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 8 - Physical Plant
Section 70809 - Patient Accommodations

(a) No hospital shall have more patients or beds set up for overnight use by patients than the approved licensed bed capacity except in the case of justified emergency when temporary permission may be granted by the Director or his designee. Beds not used for overnight stay such as labor room beds, recovery beds, beds used for admission screening or beds used for diagnostic purposes in X-ray or laboratory departments are not included in the approved licensed bed capacity.

(b) Five percent of a facility's total licensed bed capacity may be used for a classification other than that designated on the license. Upon application to the Director and a showing that seasonal fluctuations justify, the Director may grant the use of an additional five percent of the beds for other than the classified use.

(c) Patients shall not be housed in areas which have not been approved by the Department for patient housing and which have not been granted a fire clearance by the State Fire Marshal, except as provided in paragraph (a) above.

(d) The number of licensed beds shown on a license shall not exceed the number of beds for which the facility meets applicable construction and operational requirements.