California ARF Licensing 2026 – Capacity Rules, Ads & Criminal Clearance | Title 22 §§80010–80019.1 | DSS Exam Q&A

This expertly compiled 2026 prep guide outlines critical California ARF (Adult Residential Facility) licensing regulations with a focus on facility capacity limits, advertising laws, application requirements, and criminal record clearance rules. Based entirely on Title 22, Division 6, the document features regulation-aligned Q&A content ideal for passing the DSS ARF Administrator Certification Exam or maintaining facility compliance. Core areas covered include: §80010 – Capacity & Ambulatory Limitations: Facilities must not exceed licensed resident limits or house client types not listed on the license. Rooms designated for ambulatory residents may not be used for nonambulatory clients without proof of status. §80011 – Advertising Requirements: License numbers must be displayed on all ads (TV, radio, newspaper, directories); non-residential care programs are exempt. §80012 – Misrepresentation: False or misleading claims about the facility or its services—including fake or altered licenses—are prohibited. §80017–§80018 – Licensing Application: Anyone can apply regardless of background (nondiscrimination rule). Application must include facility and admin info, plan of operation, criminal disclosures, and proof of orientation attendance. §80019 – Criminal Record Clearance: Mandatory DOJ/FBI checks for administrators, staff, volunteers, adult residents, and applicants. Non-clearance leads to fines or licensing action. Facility-to-facility clearance transfers allowed via LIC 9182. §80019 – Exemption Rules: Temporary exemptions allowed for clergy, hospice staff, certain short-term medical professionals, contractors, and trusted friends/family in small homes. §80019.1 – Non-Exemptible Crimes: Includes severe offenses such as sex crimes involving minors, child/elder abuse, torture, or homicide. Others may be exemptible under strict conditions (rehabilitation, character evidence, department discretion). This resource is ideal for: – ARF administrator exam candidates in 2026 – Students in NURS450, Gerontology, Public Health, or Social Work – Facility managers undergoing audits by CCLD (Community Care Licensing Division) – DSS-approved training providers and regulatory instructors Real-world application examples (e.g., advertising violations, capacity overages, or exemption abuse) are reflected throughout to prepare candidates for actual DSS evaluation scenarios. Keywords: California ARF licensing 2026, Title 22 ARF capacity rules, §80010 ambulatory status, ARF license application, criminal clearance ARF, advertising law ARF, DSS license number ad rule, non-exemptible crimes ARF, LIC 9182 transfer, ARF certification test prep, administrator exam Title 22, DSS licensing guide, CCLD California, exemption fingerprint rule ARF