections.
When inspectors can visit Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1596.8535 Centers · Family child care Licensing visits happen only from one hour before to one hour after normal business hours, or whenever children are in care, unless a complaint investigation requires otherwise.
Type A and Type B citations Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1596.893b Centers · Family child care Licensing must distinguish between violations that present an immediate risk to children's health, safety or personal rights (Type A) and those that could become one if not corrected (Type B), for example a…
No child ever unsupervised or watched by anyone under 18; capacity and fire clearance respected; smoke alarms working; water and firearms inaccessible. Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1596.99 Centers · Family child care
Notice of deficiency and plan of correction Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101193 Centers When a licensing analyst finds a deficiency, the person in charge meets with them to agree on a plan of correction and receives a written notice.
Notice of site visit posting Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1596.817 Centers · Family child care After every site visit, CDSS leaves a notice saying whether violations were cited, what type, and whether the report must be posted.

Appeals

Informal review of a licensing decision Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 101196 Centers You may ask for a review of a deficiency notice, civil penalty, or waiver or exception decision within 10 working days of receiving it, unless a formal administrative action has already begun.
Formal review and hearing for civil penalties Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1596.99 Centers · Family child care For the larger penalties (repeat serious violations and penalties for a child's death), the licensee may ask the CCLD Deputy Director for a formal review in writing within 15 business days, with supporting documents.
Citations about a child's behavior Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1596.893c Centers · Family child care A facility that contracts with CDSS or the Department of Education may appeal a citation or civil penalty related to a child's behavior, or staff actions in response to it, if the facility was following the state's…
Family child care penalties and review Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 102395 Family child care Family child care homes have their own penalty, denial, revocation and complaint regulations (§§ 102395, 102401–102403), with penalty amounts and the 15-business-day formal review set by Health & Safety Code § 1597.58,…

California daycare self-inspection checklist

Recent and upcoming changes

Who needs a license

Staff-to-child ratios and capacity

Group size and space

Director and teacher qualifications

Background checks

Training

Health and illness

Facility, furniture and hazards

Emergency and disaster plans

Medication

Immunizations and health records

Food and nutrition

Napping and safe sleep

Discipline and children's personal rights

Records

Sign-in and sign-out

Transportation

Inspections and penalties

Appeals

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