Violation
California Code § 102417(g)(3)Stair Safety for Young Children
How CCLD inspectors cite this regulation, what providers do to stay clear of it, and where it appears in the public record.
Regulation text
What California Code § 102417(g)(3) actually says
California Code § 102417(g)(3)
Where children less than five years old are in care, stairs shall be fenced or barricaded.
From the field
What providers tell us about this citation
Based on community experience, not official guidance.
Inspectors check stairs during every walk-through of a family child care home, and they test gates by pushing on them. A gate that swings open under pressure or has a broken latch gets written up immediately. The regulation kicks in whenever any child under five is present, even if the under-five kids are napping in another room. Inspectors also check basement stairs, garage access doors, and any split-level transitions. Keep a spare gate on hand because a broken latch discovered during an inspection gives you zero time to fix it.
By the numbers
- 15*CCLD
- facilities cited in the last 90 days
- 9*CCLD
- counties where this citation appeared
- 65*CCLD
- rank among most-common citations
- Trajectory
- More citations than the prior period+6 facilities
That is 1 in 2500 facilities CCLD inspected.
SOURCE
*CCLD: California Community Care Licensing Divisionviolation_citationsUpdated weekly
SOURCE
*CCLD: California Community Care Licensing Divisionviolation_citationsUpdated weekly
SOURCE
*CCLD: California Community Care Licensing Divisionviolation_citationsUpdated weekly
Last 90 days vs. previous 90 days.
15 facilities were cited for this in the last 90 days. See if yours is one of them.
What other providers do
Common practices to stay clear of Stair Safety for Young Children
Common practices shared by providers. Confirm requirements with your licensing analyst.
Common practices
What to avoid
- Using pressure-mounted gates at the top of stairs. Providers buy the easiest gate to install, but pressure-mounted gates can be pushed out by a toddler leaning on them. Inspectors flag these as inadequate barriers, especially at the top of staircases where a fall could cause serious injury.
- Blocking stairs with furniture or large toys instead of an actual gate or barrier. Providers think a couch or bookshelf across the stairway counts. Inspectors document this as not meeting the 'fenced or barricaded' standard because children can climb over or squeeze around furniture.
- Forgetting about exterior stairs or porch steps in outdoor play areas. Providers focus on indoor stairways but miss the two steps down from the back porch to the yard. If children under five access that area, those steps need a barrier too.
- Removing gates during business hours because older children 'know how to use stairs.' The regulation applies whenever any child under five is in care, regardless of how many older children are also present.
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.
| County | Citations |
|---|---|
| Riverside | 3 |
| San Diego | 3 |
| San Bernardino | 3 |
| Orange | 1 |
| SACRAMENTO | 1 |
| SANTA CRUZ | 1 |
| Sacramento | 1 |
| Santa Cruz | 1 |
| Contra Costa | 1 |
SOURCE
*CCLD: California Community Care Licensing Divisionviolation_citationsUpdated weekly
Further reading
Articles about this topic
Public record
Check any facility for § 102417(g)(3)
Free public record. No account needed.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Answers based on public CCLD data and regulation text. May not reflect recent changes.
What is Stair Safety for Children Under Five?
How common is this citation?
What triggers this citation during an inspection?
How can I prevent this citation?
What should I do if I receive this citation?
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.