California Home Daycare Inspection Checklist

What the LPA Actually Checks

When a Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) arrives for your pre-licensing inspection, they evaluate your entire home against Title 22 physical plant standards. This isn't a cursory walk-through — the analyst uses a systematic checklist derived from the Pre-Licensing Readiness Guide (Form LIC 9217), and every item must pass before your license is issued.

Failing the inspection doesn't end your application, but it does delay it. You'll receive a written plan of correction listing every deficiency, and the LPA won't return for re-inspection until you've addressed all of them. Some providers lose weeks fixing issues they could have resolved before the first visit.

Poison and Chemical Storage

This is the most commonly cited deficiency category. Every household cleaning solution, laundry pod, liquid detergent, disinfectant, and toxic substance must be completely inaccessible to children — locked away, not just placed on a high shelf.

The standard is physical locks: keyed cabinet locks or magnetic locks on every cabinet or under-sink area containing anything toxic. Child-proof safety latches that allow a cabinet to crack open a few inches are typically not accepted. The LPA will test them.

Medications — both prescription and over-the-counter — must be locked in a separate location from cleaning products, and both must be stored away from food.

Pool and Water Safety

If your property has a swimming pool, hot tub, spa, or fish pond, expect this to be a major inspection focus. Drowning prevention is non-negotiable under Title 22.

In-ground pools and spas must be enclosed by a fence at least five feet high. The fence cannot obscure the water from view and must meet Uniform Building Code standards. Gates must swing away from the pool, be self-closing, and have a self-latching mechanism positioned no more than six inches from the top of the gate.

Pool covers, if used in place of or alongside fencing, must be strong enough to support the weight of an adult and must be locked whenever the pool isn't in active supervised use.

Above-ground pools must be made completely inaccessible when not in use by removing the ladder or installing a compliant barricade around the steps.

Firearm Storage

Weapons and firearms in the home are a zero-tolerance inspection area. If firearms are present, they must meet one of these conditions:

• Stored in a locked container, with ammunition in a separate locked container
• Equipped with trigger locks, with the key stored separately from the weapon
• Firing pins removed and stored in a locked location separate from the firearms

There is no middle ground on this. A firearm found in an unlocked location during the inspection is an immediate failure.

Fire Safety and Exits

Even for Small FCCHs (which don't require a formal fire clearance), the LPA checks basic fire safety:

• Smoke alarms in every bedroom, sleeping room, and central corridor leading to sleeping areas, plus any room used for napping. Smoke alarms are not permitted in kitchens or bathrooms.
• Carbon monoxide alarms outside sleeping areas in homes with gas appliances, fireplaces, or attached garages.
• A fire extinguisher rated at least 2A:10BC, mounted in a visible location three to five feet off the floor.
• Exit routes: Every story used for child care needs at least two exits, remotely located from each other. All exit doors must have single-action, self-releasing hardware — turning the knob releases all locks without a key. Deadbolts requiring a key from inside, sliding bolts, and security chains are all prohibited.

Fireplaces and heaters must be screened with secure physical barriers. Gas heaters must be permanently installed and properly vented.

Stair and Height Safety

If you serve children under five, every stairwell must be blocked with a securely installed safety gate.

Outdoor Play Space

Your outdoor area needs secure fencing to prevent children from leaving unsupervised and to keep unauthorized access out. The LPA evaluates:

• Fence condition and height (no gaps a child could squeeze through)
• Gate latches that children can't easily open
• Ground surface under play equipment (soft material to absorb falls)
• Absence of toxic plants, sharp objects, or recalled playground equipment
• No furniture, toys, or equipment that appears on the CPSC recall list

The Walk-Through Strategy

Work through every room in your home, including rooms you plan to designate as off-limits. Off-limits rooms must be locked during operating hours, and the LPA will verify that. Common things providers miss:

• Cleaning supplies under the bathroom sink (locked?)
• Medications in a bedroom nightstand (locked separately from chemicals?)
• Screen door on the exit — it must not have any locks
• Recalled cribs or sleep surfaces still in use
• A garage door connecting to the home without proper fire separation

The California Home Daycare Licensing Guide includes a room-by-room safety audit checklist matched to the LIC 9217 framework, so you can work through every Title 22 requirement before the LPA arrives.

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