How to check a California assisted living home's inspection record
Every assisted living home in California is licensed and inspected by the state, and the record is public: visits, complaints, and citations. Chapter shows that record on every listing, next to the price. Here's how to read it.
Last reviewed October 27, 2026. Figures from California Community Care Licensing records for 7,192 open homes listed on Chapter, as of October 27, 2026.
What the records show across California
of open homes had no Type A citations in about five years
of open homes had three or more Type A citations
of open homes had at least one substantiated complaint allegation
of open homes are licensed to care for residents with dementia
Bigger homes get more visits, complaints and citations, so a count on its own doesn't rank homes. Use it to decide what to read and what to ask.
Visits, citations, complaints and license status
State visits
Community Care Licensing (CCL), part of the California Department of Social Services, licenses every assisted living home (RCFE) in the state. Its analysts make unannounced visits for routine inspections, to investigate complaints, and for follow-ups such as checking that a problem was fixed.
Citations
When an analyst finds a rule broken, the home gets a citation and a deadline to fix it. Type A citations are the most serious: a violation that poses an immediate or substantial risk to residents' health, safety or personal rights. Type B citations are less serious violations that could become a risk to residents if they aren't corrected.
Complaints and outcomes
Anyone can file a complaint. CCL investigates each allegation and records an outcome: substantiated (true), inconclusive or unsubstantiated (not enough evidence either way), or unfounded (false).
License status
The record shows whether the license is active or closed, and why: the owner closed it, the state closed it, or the home changed owners or moved and now runs under a new license.
How to check a home before you tour
Look up the home
Every listing on Chapter shows its state inspection summary and license number. For the full reports, open the state's Care Facility Search and search by name or license number.
Read the reports, not just the counts
Open each Facility Evaluation Report and Complaint Investigation Report. A Type B for a missing form is very different from one about medication errors. Look for what happened, to whom, and how the home fixed it.
Look for patterns
One citation years ago is common. The same problem cited again and again, several substantiated complaints, or a cluster of recent visits is worth asking about.
Compare like with like
A 150-bed community gets far more visits and complaints than a six-bed home. Chapter compares each home with others of a similar size in its county.
Ask the home about it
On your tour, ask what happened and what changed. A good operator will explain it plainly. Check that the license is active and that the person you're talking to works for the licensee.
Questions to ask on your tour
- When was your last state inspection, and were you cited for anything?
- Can you walk me through any complaints in the last few years and what you changed?
- Who is the licensee and the administrator, and how long have they been here?
- How many staff are awake and on duty overnight?
- Are you licensed to care for residents with dementia? Do you have a hospice waiver?
- What happens if my parent's care needs go up? When would you ask them to move?
Report a problem
Community Care Licensing complaint line: 1-844-538-8766 (844-LET-US-NO), letusno@dss.ca.gov, or file online.
Long-Term Care Ombudsman CRISISline: 1-800-231-4024, 24 hours a day, for help resolving a problem or if a resident may be in danger. In an emergency, call 911.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a California assisted living home has violations?
Open the home's page on Chapter for its state inspection summary, or search the California Department of Social Services' Care Facility Search (https://www.ccld.dss.ca.gov/carefacilitysearch/) by name or license number to read every inspection and complaint report.
What is a Type A citation in California assisted living?
Type A citations are the most serious: a violation that poses an immediate or substantial risk to residents' health, safety or personal rights. Across 7,192 open homes listed on Chapter, 56% had at least one Type A citation in about the last five years, so one isn't unusual. Read what it was for and look for repeats.
What is a Type B citation?
Type B citations are less serious violations that could become a risk to residents if they aren't corrected. They're common, and many are about paperwork, but some involve care, so read the report.
What does a substantiated complaint mean?
The state found the allegation was true. Inconclusive or unsubstantiated means there wasn't enough evidence to prove or disprove it, and unfounded means the state found it false. 33% of open homes listed on Chapter had at least one substantiated allegation in about the last five years.
How far back do California inspection records go?
The state's public Care Facility Search shows visits, complaints and citations from about the last five years.
How do I report a problem at an assisted living home?
Call Community Care Licensing's complaint line at 1-844-538-8766 (844-LET-US-NO), email letusno@dss.ca.gov, or file online. For help resolving a problem, or if a resident may be in danger, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman CRISISline is 1-800-231-4024, 24 hours a day. In an emergency, call 911.
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