California Code § 101226(e)(1)(B): Container Label Requirements

📋Type B 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 § 101226(e)(1)(B): Container Label Requirements?

California Code § 101226(e)(1)(B)

Each container shall have an unaltered label.

💬What Providers Tell Us

Based on community experience — not official guidance

This one trips up providers who transfer medications or cleaning supplies into smaller containers for convenience. Inspectors check every labeled container in your medication storage, kitchen, and cleaning supply areas. If a label is scratched off, covered by a hand-written note, or partially torn, that's a citation. They also look for containers where you've relabeled with tape or marker over the original label. Keep all medications and health-related supplies in their original packaging with the pharmacy or manufacturer label fully intact and legible. Four facilities were cited in the last 90 days, with Riverside County accounting for half of them.

facilities cited (last 90 days)

That's 1 in 10000 facilities

counties affected

122

most common citation

→

Stable

Last 90 days vs. previous 90 days

4 facilities (was 4)0 facilities

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

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

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What's Being Cited in Each Region Over the Past 90 Days

Based on facility inspection reports filed with California's Community Care Licensing Division, here's how this citation appears across different regions in the past 90 days.

Riverside County

2 citations

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San Diego County

1 citations

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San Mateo County

1 citations

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

Learn More About This Topic

California Daycare Inspection Timeline: Complete Process

What to expect before, during, and after a CCLD inspection visit.

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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 the Medication Container Labeling requirement?

California regulation 101226(e)(1)(B) requires that every container holding medication or health-related supplies in your facility must have its original, unaltered label. This means you cannot transfer medications into pill organizers, relabel containers with tape, or use bottles where the pharmacy label has become illegible from wear. For your daily operations, this affects how you store prescription medications, sunscreen, diaper cream, and any other health product that children or staff use.

How common is this citation?

According to California CCLD inspection records as of March 15, 2026, 4 facilities have been cited for this violation in the past 90 days across 3 California counties. That works out to roughly 1 in 10,000 inspected facilities. Riverside County leads with 2 citations, followed by San Diego and San Mateo counties with 1 each. While the numbers are low, this is a citation that catches providers off guard because the label damage happens gradually.

What triggers this citation during an inspection?

Inspectors physically pick up every container in your medication storage area, kitchen, and cleaning supply closet. They read the label. If they can't identify the contents, dosage, expiration date, or the child's name on a prescription, they document it as a deficiency. Based on CCLD inspection patterns, common triggers include marker-written labels covering the original, water-damaged pharmacy labels in bathroom storage, and bulk sunscreen decanted into smaller unlabeled bottles. Check your containers monthly for label legibility.

How can I prevent this citation?

Keep all medications and health supplies in their original packaging with the manufacturer or pharmacy label fully visible. Never transfer medications into pill organizers or daily dosage cups, even if parents request it. Do a weekly walk-through of your medication storage, kitchen, and cleaning areas to check for labels that are peeling, faded, or water-damaged. Replace any container where the label is no longer fully legible.

What should I do if I receive this citation?

Replace every cited container immediately with a properly labeled one. For prescription medications, contact the child's pharmacy and request a new labeled container. For over-the-counter products like sunscreen or diaper cream, purchase a new one with intact packaging. Document the replacement with photos and dates for your Plan of Correction. Going forward, add a label check to your weekly facility walkthrough. 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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