We Pulled Every CDSS Inspection Record in Contra Costa County: Here's What We Found
OpenPHR analyzed public inspection records for all 976 licensed childcare facilities across Contra Costa County. Here is what state licensing evaluators discovered on unannounced visits to daycares in Walnut Creek, San Ramon, Concord, Brentwood, and Richmond.
1. The Contra Costa Childcare Regulatory Overview
Across the East Bay hills and the I-680 corridor, parents evaluate daycares based on school district reputations and word of mouth. However, state inspection findings compiled by CDSS evaluators provide the only unbiased record of day-to-day operations and safety compliance.
Our analysis reveals that while the majority of centers maintain compliant operations, high teacher turnover in high-cost communities creates recurring supervision stress points during early morning and late afternoon hours.
2. Where Childcare Slots Are Located Across Contra Costa County
| City | Centers | FCC Homes | Center Capacity | Dominant Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concord | 72 | 49 | 4,077 | High mix of commercial centers, faith-based preschools & Head Start |
| Brentwood | 48 | 23 | 2,551 | Suburban master-planned preschools & academic preparatory centers |
| Walnut Creek | 46 | 26 | 3,968 | Large-capacity corporate networks, Montessori & developmental preschools |
| San Ramon | 44 | 41 | 3,365 | STEM-focused, bilingual immersion & franchise early education |
| Richmond | 37 | 65 | 1,889 | Community non-profit cooperatives & dense family child care home network |
| Danville | 35 | 3 | 2,804 | High-capacity private preschools & parent-participation cooperatives |
| Pleasant Hill | 32 | 19 | 1,927 | DVC-adjacent centers & neighborhood early childhood programs |
| Antioch | 27 | 54 | 1,514 | District-sponsored programs & family home childcare providers |
Search Contra Costa County Daycares on OpenPHR
View full state inspection histories, license validity, and stability rankings for all 535 centers and 441 family childcare homes in Contra Costa County.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many licensed childcare facilities operate in Contra Costa County?
According to California Health and Human Services (CHHS) and CDSS Community Care Licensing Division records, Contra Costa County contains 976 licensed facilities: 535 commercial child care centers (total licensed capacity of 32,066) and 441 family child care homes (total licensed capacity of 6,132).
What are the most frequent violations cited in Contra Costa County daycares?
The most common Title 22 violations in Contra Costa County involve physical plant hazards (§ 101238, such as heating/cooling maintenance or playground gates), teacher-to-child ratio deficits (§ 101216.3), and missing or delayed criminal record clearances (§ 101216).
How can parents verify a Contra Costa daycare's official state record?
Parents can verify all public inspection records on the California CCLD transparency portal or inspect consolidated facility reports on OpenPHR, where every listing includes the official 9-digit CDSS license number and direct links to state evaluator dockets.
Get citation alerts when a Fremont daycare receives a new CDSS citation
California State Social Services (CDSS) conducts unannounced annual and complaint inspections. We continuously scan the state licensing docket and email you immediately if a new Type A hazard or staffing ratio citation is posted.