A polished website does not prove that a residence is licensed. Before touring—or at least before paying money—use California’s Community Care Licensing facility search. Match the address and legal name, confirm the license status and review the available public record.
Search by address too
Marketing names can change or cover several locations. The street address and license number are stronger identifiers.
Find the official record
Open the CDSS Community Care Licensing facility search and select the appropriate facility type. Search by name, city, ZIP code or address. If you cannot find an exact match, ask the operator for the license number and legal facility name.
Be cautious when a listing uses a corporate name that differs from the home’s brand. That can be legitimate, but the operator should explain the connection clearly.
Confirm the basic facts
Check that the address matches, the license is active and the approved capacity aligns with what you saw. Note the licensee name and contact information.
Ask about any conditions, waivers or approvals relevant to the person’s needs, such as hospice care. Do not assume an approval exists because the facility has served a similar resident before.
- Facility legal name and address
- License number and current status
- Facility type and approved capacity
- Licensee or operator
- Public inspection and complaint documents
- Any relevant special approvals to verify
Read beyond the status line
An active license is the starting point, not a quality score. Open available inspection reports, complaint findings and plans of correction. Look for the substance, recency and pattern of issues.
A technical citation that was promptly corrected may mean something different from repeated problems involving medication, supervision or resident rights. Ask the facility what changed and how it verifies the correction remains in place.
Verify what the referral source told you
California notes that some referral agencies may refer only to facilities that pay them. Ask how the source is compensated and whether it considered facilities outside its participating network.
Regardless of who introduced the home, perform the same license and care-fit review. A referral is not an inspection or guarantee.
Save a dated copy of your research
Print or save the relevant pages and record the date reviewed. Licensing information can change. Recheck before admission if time has passed or ownership appears different.
Then use the inspection report guide to interpret the public documents more carefully.
Sources & important note
Zeal reviewed the primary sources below while preparing this article. Policies, benefits and individual circumstances can change; confirm current requirements with the responsible agency, health plan and licensed provider.
- CDSS: Community Care Licensing Facility Search
- CDSS: Senior Care Licensing
- California Department of Aging: Assisted Living Facilities
Editorially reviewed September 2026.