Did you know California publishes inspection records for every licensed daycare?
Neither did we — until we became parents.
When our family started touring daycares, we asked about safety. Every facility said the right things. But when we tried to verify, we hit a wall: the state's database was slow, confusing, and clearly built for regulators — not parents.
The data was public. It just wasn't accessible.
41,000 Facilities. One Search.
Today, ReadyRule has a searchable safety profile for every licensed childcare facility in California — all 41,000 of them. Centers, family child care homes, infant programs. If it's licensed by the state, it has a page.
Each facility page shows you:
- Inspection history — every visit by a state licensing analyst, with dates and outcomes
- Citation breakdown — Type A (serious) vs. Type B (less serious), with counts and trends
- Risk assessment — how this facility compares to others in the same county
- Capacity and licensing dates — how long they've been operating, how many children they serve
This isn't a rating or a review. It's the actual state record, organized so you can read it in 30 seconds instead of 30 minutes.
How to Check a Daycare
- Go to readyrule.com/check — or browse by county at readyrule.com/daycares
- Enter the facility's license number — or just search by name and city
- Read the safety profile — inspection timeline, citations, county comparison
No account required. No app to download. Free.
If you don't know the license number (most parents don't), browse by county instead. You'll find every licensed facility in your area.
What You'll Find
A clean record doesn't mean perfect — it means the state hasn't documented violations. That's meaningful. California's Community Care Licensing Division inspects every licensed facility at least once per year, plus complaint-driven visits.
Citations aren't automatic disqualifiers. A single Type B citation about paperwork is very different from multiple Type A citations about child supervision. The facility page gives you context to tell the difference.
Here's what to look for:
- Zero citations — strong signal. Especially if the facility has been licensed for years.
- Type B only — common, often procedural. Check the dates — old citations that weren't repeated are a good sign.
- Type A citations — more serious. Read the details. Did the facility correct the issue? How quickly?
- Complaint-driven visits — the state came because someone reported a concern. Read the outcome.
Share It With Your Group
If you're comparing daycares with your partner, your family, or your parent group — share the facility page directly.
Every facility page generates a rich preview when shared via text, WhatsApp, or social media. The preview shows the facility name, city, and citation summary — so the person receiving the link gets the key info before they even tap.
Found your daycare? Share the link with your parent group. Knowledge is safety.
For Providers: Claim Your Page
If you own or operate a licensed facility, your ReadyRule page already exists. It shows your public inspection record — the same data any parent can find through the state's database.
Claim your page for free to add your facility description, operating hours, and enrollment status. If you have a subscription, you can respond to citations directly on your page — explaining the context that inspection reports don't capture.
Parents are already checking. Your page tells your story — or it tells only the state's side.
ReadyRule facility profiles are sourced from California Department of Social Services (CDSS) public records and updated weekly. We do not modify, interpret, or editorialize state data. If you believe any information is inaccurate, contact us.