Practical guides for RCFE owners
Plain-language guides to licensing, opening, and buying an RCFE in California, written from our experience running licensed facilities in the San Gabriel Valley.
RCFE fire clearance forms: LIC 9092 and STD 850 explained
A plain guide to the RCFE fire clearance forms: what LIC 9092 and STD 850 do, who files each one, and the 30-day inspection clock.
Read guide →RCFE liability insurance requirements in California
California requires RCFE liability insurance of $1M per occurrence, $3M aggregate, under HSC 1569.605. What it covers, what it does not, and the CCRC exception.
Read guide →Buying an existing RCFE in California: the license does not transfer
What actually conveys when you buy an operating RCFE in California, how the change-of-ownership application works, and the statute that governs the transition.
Read guide →What it costs to open an RCFE in California (2026 numbers)
Itemized 2026 costs to open an RCFE in California: state fees, certification, fire clearance, renovations, furnishing, insurance, and the required reserve.
Read guide →What a six-bed RCFE actually earns: income and drivers
Six-bed RCFE income depends on occupancy, payer mix, and staffing costs. Named drivers, real ranges, and where the SSI/SSP rate fits in.
Read guide →Can your house be an RCFE? Property and zoning rules
How California zoning law treats homes converted to assisted living, the six-or-fewer residential use rule, and what garage or ADU conversions require.
Read guide →RCFE vs assisted living vs ARF vs board and care
In California, assisted living, board and care, and six-bed care homes are all licensed as RCFEs. Where the ARF license fits, and who regulates what.
Read guide →RCFE restricted health conditions: admission rules explained
How California sorts RCFE resident health conditions into restricted and prohibited categories under Title 22, and what each one requires at admission.
Read guide →RCFE dementia care advertising: what changes for your license
Advertising dementia care at an RCFE adds duties under 22 CCR 87705-87707, beyond the baseline dementia training every facility must already provide.
Read guide →How new RCFEs fill their first beds
How new RCFEs in California build referral networks to fill first beds, from personal contacts to hospital discharge planners to paid placement agencies.
Read guide →RCFE licensee vs administrator: how the partnership works
How California RCFE ownership splits between licensee and certified administrator, who can hold both roles, and how to structure the partnership.
Read guide →RCFE Wage and Hour Rules for Caregivers in California
RCFE wage and hour rules differ from CDSS licensing rules. Overtime, meal periods, and 2026 minimum wage requirements for caregiver pay.
Read guide →RCFE insurance requirements in California: law and cost
California requires RCFE liability insurance of $1M per occurrence and $3M aggregate under HSC 1569.605. What is covered and what is not.
Read guide →CDSS annual inspection: what LPAs check, how to prepare
What happens during a CDSS annual RCFE inspection, what Licensing Program Analysts check, common deficiencies, and how operators prepare.
Read guide →RCFE application: Part A, Part B, and where it stalls
What goes in an RCFE license application: Part A and Part B contents, the key LIC forms, the plan of operation, and the stall points that get binders returned.
Read guide →How long RCFE licensing takes in California (2026)
Realistic RCFE licensing timelines: about 4 to 6 months fast, 12 to 18 slow, the stage-by-stage breakdown, and the fire-clearance sequencing that decides it.
Read guide →How to start an RCFE in California: steps and timeline
The path to an RCFE license in California, step by step: administrator certification, fire clearance, the CDSS application, costs, and realistic timelines.
Read guide →