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Violation

California Code § 101238(g)Hazardous Material Storage

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

Type A, seriousAffects Child Care Centers17 facilities cited in the last 90 days
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 § 101238(g) actually says

California Code § 101238(g)

Disinfectants, cleaning solutions, poisons and other items that could pose a danger if readily available to children shall be stored where inaccessible to children.

From the field

What providers tell us about this citation

Based on community experience, not official guidance.

Inspectors walk through your facility at child height. They open cabinet doors, check under sinks, and look behind bathroom doors. The write-up happens when a child could physically reach something dangerous, not when they actually do. I've seen citations for bleach spray bottles left on a counter during naptime cleanup because the counter was low enough for a four-year-old to grab. Your safest move: install child-proof locks on every cabinet below four feet, and train staff to never set cleaning products down mid-task, even for a few seconds. Inspectors time their visits during transitions when shortcuts are most tempting.

By the numbers

17*CCLD
facilities cited in the last 90 days

That is 1 in 5000 facilities CCLD inspected.

SOURCE

*CCLD: California Community Care Licensing Divisionviolation_citationsUpdated weekly

11*CCLD
counties where this citation appeared

SOURCE

*CCLD: California Community Care Licensing Divisionviolation_citationsUpdated weekly

44*CCLD
rank among most-common citations

SOURCE

*CCLD: California Community Care Licensing Divisionviolation_citationsUpdated weekly

Trajectory
More citations than the prior period
+8 facilities

Last 90 days vs. previous 90 days.

17 facilities were cited for this in the last 90 days. See if yours is one of them.

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What other providers do

Common practices to stay clear of Hazardous Material Storage

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

Common practices

What to avoid

  • Leaving cleaning spray bottles on low counters or tables during mid-day sanitizing routines. Staff set them down to wipe a surface and walk away briefly. Inspectors document anything a child could reach within arm's length.
  • Storing hand sanitizer dispensers at child height in classrooms. Providers install them for convenience, but alcohol-based sanitizers are classified as poisonous if ingested, and wall-mounted dispensers within a child's reach count as accessible.
  • Keeping a unlocked supply closet because 'we always watch the kids.' Inspectors don't accept supervision as a substitute for physical barriers. If the door doesn't lock and the products are inside, it's a citation.
  • Forgetting about outdoor storage. Garden chemicals, pool supplies, or pest control products in an unlocked shed on the playground perimeter get cited just as quickly as indoor hazards.
  • Using the same cabinet for art supplies and cleaning products. Providers think a high shelf is enough, but if a child can climb on a chair to reach it, inspectors consider it accessible.

Regional record

Where this citation appeared in the past 90 days

Citation counts and rates by California county, drawn from CCLD inspection records. Click a county to see its weekly intelligence report.

Regional citations for Hazardous Material Storage, last 90 days
CountyCitations
Los Angeles3
San Bernardino3
Riverside2
Sacramento2
Yolo1
BUTTE1
Orange1
San Diego1
San Joaquin1
Santa Clara1

SOURCE

*CCLD: California Community Care Licensing Divisionviolation_citationsUpdated weekly

Public record

Check any facility for § 101238(g)

Free public record. No account needed.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

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

What are the Hazardous Material Storage requirements?
California Title 22, Section 101238(g) requires that disinfectants, cleaning solutions, poisons, and anything dangerous to children be stored where children cannot access them. This covers everything from bleach spray bottles to hand sanitizer dispensers to outdoor garden chemicals. Inspectors evaluate accessibility from a child's perspective, meaning if a four-year-old could physically reach it by climbing or stretching, it counts as accessible and gets cited.
How common is this citation?
According to California CCLD inspection records as of March 15, 2026, 13 facilities have been cited for this violation in the past 90 days across 10 California counties. That's roughly 1 in 3,077 inspected facilities. Sacramento, San Bernardino, and Riverside each had 2 citations, with San Diego, San Francisco, and several other counties contributing 1 each. The spread across 10 counties shows this is a statewide issue, not a regional enforcement pattern.
What triggers this citation during an inspection?
Inspectors walk through your facility at child height. They open cabinet doors under sinks, check bathroom shelves, look behind doors, and scan countertops. The citation happens when any hazardous item is within a child's physical reach, even if no child has touched it. Bleach bottles left on a low counter during naptime cleanup, unlocked supply closets, and wall-mounted hand sanitizer dispensers at child height are the most common triggers documented in CCLD reports.
How can I prevent this citation?
Install child-proof locks on every cabinet below four feet that contains any cleaning product, sanitizer, or chemical. Train staff to never set cleaning products down mid-task, even for a few seconds during transitions. Check outdoor sheds and storage areas for garden chemicals or pest control products. Do a monthly walkthrough at child height and photograph anything a child could reach. Inspectors time visits during transitions when shortcuts are most tempting.
What should I do if I receive this citation?
Install child-proof locks or move all cited items to secured, inaccessible storage immediately. Audit every room children use, including outdoor areas, bathrooms, and kitchens. Create a written protocol for staff on where cleaning products go during and after use. Document the changes with photos and submit your plan of correction showing the physical barriers you added. For complex situations, consider consulting a licensed childcare compliance specialist.

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.