California Code, Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1596.891

(a) A person who violates Section 1596.80 may be liable for an immediate assessment of civil penalties in the amount of two hundred dollars ($200) per day.

(b) The penalty specified in subdivision (a) shall be imposed if the operator of an unlicensed facility refuses to seek licensure or the operator seeks licensure and is denied but continues to operate, unless other remedies available to the department, including criminal prosecution, are deemed more effective by the department.

(c) The operator may appeal the assessment to the director. The department shall adopt regulations setting forth the appeals procedure.

(d) The operator shall be exempt from the civil penalty specified in subdivision (a) if a lack of liability insurance is the sole reason for nonlicensure and the reason for operating without liability insurance is not due to any fault on the part of the operator.