California Code § 102417(g)(9)(A): Fire & Disaster Drills

📋Type B Violation🏢Affects: Family Child Care Homes

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 § 102417(g)(9)(A): Fire & Disaster Drills?

California Code § 102417(g)(9)(A)

Each family child care home shall conduct fire drills and disaster drills at least once every six months.

💬What Providers Tell Us

Based on community experience — not official guidance

This is one of the most commonly cited regulations for family child care homes because the fix seems simple but providers still miss it. Inspectors ask to see your drill log the moment they walk in. No log means a citation, even if you drilled yesterday. You need two types of drills (fire and disaster) twice a year each, so that's four documented drills minimum per year. Write down the date, time, number of children present, and how long it took to evacuate or shelter. San Diego and Los Angeles tie for the most citations here. Inspectors in Orange County have also been writing this up frequently in the past 90 days.

facilities cited (last 90 days)

That's 1 in 1111 facilities

counties affected

most common citation

→

Stable

Last 90 days vs. previous 90 days

37 facilities (was 35)+2 facilities

Source: California CCLD inspection records | Data as of Mar 23, 2026. Updated weekly.

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

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What Other Providers Do for Fire & Disaster Drills

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

✓ Common Practices

Conduct fire drills at least once every 6 months
Conduct disaster drills at least once every 6 months
Document each drill with date and time
Keep drill documentation at the family child care home
Practice with all children present (not just during quiet time)

❌ Common Mistakes

Conducting drills but not documenting them in writing. Providers say 'we practice all the time' but have nothing on paper. Without a written log showing date, time, and participation, inspectors document it as if no drill occurred.
Doing fire drills but skipping disaster drills. The regulation requires both types every six months. Earthquake or lockdown drills count as disaster drills, but you need to actually do them and log them separately from fire drills.
Running drills only when older children are present and skipping infants or toddlers. Every child in care must participate. Inspectors compare attendance records against drill logs to verify participation.
Falling behind the six-month schedule. If your last fire drill was in January and it's now August, you're past the deadline. Inspectors calculate the gap between documented drills and cite anything over six months.

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.

San Diego County

8 citations

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Los Angeles County

8 citations

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Riverside County

7 citations

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Orange County

3 citations

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Tulare County

2 citations

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San Joaquin County

2 citations

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San Bernardino County

2 citations

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Kern County

1 citations

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Yuba County

1 citations

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Santa Clara County

1 citations

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Data updated weekly from CCLD public records. Last update: 3/23/2026

Learn More About This Topic

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Top 10 California Daycare Citation Types

The most common violations California facilities receive during inspections.

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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 Fire & Disaster Drills?

California regulation 102417(g)(9)(A) requires every family child care home to conduct both fire drills and disaster drills at least once every six months. This means a minimum of four documented drills per year: two fire and two disaster (earthquake, lockdown, or similar). For your home, "conducted" means practiced with the children actually present and moving through the procedure, with a written record of each drill kept on-site.

How common is this citation?

According to California CCLD inspection records as of March 15, 2026, 40 facilities have been cited for this violation in the past 90 days across 12 California counties. That's roughly 1 in 1,000 inspected facilities. Los Angeles County leads with 9 citations, followed closely by San Diego with 8 and Riverside with 7. Orange County recorded 4 citations. This is one of the most commonly cited regulations for family child care homes because providers often conduct drills but fail to document them properly.

What triggers this citation during an inspection?

Inspectors ask to see your drill log within the first few minutes of a visit. Based on CCLD inspection patterns, the most common trigger is simply having no written documentation, even if drills were conducted. Inspectors calculate the gap between your last documented drill and the current date. Any gap exceeding six months results in a citation. They also compare attendance records against drill logs to verify that all enrolled children participated, and they check that both fire and disaster drills are logged separately.

How can I prevent this citation?

Create a simple drill log with columns for date, time, drill type (fire or disaster), number of children present, and evacuation time. Schedule drills on the first Monday of January and July for fire, and April and October for disaster. Run the drill, write it down immediately, and keep the log in a binder near your front entrance. Practice with every child present, including infants and toddlers, since inspectors verify participation against your attendance records.

What should I do if I receive this citation?

Conduct the overdue drill immediately with all children present and document it with date, time, participants, and duration. Start a new drill log if you don't have one, or update your existing log. Set recurring calendar reminders at five-month intervals so you never exceed the six-month window. Submit your Plan of Correction with the completed drill documentation and your new scheduling system. 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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