What California calls assisted living
California does not issue a license called "assisted living." The official license category is Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE), governed by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) through its Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD). When you hear "assisted living" in California, the state's records list it as an RCFE.
This matters when you search. The database uses RCFE as the facility type. If you search for "assisted living" as a keyword, you will still find results, but knowing the official term helps you filter and understand what you are looking at.
How to look up any facility, step by step
- Open the CDSS Care Facility Search The tool is at ccld.dss.ca.gov/carefacilitysearch. It works in any browser and does not require an account. There is also a free mobile app in both the Apple App Store and Google Play with the same functionality.
- Search by name, city, or license number You do not need the exact facility name. A partial name and a city is usually enough. If you have the license number (often printed on tour paperwork or posted in the facility's lobby), that gives you an exact match.
- Open the facility's detail page Click any result to see its license status, licensed capacity, administrator name, and the full compliance history. The database holds five years of records.
- Read the inspection reports first Start with the most recent routine inspection (called a Facility Evaluation Report). It reflects what an inspector saw on the most recent scheduled visit. Then look at any complaint investigation reports, which are filed when someone reports a concern to the state.
- Check for citations and their type Each citation lists the regulation that was violated, what the inspector observed, and the correction deadline. Citations are classified as Type A (immediate risk) or Type B (potential risk). See the section below for what each type means.
- Set up email alerts The database lets you subscribe to a specific facility. You will receive an email whenever the state adds a new inspection report, citation, or complaint investigation to that facility's record.
What the citation types mean
When CCLD issues a citation against a facility, it classifies the finding as one of two types. The classification determines both the urgency and the financial penalty.
| Detail | Type A | Type B |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A deficiency that presents an immediate or substantial risk to the health, safety, or personal rights of a resident | A deficiency that does not pose an immediate risk but still violates licensing standards |
| Examples | Medication errors causing harm, resident elopement, failure to call emergency services, physical abuse, unsanitary conditions | Incomplete resident records, expired staff certifications, missed fire drills, failure to post required notices, minor maintenance items |
| What happens | Mandatory follow-up inspection, possible immediate restrictions on admissions, and in serious cases, license suspension or revocation proceedings | Facility must submit a Plan of Correction with specific steps and a timeline |
Penalty amounts under California law
Health and Safety Code Section 1569.49 sets the civil penalties CDSS can assess against an RCFE. The amounts depend on whether the violation is a first occurrence, a repeat, or one that caused serious harm.
| Violation category | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Standard violation, not corrected within the given timeframe | $100 per day for each continuing violation |
| Repeat violation (same issue within 12 months) | $250 immediately, plus $100 per day if it continues |
| Serious violation (injury, fire clearance failure, absence of supervision, accessible firearms) | $500 per violation, plus $100 per day |
| Repeat serious violation | $1,000 immediately, plus $100 per day |
| Violation resulting in death of a resident | Up to $15,000 |
| Physical abuse or serious bodily injury | Up to $10,000 |
These are civil penalties assessed by CDSS. Criminal charges and personal injury lawsuits are separate processes and are not reflected in the facility's CCLD record.
What to look for when reading a facility's record
A single Type B citation from three years ago that was corrected on time is not a red flag. Every large facility that has operated for several years will have some history. What matters is the pattern.
- Any Type A citation in the past two years. Read the inspector's narrative, not just the citation summary. Look at whether the facility's correction was accepted on the follow-up visit.
- Repeat violations of the same regulation. If the same section number appears multiple times across different inspections, the facility is failing to maintain that fix.
- Complaint investigations with substantiated findings. "Substantiated" means the inspector confirmed the allegation had merit. Read what was alleged, what the inspector found, and what action resulted.
- A long gap between routine inspections. California requires annual inspections, though actual intervals can stretch beyond twelve months due to staffing. A two-year gap followed by a dense set of findings is a sign the facility was not under regular scrutiny.
- License status anything other than "Licensed." A facility showing "Probationary" or "Pending Revocation" has active enforcement proceedings against it.
A clean record is not a guarantee. The database shows what the state has documented in the past five years. Issues that were never reported to CCLD, or that occurred more than five years ago, will not appear. The state's own guidance recommends using this tool alongside an in-person visit and direct conversation with the facility's administrator and regional licensing office, which maintains a more complete historical file.
How to file a complaint
If you have a concern about a licensed facility, you can report it directly to CCLD. The state accepts complaints about any facility it licenses, including RCFEs, and every complaint triggers an intake review.
- Online: File at the CCLD complaint portal at complaints.ccld.dss.ca.gov
- Phone: Call the CCLD Complaint Hotline. Each county has a regional licensing office; the search tool lists the office responsible for any given facility.
- Ombudsman: The California Long-Term Care Ombudsman program at 1-800-231-4024 investigates complaints and can escalate serious issues to state regulators.
You do not have to be a resident or family member to file a complaint. Complaints can be made anonymously. CCLD is required to investigate every complaint it receives; the investigation timeline depends on the severity of the allegation.
Other records worth checking
The CDSS database covers RCFE licensing and compliance, but it is not the only public record relevant to a facility's history.
- Fire Marshal inspection: Your city or county fire department conducts separate inspections. Ask the facility for its most recent fire clearance, or request it from the local fire prevention bureau.
- Business license and zoning: Some cities require a separate conditional use permit for an RCFE. Your city's planning department can confirm whether the facility has the right land-use approval.
- Lawsuits: The Los Angeles County Superior Court and other county courts have free online case searches. A facility's legal name (which appears on its CCLD record) can be searched for any civil complaints.
Published September 2026. This guide describes how to use public state records and is not legal advice. Regulations and penalty amounts are current as of Health and Safety Code Section 1569.49 (2026). Confirm current requirements with CDSS or an attorney.