California Home Daycare Inspection Checklist — What the State Checks

Before the state issues your home daycare license, a CDSS analyst comes to your home and walks through every room. They are looking for specific things. If they find a problem, you cannot open until you fix it and they come back.

The good news: most of what they check is predictable. You can walk through your own home this week and find every issue before they do.

This article gives you the full room-by-room checklist — the same one a first-time provider would want taped to their wall before the inspector shows up.

Before You Schedule: Read This First

The LIC 9217 form is what triggers your home inspection appointment. Once you mail it, the clock starts. Do not mail it until your home is ready.

Most providers take two to four weeks to get their home in order after seeing the checklist for the first time. That is normal. Walk through your home this week, write down what needs to be fixed, and fix things before you schedule.

The state does not charge you for the first visit. If you fail and need a re-inspection, there may be a delay in getting a return appointment. Getting it right the first time saves weeks.

The Most Common Reason People Fail

The water heater is not strapped to the wall.

California law requires every water heater to be secured to the wall with two metal straps to prevent it from tipping during an earthquake. Inspectors check this in every single home. The fix costs $15 to $30 and takes 30 minutes. Do this first, before you look at anything else.

While you are at the water heater: set the temperature to 120°F or lower. The inspector checks this too. If the water runs too hot, children can be scalded at the tap.

Room-by-Room Checklist

Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

These are checked throughout the home, not just one room.

• Smoke alarm in every bedroom
• Smoke alarm in every hallway outside a bedroom
• Smoke alarm on every floor of the home
• Carbon monoxide (CO) detector on every floor
• All alarms functional — press the test button on each one
• Batteries not expired

Cost to fix: Smoke alarms run $15 to $30 each. CO detectors run $20 to $40. Buy interconnected alarms if possible — when one goes off, they all go off.

Fire Extinguisher

• At least one fire extinguisher in the home
• Type must be 2A:10BC or higher
• Not expired (check the gauge — needle should be in the green)
• Mounted or accessible — not buried in a closet

Cost to fix: $30 to $60 at any hardware store. Look for the 2A:10BC rating on the label.

Kitchen

The kitchen gets close attention because it has the most hazards for young children.

Temperature and appliances:

• Refrigerator temperature at 40°F or below (get a fridge thermometer if you do not already have one)
• Stove knobs not accessible to children — knob covers available if needed
• No dangling cords from appliances near countertops

Storage:

• Cleaning supplies not under the sink (or under-sink cabinet is latched with a child-safety lock)
• Knives and sharp tools not accessible to children
• Medications not in the kitchen, or locked if present
• Trash can with lid, or inside a locked cabinet

General:

• No grease buildup near the stove (fire hazard)
• Cabinet latches on lower cabinets that contain anything unsafe

Cost to fix: Child-safety cabinet latches cost $3 to $8 each. Knob covers cost $5 to $15 for a set. A refrigerator thermometer costs $5 to $10.

Bathrooms

• Toilet lid locks installed (children can drown in toilets)
• All medications locked or stored out of reach — not on a counter, not in an unlocked cabinet
• Cleaning supplies locked or removed
• Razors and sharp tools not accessible
• Slip-resistant mat in the tub or shower (if children will use it)
• Water temperature checked — runs 120°F or below at the tap

Cost to fix: Toilet lid locks cost $10 to $20 each.

Sleeping and Nap Areas

If you will care for infants or toddlers who nap, the inspector will look at where they sleep.

• No drop-side cribs (banned; if you have one, replace it)
• Crib mattress firm and fits snugly — no gaps at the sides
• No soft bedding in cribs for infants: no pillows, no bumper pads, no heavy blankets
• Cribs and play yards free of cords (from window blinds, phone chargers, etc.)
• Cots or mats for older children are clean and in good condition

The crib rule is firm. Drop-side cribs have been banned in the US since 2011. If you have one, it cannot be used for child care regardless of its condition.

Living and Play Areas

This is where children spend most of their time. Inspectors look at it carefully.

Furniture and fixtures:

• Heavy furniture anchored to walls (bookshelves, dressers, TV stands) — anchor straps cost $15 to $25 per piece
• No sharp furniture corners at child height — corner guards available if needed
• TV secured and not accessible to climbing

Outlets and cords:

• Outlet safety covers on every unused electrical outlet
• Cords from lamps and electronics out of reach or covered
• Extension cords not used as permanent wiring
• Power strips with covers or placed out of reach

Window blinds:

• Blind cords tied up high, knotted short, or cut and replaced with cordless blinds
• This is a strangulation hazard — inspectors check every window

Stairs:

• If children under 5 will be present and your home has stairs: wall-mounted stair gate at the top of every staircase
• Pressure-mounted gates (no hardware) are not acceptable at the top of stairs — they can be pushed out
• Bottom of stairs: a gate is good practice but may not be required

Cost to fix:

• Outlet covers: $1 to $3 per outlet
• Furniture anchor straps: $15 to $25 per piece
• Stair gates (wall-mounted): $30 to $60 each
• Cordless blind replacement: $15 to $40 per window

Baby Walkers

Baby walkers are prohibited in California home daycares. Not discouraged — prohibited. If you have one, remove it from the home before the inspection. This applies to traditional rolling walkers. Stationary activity centers (ExerSaucers, Jumperoos) are not the same thing and are not prohibited.

Garage and Storage Areas

If children will have any access to these areas — even during an emergency exit — the inspector may look at them.

• All tools locked or stored out of reach
• Chemicals (paint, gasoline, pesticides) locked in a cabinet or shed
• No standing water (buckets, bins, containers)
• Emergency exit path clear

If children will not have access to the garage at any time, and the door between the house and garage is locked, the inspector will typically focus on interior rooms only.

Yard and Outdoor Space

If children will use the yard, the inspector will walk it.

Fencing:

• Yard fence is at least 4 feet tall on all sides
• No gaps that a small child could squeeze through or get stuck in
• Gate is self-closing and self-latching

Pool and water features:

• If there is a pool, spa, or any water feature deeper than 18 inches: a 5-foot fence with a self-latching gate is required — separate from the yard fence
• Pool cover alone does not satisfy the fence requirement
• This rule applies to neighbors' pools if they are directly accessible from your yard

Yard general:

• No poisonous plants accessible to children
• No standing water (mosquito and drowning hazard)
• Play equipment in good condition — no sharp edges, no splinters, no broken pieces
• Sandbox covered when not in use

The pool fence rule is one of the most important things to check. If you have a pool and no fence, you cannot open until the fence is built. This can add thousands of dollars and weeks of delay. Know this before you apply.

Exits and Emergency Access

• Every room used by children has a clear path to an exit
• Exit doors not blocked by furniture, boxes, or locks children cannot operate
• Fire escape plan posted or easily accessible
• Emergency numbers posted near the phone (or documented — 911 is obvious, but your address is not always automatic on mobile calls)

What the Inspector Does Not Check

A few things that providers worry about that are not part of the home inspection:

Square footage requirements. California does not set a specific square footage requirement per child for family daycare homes. The inspector is looking for safety — not measuring rooms.

New or updated finishes. You do not need to paint, refinish floors, or remodel. The state is looking at safety conditions, not aesthetics.

Toys and equipment. The inspector is not grading your toy selection or evaluating your curriculum. They are checking for hazards.

Checklist Summary — Print This

Here is a condensed version you can print and carry room to room:

Whole home:

• Smoke alarms in every bedroom, hallway, and floor
• CO detectors on every floor
• Fire extinguisher (2A:10BC), not expired
• Water heater strapped (two metal straps) and set to 120°F or below

Kitchen:

• Refrigerator at 40°F or below
• Cleaning supplies locked or latched
• Medications locked or removed
• Lower cabinet latches where needed

Bathrooms:

• Toilet lid locks
• Medications locked
• Cleaning supplies locked

Sleeping areas:

• No drop-side cribs
• Firm crib mattress, no soft bedding for infants

Living/play areas:

• Outlet covers on all unused outlets
• Blind cords tied up or cordless
• Heavy furniture anchored to walls
• Stair gates (wall-mounted) if children under 5

Yard:

• Fence at least 4 feet tall
• Pool fence 5 feet tall with self-latching gate (if pool/spa present)

Banned:

• Baby walkers removed

After the Inspection

If the inspector finds issues, they will note them on your inspection report and give you a timeframe to fix them. Minor issues (an outlet cover, a missing latch) usually require a short fix period. Major issues (pool fence, water heater) will delay your license until they are resolved.

If everything passes, your license is issued shortly after. You will receive it in the mail. Do not open for business until you have the physical license in hand.

For more detail on the full application sequence, see California Home Daycare License Requirements and How Long Does It Take to Get a Home Daycare License in California.

What to Do Next

1. Print the checklist above. Walk every room this week.
2. Fix the water heater first. Two metal straps, $15 to $30, do it today.
3. Make a shopping list. Outlet covers, cabinet latches, smoke alarms — most of this is one trip to the hardware store.
4. Do not send the LIC 9217 until your home passes your own walk-through.

The full License Kit includes a detailed room-by-room inspection checklist with every item the CDSS analyst checks — plus all 7 required state forms, and a step-by-step guide through the full application process. Get the Kit →

This article is for general information only. Requirements can change. Verify current inspection standards with your local CDSS Regional Office or at cdss.ca.gov. Daycare License California is not part of the California state government.