In California, the license families see for assisted living is "Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE)", issued by the California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division. Before a person is accepted as a resident, the community must get a medical assessment signed by a licensed medical professional and made within the last year. An RCFE must give 30 days written notice to evict for nonpayment, breaking the law or written house rules, or a reappraisal finding the facility no longer appropriate, and 60 days if the facility changes its use.
Key facts
- The median monthly cost of assisted living in California was $7,000 in CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey, or $84,000 a year, $800 above the national median of $6,200 a month. (CareScout, 2026)
- Medi-Cal's Assisted Living Waiver (ALW) covers services in licensed assisted living, such as an RCFE, for members age 21 or older with full-scope Medi-Cal, no share of cost and nursing home level care needs, in 15 counties. (California Department of Health Care Services, 2026)
- The medical assessment must include results of an exam for communicable tuberculosis. (California Department of Social Services, 2026)
- Staff chosen by the community may help residents take their own medications, but may not force them, hide them in other substances without the resident's knowledge, or override a resident's right to refuse. (Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, 87465, 2023)
- Communities that advertise or promote special dementia care must describe the program in their plan of operation, including staff training, activities, the physical setting and when a resident would have to move, and must share it with the public on request. (Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, 87706, 2025)
California calls assisted living a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE), also known as an assisted living or board and care facility. RCFEs give non-medical care and supervision and are licensed by the California Department of Social Services under Health and Safety Code section 1569 and following and Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations. They range from homes for six or fewer residents to communities for more than a hundred, and some are part of a Continuing Care Retirement Community. The facts below are for RCFEs.
Rules change and communities can set stricter policies. Before you sign, confirm the details with the community and the California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division. This page is general information, not legal advice.
The rules at a glance
| Medical assessment before move-in | Before a person is accepted as a resident, the community must get a medical assessment signed by a licensed medical professional and made within the last year. Among other things, it must include a physical exam with diagnoses, current medications, physical limitations, whether the person is ambulatory, and any cognitive conditions. [3] More on this |
|---|---|
| TB test | The medical assessment must include results of an exam for communicable tuberculosis. The state offers a form for it, LIC 602A, which asks for the dates the TB test was given and read, the type of test, the result and any action taken if positive. [4] More on this |
| Notice before a move-out | An RCFE must give 30 days written notice to evict for nonpayment, breaking the law or written house rules, or a reappraisal finding the facility no longer appropriate, and 60 days if the facility changes its use. With the licensing agency's prior written approval, it may give 3 days notice if a resident's behavior threatens anyone's health or safety. [5] More on this |
| Who may give medications | Staff chosen by the community may help residents take their own medications, but may not force them, hide them in other substances without the resident's knowledge, or override a resident's right to refuse. Facility staff may not give injections, including insulin, unless the law authorizes them to. [6] More on this |
| Memory care and dementia | Communities that advertise or promote special dementia care must describe the program in their plan of operation, including staff training, activities, the physical setting and when a resident would have to move, and must share it with the public on request. If they stop advertising it, they must give residents and the licensing agency at least 30 days written notice. [7] |
| Long-term care ombudsman | Residents of long-term care facilities, including assisted living, can get help from the Long-Term Care Ombudsman office in their county or the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Hotline at 800-231-4024, open 24/7. [8] Official page More on this |
| Medicaid help | Medi-Cal's Assisted Living Waiver (ALW) covers services in licensed assisted living, such as an RCFE, for members age 21 or older with full-scope Medi-Cal, no share of cost and nursing home level care needs, in 15 counties. Participants pay the facility directly for room and board, and there is currently a waitlist. [9] Official page More on this |
What assisted living costs in California
The median monthly cost of assisted living in California was $7,000 in CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey, or $84,000 a year, $800 above the national median of $6,200 a month. [10]
A median is the middle of the rates communities reported, so many charge more or less. Rates differ between regions and by the care a resident needs, so ask each community for its full fee list in writing. More: assisted living costs in every state, a monthly budget and the costs that aren't in the base rate.
How to check a community in California
The CDSS facility search site shows a community's license status, visits, complaints, licensing reports and recent citations. The full public file, with citations, civil penalties and administrative actions, is available from the CCLD Regional Office, and complaints can be made at 1-844-538-8766. Search California's records. [2]
The licensing agency: California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division. [1] Our guide on how to read an inspection report explains what to look for.
Put California's paperwork on a date
Parent Move Plan counts every task back from the move-in day, including the medical assessment and TB screening the community will ask for, so nothing lands in the last week.
Get your first 3 days freeFrequently asked questions
How much does assisted living cost in California?
The median monthly cost of assisted living in California was $7,000 in CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey, or $84,000 a year, $800 above the national median of $6,200 a month. A median is the middle of the rates communities reported, so many charge more or less, and rates differ between regions and by the care a resident needs.
What medical assessment does California require before moving into assisted living?
Before a person is accepted as a resident, the community must get a medical assessment signed by a licensed medical professional and made within the last year. Among other things, it must include a physical exam with diagnoses, current medications, physical limitations, whether the person is ambulatory, and any cognitive conditions.
Does California require a TB test for assisted living?
The medical assessment must include results of an exam for communicable tuberculosis. The state offers a form for it, LIC 602A, which asks for the dates the TB test was given and read, the type of test, the result and any action taken if positive.
How much notice must an assisted living community in California give before a move-out?
An RCFE must give 30 days written notice to evict for nonpayment, breaking the law or written house rules, or a reappraisal finding the facility no longer appropriate, and 60 days if the facility changes its use. With the licensing agency's prior written approval, it may give 3 days notice if a resident's behavior threatens anyone's health or safety.
Who can give medications in assisted living in California?
Staff chosen by the community may help residents take their own medications, but may not force them, hide them in other substances without the resident's knowledge, or override a resident's right to refuse. Facility staff may not give injections, including insulin, unless the law authorizes them to.
Who can help with a complaint about assisted living in California?
Residents of long-term care facilities, including assisted living, can get help from the Long-Term Care Ombudsman office in their county or the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Hotline at 800-231-4024, open 24/7.
Does Medicaid pay for assisted living in California?
Medi-Cal's Assisted Living Waiver (ALW) covers services in licensed assisted living, such as an RCFE, for members age 21 or older with full-scope Medi-Cal, no share of cost and nursing home level care needs, in 15 counties. Participants pay the facility directly for room and board, and there is currently a waitlist.
Sources
- California Department of Social Services: Senior Care Licensing Program (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)
- California Department of Social Services: Choosing a Residential Care Facility for Seniors in California, resource guide (2022) (checked October 22, 2026)
- Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, 87458, Medical Assessment (via Cornell LII), 2025 (checked October 22, 2026)
- California Department of Social Services: LIC 602A, Medical Assessment for Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (form version 4/26, 2026) (checked October 22, 2026)
- Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, 87224, Eviction Procedures (via Cornell LII), 2019 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, 87465, Incidental Medical and Dental Care Services (via Cornell LII), 2023 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, 87706, Advertising Dementia Special Care, Programming, and Environments (via Cornell LII), 2025 (checked October 22, 2026)
- California Department of Aging: Long-Term Care Residents' Rights (accessed 2026) (checked October 22, 2026)
- California Department of Health Care Services: Assisted Living Waiver (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)
- CareScout: Cost of Care Survey 2025, Ranked Median Costs by State (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)