California Code § 101238(a): Facility Cleanliness

📋Type A Violation🏢Affects: Child Care Centers

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

What Is California Code § 101238(a): Facility Cleanliness?

California Code § 101238(a)

The child care center shall be clean, safe, sanitary and in good repair at all times to ensure the safety and well-being of children, employees and visitors.

💬What Providers Tell Us

Based on community experience — not official guidance

This is the regulation inspectors use when something doesn't fit neatly into a more specific code. If your ceiling tile is stained, your outdoor fence has a gap, or your bathroom has mildew, it falls here. Inspectors do a full walkthrough the moment they arrive, before you even know what the visit is about. The difference between a verbal heads-up and a documented deficiency often comes down to whether you already knew about the problem. If there's a work order or a note showing you scheduled a repair, inspectors tend to note it and move on. If the same broken cabinet latch was there last visit, that's going on paper.

facilities cited (last 90 days)

That's 1 in 1250 facilities

counties affected

most common citation

📉

Decreasing

Last 90 days vs. previous 90 days

34 facilities (was 44)11 facilities

Source: California CCLD inspection records | Data as of Mar 19, 2026. Updated weekly.

34 facilities were cited for this in the last 90 days.

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What Other Providers Do for Facility Cleanliness

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

✓ Common Practices

Maintain cleanliness throughout the facility daily
Address safety hazards immediately when identified
Keep all areas sanitary, especially food prep and diaper changing
Repair maintenance issues promptly (don't let them pile up)
Ensure outdoor play areas are safe and well-maintained

❌ Common Mistakes

Letting small maintenance issues pile up because none of them seem urgent. Providers think a loose doorknob or chipped tile is minor, but inspectors see a pattern of neglect and document everything they find in a single visit.
Focusing cleanup efforts on indoor spaces and ignoring outdoor areas. Play yards, fences, storage sheds, and parking lot debris all fall under this regulation. Inspectors walk the full property perimeter.
Assuming 'in good repair' only means structural issues. Stained carpets, peeling contact paper on shelves, and worn-out crib mattresses all count. If it looks like it needs replacing, an inspector will flag it.
Cleaning up right before a scheduled visit but not maintaining daily standards. Unannounced visits happen, and inspectors notice the difference between a facility that's always clean and one that was scrubbed an hour ago.

1 citations

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Data updated weekly from CCLD public records. Last update: 3/19/2026

Learn More About This Topic

4 Violations That Trigger Multiple Inspections

These citation types are most likely to bring inspectors back for follow-up visits.

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Top 10 California Daycare Citation Types

The most common violations California facilities receive during inspections.

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A single Type A citation can cost $150–$500+ in civil penalties — not counting the follow-up inspection it triggers.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

What is Facility Cleanliness?

California regulation 101238(a) requires your child care center to be clean, safe, sanitary, and in good repair at all times. This is not a pre-inspection standard you meet once and forget. It applies every single day to every part of your facility, including outdoor areas, storage spaces, and parking lots. Inspectors use this regulation as a catch-all when something doesn't fit a more specific code, so stained ceiling tiles, mildewed bathrooms, and broken cabinet latches all land here.

How common is the Facility Cleanliness citation?

According to California CCLD inspection records as of March 15, 2026, 33 facilities have been cited for this violation in the past 90 days across 14 California counties, generating 34 total citations. That's roughly 1 in 1,212 inspected facilities. Los Angeles dominates with 13 citations, followed by Kern County with 4 and Contra Costa with 3. Fresno and Merced each had 2. The high concentration in LA County reflects the larger number of facilities there, but this citation appears statewide wherever maintenance gets deferred.

What triggers this citation during an inspection?

Inspectors do a full walkthrough the moment they arrive, checking indoor and outdoor spaces before you know what the visit is about. Based on CCLD inspection patterns, they document everything they find in a single pass: chipped tiles, stained carpets, peeling contact paper, worn crib mattresses, fence gaps, and playground debris. The difference between a verbal heads-up and a documented deficiency often depends on whether you already knew about the problem. A work order showing you scheduled a repair gets noted differently than the same broken latch from last visit.

How can I prevent this citation?

Walk your entire property weekly using the same path an inspector would, including outdoor areas, storage rooms, and parking areas. Keep a dated maintenance log showing when you identified issues and when you scheduled repairs. Fix small problems immediately instead of letting them accumulate. Inspectors notice the difference between a facility that maintains daily standards and one that was scrubbed an hour before a scheduled visit. Unannounced visits reveal the truth.

What should I do if I receive this citation?

Address every specific item listed in the citation immediately. Take dated photos showing the completed repairs or cleaning. Create a weekly facility inspection checklist that covers indoor spaces, outdoor areas, and equipment condition. Document your walkthrough results and any maintenance requests. Submit your Plan of Correction with the photos and your new inspection schedule as evidence. For complex situations, consider consulting a licensed childcare compliance specialist.

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101229(a)(1)

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This information is educational and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed childcare 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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