When people prepare an RCFE licensing application, they often focus on the larger parts of the process: completing the application forms, obtaining fire clearance, preparing policies and procedures, meeting administrator requirements, and developing an emergency disaster plan. The facility sketch can seem like a smaller task because it is essentially a drawing. However, that drawing helps communicate how the property is arranged and how the proposed care operation will function within the home.

If the sketch is incomplete, difficult to understand, missing measurements, or inconsistent with other documents, it may create questions that require clarification or correction. A facility sketch does not need to be an architectural blueprint, but it should be organized, reasonably accurate, and consistent with the information submitted elsewhere in the application package.

What Is an LIC-999 Facility Sketch?

The LIC-999 Facility Sketch is used to illustrate the indoor and outdoor layout of a residential care facility. It can show the rooms, their intended uses, approximate dimensions, doors, windows or exits, outdoor areas, access points, and other physical features that help explain the property.

For an RCFE applicant, the sketch should help answer practical questions about the home. Where are the resident bedrooms? Which rooms are used for dining, living, bathing, storage, or staff activities? Where are the emergency exits? How does a person move from the interior of the home to an exterior assembly point?

These details become especially important when the sketch is reviewed alongside the emergency disaster plan, fire-clearance information, and the rest of the licensing application.

Why an Incomplete Sketch Can Create Delays

A licensing application usually contains many documents that describe the same facility from different perspectives. The application describes the proposed operation. The emergency disaster plan describes how the facility will respond to emergencies. Fire-clearance materials address life-safety considerations. The facility sketch provides a visual representation of the property.

When those materials do not appear to describe the same property, the reviewer may need additional information. For example, a sketch may show a bedroom that is not identified in another part of the application, or an emergency exit may be labeled differently from the way it is described in the emergency plan.

An incomplete or inaccurate facility sketch does not automatically mean that an application will be denied. However, it can contribute to additional questions, requests for clarification, or the need to submit corrected information. Addressing these issues before submission may make the application package easier to understand.

What Information Should the Sketch Communicate?

The exact information needed will depend on the property, the proposed use of the rooms, and the requirements applicable to the facility. In general, a useful facility sketch should clearly communicate the following:

Room Labels Should Reflect the Proposed Operation

A room label is more useful when it communicates the intended function of the room rather than simply identifying it as “Room 1” or “Room 2.” Depending on the property and the proposed operation, labels may identify resident bedrooms, bathrooms, living areas, dining areas, kitchens, staff offices, storage areas, laundry rooms, or other spaces.

Room labels should be reviewed against the rest of the application. If a room is identified as a resident bedroom on the facility sketch, the applicant should make sure the same room is described consistently in the application and supporting documents.

This is also a good time to confirm that the proposed room use reflects the actual physical layout. A drawing should not describe a room differently simply because a more convenient label appears to fit the application better.

Why Measurements Matter

Measurements help provide context. They allow someone reviewing the sketch to understand the approximate size of each room and the relationship between rooms, hallways, doors, and exits.

For this reason, measurements should be taken carefully. Estimates based only on photographs, online property listings, old documents, or memory may not accurately reflect the current property. Even when a measurement appears minor, an inaccurate dimension can affect the way the overall layout is understood.

The owner or administrator remains responsible for providing accurate measurements and facility information. A person preparing the sketch should not be expected to guess the dimensions of a property without reliable information from the client.

Connecting the Facility Sketch to the Emergency Disaster Plan

The facility sketch and the emergency disaster plan serve different purposes, but they should describe the same physical environment. The sketch shows the layout. The emergency plan explains how the facility will respond to emergencies and where residents and staff may go.

One practical way to reduce confusion is to use consistent numbering for emergency exits and assembly points. For example, if the emergency disaster plan refers to “Assembly Point 1” and “Assembly Point 2,” the facility sketch should use the same labels rather than using completely different names.

The same principle applies to emergency exits. If an exit is identified as “Emergency Exit A” in one document and “Side Door” in another, the relationship between the two descriptions should be clear.

A Practical Review Process Before Submission

Before submitting a facility sketch with an RCFE application, the owner or administrator can perform a simple consistency review. This is not a substitute for professional or government review, but it can help identify obvious omissions.

When an Owner-Prepared Sketch May Not Be Enough

Some owners and administrators already have accurate measurements and a clear understanding of the facility layout. In those situations, the information can be provided to a person preparing the sketch.

Other applicants may not have reliable measurements, may be working from an older layout, or may be uncertain about how to represent the outdoor areas and emergency assembly points. In those situations, a physical review of the property may be more appropriate before the final sketch is prepared.

On-site work is different from preparing a sketch from client-provided information. It involves traveling to the property, reviewing the physical plant, taking or confirming measurements, and discussing the layout with the owner or administrator.

When On-Site Consulting Should Be Booked Separately

If measurements need to be collected at the property or the physical plant needs to be reviewed in person, the on-site consulting service should be booked separately. The custom sketch product is not intended to replace an on-site visit.

Rosenthal Community Care Services charges $250 for on-site consultations or projects. This may be appropriate when the owner needs help reviewing the facility layout, confirming measurements, or identifying information that should be represented on the sketch.

The on-site consultation is available here: RCCS On-Site Physical Plant Consulting .

Frequently Asked Questions