California Code § 101238(g): Hazardous Material Storage

📋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(g): Hazardous Material Storage?

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.

💬What Providers Tell Us

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.

facilities cited (last 90 days)

That's 1 in 3333 facilities

counties affected

most common citation

📉

Decreasing

Last 90 days vs. previous 90 days

13 facilities (was 20)7 facilities

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

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

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What Other Providers Do for Hazardous Material Storage

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

✓ Common Practices

Store all health records in a secure, confidential manner
Limit access to health information to authorized personnel only
Ensure records are not visible to unauthorized individuals
Maintain confidentiality when discussing health issues
Follow proper procedures for sharing health information with parents

❌ Common Mistakes

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.

1 citations

View county details →

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

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 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.

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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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