Violation

California Code § 87311Telephone Service & Directory

How CCLD inspectors cite this regulation, what providers do to stay clear of it, and where it appears in the public record.

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ℹ️ Educational reference based on public CCLD inspection records. Not legal or compliance advice. Verify requirements with official sources. Full disclaimer →

Regulation text

What California Code § 87311 actually says

California Code § 87311

All facilities shall have telephone service on the premises. Facilities with a capacity of sixteen (16) or more persons shall be listed in the telephone directory under the name of the facility.

From the field

What providers tell us about this citation

Based on community experience, not official guidance.

Thirty California RCFEs were cited for telephone service or directory violations. LPAs check for a working phone during every visit and verify directory listings for larger facilities. If your community has 16 or more beds, confirm your listing matches the licensed name exactly. A missing listing is one of the easiest citations to prevent.

By the numbers

0^*CCLD: facilities cited in the last 90 days
0^*CCLD: counties where this citation appeared
--^*CCLD: rank among most-common citations
Trajectory: Steady

What other providers do

Common practices to stay clear of Telephone Service & Directory

Common practices shared by providers. Confirm requirements with your licensing analyst.

Common practices

Maintain active telephone service on the premises at all times.
Facilities licensed for 16 or more persons must have a telephone directory listing under the licensed facility name.
The directory listing must use the exact name on the facility license.

What to avoid

Switching phone providers and having a service gap, even briefly, during the transition.
Using a doing-business-as name in the directory instead of the licensed facility name.
Assuming the directory listing requirement does not apply when your facility's capacity increases to 16 or more.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Answers based on public CCLD data and regulation text. May not reflect recent changes.

What is the telephone service violation in California RCFEs?

This violation occurs when a California assisted living facility lacks working telephone service or, for facilities with 16 or more residents, fails to maintain a telephone directory listing under the licensed facility name. Title 22, Section 87311 requires both. Without phone service, residents cannot reach family or emergency services when needed.

How common is this violation in California assisted living?

According to California CCLD inspection records, 30 California RCFEs were cited for telephone service or directory listing deficiencies. These are classified as Type B violations, meaning they pose a potential risk rather than an immediate one. Riverside County led with 6 citations, followed by San Diego with 5.

What happens if an RCFE is cited for telephone service violations?

The facility receives a Type B citation and must submit a plan of correction to CCLD. Type B citations carry lower civil penalties than Type A violations, but they still appear on your public inspection record. LPAs verify corrections during follow-up visits, and uncorrected issues can escalate to more serious enforcement.

How do I fix or prevent telephone service violations?

Test your telephone service monthly by making an outbound call from each handset. For facilities with 16 or more residents, verify your directory listing annually by searching online and print directories. Confirm the listing matches your licensed facility name exactly. Keep documentation of these checks for your compliance files.

Does a telephone service violation affect my RCFE license?

A single Type B citation for telephone service is unlikely to trigger license action on its own. However, repeated or uncorrected violations accumulate in your public record and can contribute to a pattern of noncompliance. CCLD reviews citation history during license renewals. Staying current on this simple requirement protects your standing.

Related violations

Other citations in this regulation family

This information is educational and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed child care compliance consultant for guidance specific to your facility. Citation data is sourced from California Community Care Licensing Division public records and is refreshed regularly.

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