Violation

California Code § 101226(e)(2)Medication Labeling Rules

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

Type B, generalAffects Child Care Centers14 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 § 101226(e)(2) actually says

California Code § 101226(e)(2)

All prescription and nonprescription medications shall be maintained with the child's name and shall be dated.

From the field

What providers tell us about this citation

Based on community experience, not official guidance.

Inspectors open the medicine cabinet or check wherever you store medications during almost every visit. They're looking for two things on every bottle and package: the child's full name written clearly on a label, and a date. Prescription bottles from the pharmacy usually have the name already, but parents bring in unlabeled Tylenol or sunscreen all the time. Write the child's name and the date you received it on every item with a permanent marker before it goes into storage. Expired medications are an automatic write-up. Do a monthly sweep and send expired items home with parents rather than tossing them yourself.

By the numbers

14^*CCLD: facilities cited in the last 90 days
5^*CCLD: counties where this citation appeared
46^*CCLD: rank among most-common citations
Trajectory: More citations than the prior period
+3 facilities

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

Check a facility

What other providers do

Common practices to stay clear of Medication Labeling Rules

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

Common practices

Develop written medical emergency procedures
Know when to call 911 vs. parents first
Have transportation plan for medical emergencies
Keep emergency contact numbers easily accessible

What to avoid

Storing a family-size bottle of children's Tylenol for general use instead of requiring each family to provide their own labeled bottle. Providers think one bottle is more practical, but CCLD requires each child's medication to bear that child's name. Using a communal bottle is a citation every time.
Labeling the medication with the child's first name only. Inspectors require the full name to prevent mix-ups, especially when you have two children with the same first name. 'Sophie's Benadryl' isn't sufficient if you have two Sophies enrolled.
Not dating medications when parents drop them off. Providers put the bottle in the cabinet and forget when it arrived. Inspectors check expiration dates and want to see when the medication entered your facility. An undated bottle suggests you're not tracking whether it's still within its use window.
Keeping medications in an unlocked location accessible to children. Providers store children's sunscreen or diaper cream on a changing table shelf within reach. All medications, including over-the-counter items and topicals, must be inaccessible to children and preferably locked.

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 Medication Labeling Rules, last 90 days
County	Citations	Facilities	Citation rate
Orange	5	--	--
Los Angeles	4	--	--
San Diego	2	--	--
Contra Costa	2	--	--
ORANGE	1	--	--

SOURCE

*CCLD: California Community Care Licensing Divisionviolation_citations2026-05-14Updated weekly

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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 Medication Labeling requirements?

California Title 22, Section 101226(e)(2) requires that every prescription and nonprescription medication at your facility display the child's name and a date. This applies to everything from prescription inhalers to over-the-counter sunscreen, diaper cream, and children's Tylenol. Inspectors open your medicine storage during nearly every visit, and an unlabeled or undated bottle is one of the fastest citations to write because there's no judgment call involved.

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 5 California counties. That's roughly 1 in 3,077 inspected facilities. Orange County leads with 5 citations, followed by Los Angeles with 4 and San Diego with 2. Contra Costa and Riverside had 1 each. The concentration in Southern California suggests high enforcement attention on medication handling in that region.

What triggers this citation during an inspection?

Inspectors open your medicine cabinet or check wherever medications are stored and examine every bottle and package. They look for two things: the child's full name (first and last) written clearly, and a date. A family-size bottle of children's Tylenol used for multiple kids is an automatic citation. So is a bottle labeled only with a first name or a prescription bottle without a received-on date. Medications stored where children can reach them, like sunscreen on a changing table shelf, compound the deficiency.

How can I prevent this citation?

Write each child's full name and the date received on every medication with permanent marker before it goes into storage. Require parents to provide individual bottles rather than sharing communal supplies. Do a monthly sweep of all medications to check for missing labels and expired items. Send expired medications home with parents. Keep all medications, including topicals like sunscreen and diaper cream, locked and inaccessible to children.

What should I do if I receive this citation?

Label every medication in your facility with the child's full name and today's date immediately. Remove and send home any expired items. Set up a system where medications get labeled at drop-off before entering storage. Create a medication log showing the child's name, item, date received, and expiration date. Document your new intake process and submit it with your plan of correction. 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.

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