Violation

California Code § 101212(b)Director Change Notification

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 § 101212(b) actually says

California Code § 101212(b)

The name of the child care center director, and any fully qualified teacher(s) designated to act in the child care center director's absence, shall be reported to the Department within 10 days of a change of child care center director or designee(s).

From the field

What providers tell us about this citation

Based on community experience, not official guidance.

Inspectors pull your director file during every routine visit and cross-check the name against what licensing has on record. If there's a mismatch, that's an automatic write-up. The 10-day clock starts the day the change happens, not the day you "finalize" it. I've seen centers get cited because the old director left on a Friday and the new one started Monday, but nobody told licensing for six weeks. Even if someone is "just filling in" for a month, report it. Verbal warnings are rare here because either the paperwork matches or it doesn't.

By the numbers

14^*CCLD: facilities cited in the last 90 days
8^*CCLD: counties where this citation appeared
37^*CCLD: rank among most-common citations
Trajectory: More citations than the prior period
+6 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 Director Change Notification

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

Common practices

Report director changes to licensing within 10 calendar days
Notify of any changes to designated backup teachers/directors
Submit notification even for temporary director changes
Include names of all newly designated backup staff
Ensure all designated backups meet qualification requirements

What to avoid

Treating temporary or "acting" director assignments as exempt from reporting. Providers assume short-term coverage doesn't count, but inspectors document any mismatch between the director on file and the person actually running the center.
Reporting the new director but forgetting to update the designated backup teachers. When the old director leaves and the backup becomes permanent, that backup slot is now empty and needs a new name submitted.
Waiting until the new director's orientation is "complete" before notifying licensing. The 10-day window runs from the date of the actual change, not from when you feel the person is fully settled in.
Sending the notification to the wrong office or using outdated contact information. Licensing restructures regional assignments periodically, and a report sent to the wrong analyst doesn't stop the clock.
Assuming electronic submission means instant delivery. Email confirmations aren't automatic, so follow up with a phone call to verify licensing received your notification.

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 Director Change Notification, last 90 days
County	Citations	Facilities	Citation rate
Los Angeles	5	--	--
San Diego	2	--	--
Contra Costa	2	--	--
Kern	1	--	--
Sonoma	1	--	--
Alameda	1	--	--
San Joaquin	1	--	--
San Bernardino	1	--	--

SOURCE

*CCLD: California Community Care Licensing Divisionviolation_citations2026-05-08Updated weekly

Articles about this topic

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Answers based on public CCLD data and regulation text. May not reflect recent changes.

What is Director Change Notification?

California Title 22, Section 101212(b) requires you to report any change in your child care center director, or in the qualified teachers designated to act in the director's absence, to licensing within 10 calendar days. This applies whether the change is permanent, temporary, or someone stepping in while you recruit a replacement. Failing to notify means your licensing file shows the wrong person running your center, which is an automatic finding during any routine visit.

How common is this citation?

According to California CCLD inspection records as of March 15, 2026, 17 facilities have been cited for this violation in the past 90 days across 11 California counties. That puts it at roughly 1 in 2,353 inspected facilities. Los Angeles accounts for 3 of those citations, with Orange, Contra Costa, Butte, and San Diego each seeing 2. This citation tends to cluster after periods of staff turnover when centers are focused on hiring rather than paperwork.

What triggers this citation during an inspection?

Inspectors pull your director file during every routine visit and compare the name on record with the person actually running the center that day. If there's a mismatch, they document it on the spot. They may also ask front desk staff or teachers, "Who is your director?" If the answer doesn't match licensing records, that's enough. Inspectors don't give verbal warnings here because the requirement is binary: either the names match or they don't.

How can I prevent this citation?

Submit the notification the same day a director change happens. Don't wait until the new person is "settled in" because the 10-day clock starts on the date of the actual change, not when orientation is complete. Keep your licensing analyst's current contact information posted in the office. When you submit, follow up with a phone call to confirm receipt. Also update your designated backup teachers at the same time since that slot often gets overlooked.

What should I do if I receive this citation?

File the overdue notification with your licensing analyst immediately, including the correct director name, start date, and all designated backup teachers. In your Plan of Correction, describe a new internal process: for example, a checklist triggered by any staffing change that includes the licensing notification step. Provide proof of submission with a date stamp. 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.

Share ReadyRule: