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Violation

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

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 Family Child Care Homes85 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 § 102417(g)(9)(A) actually says

California Code § 102417(g)(9)(A)

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

From the field

What providers tell us about this citation

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.

By the numbers

85*CCLD
facilities cited in the last 90 days

That is 1 in 1111 facilities CCLD inspected.

SOURCE

*CCLD: California Community Care Licensing Divisionviolation_citationsUpdated weekly

26*CCLD
counties where this citation appeared

SOURCE

*CCLD: California Community Care Licensing Divisionviolation_citationsUpdated weekly

9*CCLD
rank among most-common citations

SOURCE

*CCLD: California Community Care Licensing Divisionviolation_citationsUpdated weekly

Trajectory
More citations than the prior period
+45 facilities

Last 90 days vs. previous 90 days.

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

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What other providers do

Common practices to stay clear of Fire & Disaster Drills

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

Common practices

What to avoid

  • 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.

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 Fire & Disaster Drills, last 90 days
CountyCitations
San Diego14
Riverside13
Los Angeles10
Orange5
Santa Clara5
San Bernardino5
Kern3
Fresno3
Sacramento3
Contra Costa3

SOURCE

*CCLD: California Community Care Licensing Divisionviolation_citationsUpdated weekly

Further reading

Articles about this topic

Public record

Check any facility for § 102417(g)(9)(A)

Free public record. No account needed.

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FAQ

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.

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.