Of all the documents in an RCFE license application, the LIC 999 Facility Sketch is one of the easiest to underestimate. It looks like a simple hand-drawn floor plan, and many first-time applicants treat it that way -- a quick sketch attached almost as an afterthought. CDSS reviewers do not treat it that way, and a sketch that is missing required elements is a common reason Part B of an application stalls.
What the Indoor Sketch Must Show
The facility sketch needs to give dimensions of every room and designate what each room is used for -- not just "bedroom," but which specific bedroom, matching how it is referenced elsewhere in your application. Every door and window that serves as an exit must be marked. Exit routes need to be numbered, and those numbers must match the numbering used on your LIC 610 or LIC 610A Emergency Disaster Plan -- the two documents are meant to cross-reference each other, and a mismatch between them is a flag reviewers catch quickly.
Rooms intended for use by non-ambulatory residents and staff areas also need to be specifically identified on the sketch, not left implied.
The Yard Sketch Is a Separate Requirement
Applicants sometimes submit a detailed indoor floor plan and treat the outdoor space as an afterthought. CDSS expects a sketch of the yard as its own component, showing all structures on the property -- the home itself, any garage, and storage buildings -- along with walkways, driveways, play or recreation areas, fences, and gates. Any potentially hazardous area also needs to be shown: pools, garbage storage areas, animal pens, or anything else that could pose a risk to residents.
Why This Document Gets Applications Delayed
- Exit routes on the sketch don't match the numbering on the Emergency Disaster Plan
- Room dimensions are missing or approximate rather than measured
- The yard sketch is omitted entirely, or drawn without hazard areas marked
- Rooms designated for non-ambulatory residents aren't identified, which matters for both licensing review and your own emergency planning
Treat It as a Working Document, Not Paperwork
The sketch is not just a licensing formality -- it is a reference document your own staff should be able to use during an actual emergency. If the exit numbering on the sketch does not match your posted evacuation plan, that gap does not just risk a licensing delay; it risks confusion during a real event. Building the LIC 999 sketch and your LIC 610/610A plan together, with consistent numbering and complete detail on both the building and the yard, solves both problems with the same document.