We Pulled Every CDSS Inspection Record in San Mateo County: Here's What We Found
OpenPHR analyzed public inspection records for all 714 licensed childcare facilities across San Mateo County. Here is what state licensing evaluators discovered on unannounced visits to daycares in San Mateo, Redwood City, Menlo Park, Burlingame, and Foster City.
1. The Peninsula Childcare Reality
Behind the prestigious campuses and immaculate marketing of Peninsula preschools lies a regulatory oversight system that parents rarely examine. State licensing evaluators from the CDSS Community Care Licensing Division conduct unannounced visits to assess Title 22 compliance.
While serious Type A infractions are comparatively rare in top-tier facilities, procedural violations and ratio compliance issues occur across both franchise centers and independent cooperatives.
2. Where Childcare Slots Are Located Across San Mateo County
| City | Centers | FCC Homes | Center Capacity | Dominant Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Mateo | 76 | 77 | 4,008 | Central hub of Montessori, developmental & corporate daycares |
| Redwood City | 60 | 51 | 3,464 | Bi-lingual immersion, community non-profits & tech campus preschools |
| South San Francisco | 42 | 30 | 3,348 | Biotech employee centers & city-sponsored early learning programs |
| Menlo Park | 35 | 14 | 1,911 | Stanford-affiliated centers & premium progressive preschools |
| Daly City | 30 | 14 | 1,364 | Transit-accessible neighborhood preschools & district programs |
| Burlingame | 24 | 10 | 1,777 | Private preparatory preschools & church-affiliated early care |
| San Carlos | 24 | 10 | 1,882 | High-capacity academic preschools & play-based co-ops |
| Foster City | 16 | 22 | 1,461 | Planned community child care centers & corporate feeder schools |
Search San Mateo County Daycares on OpenPHR
View full state inspection histories, license validity, and stability rankings for all 417 centers and 297 family childcare homes in San Mateo County.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many licensed childcare facilities operate in San Mateo County?
According to California Health and Human Services (CHHS) and CDSS Community Care Licensing Division records, San Mateo County contains 714 licensed facilities: 417 commercial child care centers (total licensed capacity of 26,484) and 297 family child care homes (total licensed capacity of 4,117).
What are the most frequent violations cited in San Mateo County daycares?
The most common Title 22 violations in San Mateo County involve physical plant hazards (§ 101238, such as hot water heaters or playground cushioning), ratio and supervision deficiencies during transitional times (§ 101216.3), and delayed teacher criminal record clearance documentation (§ 101216).
How can parents verify a San Mateo County 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.