Every home licensed by the State of California
Find a safe, licensed care home for someone you love.
Search 8,618 assisted living and board and care homes (RCFEs) across California. Compare licensing history and inspections, then contact homes directly. Free, independent, and no referral fees.
- licensed facilities
- 8,618
- licensed facilities
- licensed beds
- 211,726
- licensed beds
- counties covered
- 49
- counties covered
Browse by county
The counties with the most licensed care homes.
- Los Angeles County1,906 homes · 44,938 beds
- Orange County1,129 homes · 24,879 beds
- Sacramento County687 homes · 10,971 beds
- San Diego County618 homes · 22,350 beds
- Riverside County591 homes · 10,954 beds
- Contra Costa County459 homes · 7,908 beds
- San Bernardino County299 homes · 6,873 beds
- Fresno County295 homes · 5,589 beds
- Ventura County268 homes · 6,667 beds
- Santa Clara County261 homes · 10,894 beds
- Placer County244 homes · 4,318 beds
- Alameda County243 homes · 9,244 beds
Licensing you can verify
Status, licensee, administrator, and the date first licensed, straight from CDSS records.
Inspections in plain sight
Visit counts and Type A / Type B citations, with a link to the official state report.
Contact homes directly
Call or message care homes yourself. No middlemen, no referral fees, and we never sell your information.
Not sure where to start?
Start with homes that have openings now, or narrow down by the care your loved one needs. Every listing links to the state's inspection report.
Guides for families
Plain answers about licenses, inspections, memory care, and paying for care.
- What is an RCFE? Assisted living and board and care in CaliforniaAssisted living and board and care homes in California are both licensed as RCFEs. See what they offer, who they serve, and how they differ from nursing homes.
- How to check an RCFE's license and inspection reportsUse the state's Care Facility Search to check an RCFE's license status, visits, citations, and complaint findings, and learn what to ask about problems.
- Type A and Type B citations: what they mean for an RCFEA Type A citation means an immediate risk to residents; Type B means a risk if not fixed. Learn to read RCFE citations and why counting them alone can mislead.
- Memory care in California RCFEs: dementia rules and what to askCalifornia RCFEs caring for residents with dementia must meet extra rules on training, night staff, and exits. Learn the rules and what to ask before choosing.
- Paying for an RCFE in California: private pay, insurance, and benefitsHow California families pay for an RCFE: private pay, long-term care insurance, VA Aid and Attendance, the Medi-Cal Assisted Living Waiver, and SSI/SSP.
- RCFE touring checklist: questions to ask and what to watch forA checklist for touring a California RCFE: license and reports, staffing day and night, care limits, costs, the admission agreement, meals, and medications.
Questions families ask
A quick guide to residential care in California.
What is an RCFE?+
A Residential Care Facility for the Elderly is a non-medical home licensed by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) for people 60 and older. RCFEs provide room, meals, supervision, and help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, and medications. In California, "assisted living" and "board and care" homes are both licensed as RCFEs.
What's the difference between a board and care home and assisted living?+
Both hold the same RCFE license. Board and care homes are usually converted houses caring for six or fewer residents, with a higher staff-to-resident ratio and a family feel. Larger assisted living communities offer more amenities, activities, and social space.
How can I check a facility's inspection history?+
Every listing here shows the CDSS license status, recent visit counts, and Type A and Type B citation counts, with a link to the facility's official CDSS report so you can read inspection and complaint findings yourself.
How do I contact a care home?+
Call the home using the phone number on its listing. Homes that have claimed their listing can also receive messages through this site, and those messages go straight to the home.
Do you charge families or take referral fees?+
No. This is a free, independent directory. We don't make placements, take referral fees, or sell your information. Some care homes pay us to build and host their website; their listings move up in results together, in a random order that changes daily, and are marked Paid listing.
Where does the information come from?+
Licensing details, inspections, and citations come from the California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division, and are refreshed every week. Photos, pricing, and services are added by the care homes themselves.
For RCFE owners
Own a care home? Claim your free listing.
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