Health and Safety Code section 1533

(a)

Except as otherwise provided in this section, any duly authorized officer, employee, or agent of the State Department of Social Services may, upon presentation of proper identification, enter and inspect any place providing personal care, supervision, and services at any time, with or without advance notice, to secure compliance with, or to prevent a violation of, any provision of this chapter.
(b)(1)Foster family homes that are considered private residences for the purposes of Section 1530.5 shall not be subject to inspection by the department or its officers without advance notice, except in response to a complaint, a plan of correction, or as set forth in Section 1534. The complaint inspection shall not constitute an inspection as required by Section 1534. Announced inspections of foster family homes required by Section 1534 shall be made during normal business hours, unless the serious nature of a complaint requires otherwise.

(2)

As used in this subdivision, “normal business hours” means from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., inclusive, of each day from Monday to Friday, inclusive, other than state holidays.

Source: Section 1533, https://leginfo.­legislature.­ca.­gov/faces/codes_displaySection.­xhtml?lawCode=HSC§ionNum=1533.­ (updated Jun. 20, 2014; accessed Aug. 10, 2026).

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Verified:
Aug. 10, 2026

§ 1533's source at ca​.gov