California Code of Regulations
Title 22 - Social Security
Division 5 - Licensing and Certification of Health Facilities, Home Health Agencies, Clinics, and Referral Agencies
Chapter 1 - General Acute Care Hospitals
Article 2 - License
Section 70103 - License Required

(a) No person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, political subdivision of the state or other governmental agency shall establish, operate or maintain a hospital, or hold out, represent, or advertise by any means that it operates a hospital, without first obtaining a license from the Department.

(b) The provisions of this article do not apply to any facility conducted by and for the adherents of any well-recognized church or religious denomination for the purpose of providing facilities for the care or treatment of the sick who depend upon prayer or spiritual means for healing in the practice of the religion of such church or denomination.