San Francisco Daycare Health Inspection Checklist

What SF Health Inspectors Look For in Daycares

San Francisco inspectors evaluate food safety, sanitation, staff health practices, and child supervision under Title 5 regulations. They verify that staff have current food handler cards, observe handwashing stations and frequency, check refrigeration temperatures (41°F or below for potentially hazardous foods), and inspect diaper-changing procedures for cross-contamination prevention. Inspectors also review illness policies, vaccination records, and environmental hazards like accessible cleaning chemicals or choking risks. They assess water temperature safety (no higher than 120°F at sinks), proper labeling of foods and cleaning supplies, and pest control measures. Documentation of cleaning logs, staff training records, and incident reports are critical compliance items.

Common Daycare Violations in San Francisco

Frequent citations include improper food storage temperatures, failure to maintain separate utensils for diaper-changing areas, and inadequate handwashing after diaper changes or before food preparation. SF inspectors commonly cite missing or outdated food handler certifications for staff, unlabeled or improperly stored cleaning products within child reach, and insufficient documentation of temperature logs for refrigerated foods. Cross-contamination issues—such as using the same sink for food prep and hand sanitation—are recurring violations. Other common findings involve staff not following illness exclusion policies, inadequate hand-drying facilities (paper towels are required; air dryers alone are insufficient), and failure to maintain separate toy cleaning protocols. Inspectors also note violations related to bleach solution preparation (1 tablespoon per gallon for toy disinfection) and lack of written food safety policies.

Daily & Weekly Self-Inspection Tasks for Compliance

Implement a daily checklist: verify refrigerator temperature (document in a log), observe all staff handwashing before food handling and after diaper changes, confirm cleaning supplies are locked and inaccessible to children, and inspect diaper-changing stations for separate soap and paper towels. Weekly tasks include testing bleach solution concentration, auditing staff food handler certifications, reviewing incident reports, and deep-cleaning toy contact surfaces. Monthly, schedule refrigerator and freezer temperature calibration, review pest control traps if applicable, and audit kitchen for proper labeling of opened foods with dates. Create a documentation binder with temperature logs, cleaning schedules, staff training records, and health policies readily available for inspectors. Assign accountability—designate a staff member to complete daily tasks and sign off, with a supervisor reviewing weekly compliance summaries. Panko Alerts monitors health department announcements so you stay informed of any new guidance from San Francisco's Department of Public Health.

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