Here is how to apply for regional center services in California: contact the one regional center that serves your home address, ask in writing for an intake, and keep track of the legal deadlines. The regional center must complete intake within 15 working days of your request. If an assessment is needed, it must be done within 120 days after intake.
Quick answer
How to apply for regional center services: Find the regional center for your county or ZIP code, call or email its intake line, and ask for an intake for regional center services. Intake must happen within 15 working days, and any assessment within 120 days after intake. Children under 3 apply through Early Start, which has a 45-day timeline.
Last checked: November 10, 2026. This is general information, not legal or medical advice.
California has 21 regional centers, private nonprofits that contract with the Department of Developmental Services (DDS). Each one serves a fixed area, so you apply to the center for your address. Anyone of any age who is believed to have a developmental disability, including autism, can apply. No diagnosis is needed first; to see whether your child or you are likely to qualify, read our guide to regional center eligibility for autism.
How to apply for regional center services in 7 steps
The steps below follow the Lanterman Act (Welfare and Institutions Code sections 4642, 4643 and 4646). Each regional center has its own forms, and some use phone calls, email or an online portal. The legal deadlines are the same everywhere in California.
- Find your regional center. Use the DDS regional center lookup by county. In Los Angeles County, several centers split the county, so search by your ZIP code.
- Choose the right intake line. Most centers have one line for children under 3 (Early Start) and another for ages 3 and up. The center’s “Apply for services” page lists both.
- Ask for intake, and put it in writing. Call, then send a short email: name, date of birth, address, the reason you are asking (for example, “suspected autism”) and “I am requesting intake for regional center services.” Save a copy. The 15-working-day clock starts with your request.
- Complete the intake. An intake coordinator gathers information, explains services, and gives you forms and releases to sign. By the end of intake, the center must decide whether you are eligible or whether it will assess.
- Share records and attend the assessment. Bring evaluations, school and medical records, and copies of any health insurance or Medi-Cal cards. The assessment may include a psychologist’s testing, a medical review and interviews.
- Get the written decision. The center must tell you in writing. If you are found ineligible, the letter explains your appeal rights.
- Plan services in an IPP meeting. If you are eligible, the Individual Program Plan must be completed within 60 days after the assessment.
How long does regional center intake take?
By law, initial intake must be performed within 15 working days of your request for assistance (section 4642). That is about three calendar weeks. Assessment must then be completed within 120 days after intake, or within 60 days when a delay would put health, safety or development at risk (section 4643). From request to decision, the legal maximum is about four and a half months.
| Stage | Deadline | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Initial intake | Within 15 working days of your request | WIC 4642(a)(2) |
| Eligibility or decision to assess | By the end of the 15-day intake (since 2025) | WIC 4642(a)(3) |
| Assessment | Within 120 days after intake | WIC 4643(a) |
| Urgent assessment | Within 60 days after intake | WIC 4643(a) |
| IPP meeting | Within 60 days after the assessment | WIC 4646(c) |
| Appeal a denial | Request within 60 days of the notice | WIC 4710.5 |
| Early Start (under 3) | Evaluation and first IFSP meeting within 45 days of referral | Gov. Code 95020 |
The 60-day urgent assessment applies when waiting would expose the person to “unnecessary risk” to health and safety, cause significant further developmental delay, or put the person at risk of a more restrictive placement. If that describes your family, say so at intake and ask that it be noted.
What happens at intake and assessment?
Intake is a conversation, not a test. The coordinator asks about the person’s history, daily routines and current needs. They explain what the regional center and other agencies offer, such as school services, Medi-Cal and in-home supports. You sign releases so the center can request records from doctors and schools.
Assessment is done by a team. Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations (section 54001) says the team includes at least a program coordinator, a physician and a psychologist. The center may rely on outside evaluations you already have, which can speed things up. For a list of what to gather, use our regional center intake checklist.
Tips that save time
- Write down every call: date, name, what was promised.
- Send records early, with the person’s name and date of birth on every page.
- Ask for an interpreter if you need one. Regional centers must communicate in your preferred language.
- Ask the coordinator to confirm the date they count as your intake.
Applying for a child under 3: Early Start
Babies and toddlers under 3 apply through Early Start, California’s early intervention program, run by regional centers and some school districts. Under Government Code section 95020, the evaluation, the eligibility decision and the first Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) meeting must happen within 45 days of the referral. A 25 percent delay in one area of development can qualify. Our Early Start program guide explains the details.
| Question | Early Start | Ages 3 and up |
|---|---|---|
| Who applies | Babies and toddlers under 3 | Children, teens and adults |
| Timeline | 45 days to IFSP | 15 working days intake, then 120 days |
| Plan | IFSP | IPP |
| Diagnosis needed? | No | No to apply; eligibility found by the center |
What if the regional center misses a deadline or says no?
If the regional center is late, contact the intake supervisor in writing and cite the section. You can also contact the Office of Clients’ Rights Advocacy or Disability Rights California, whose guide to how long regional centers take to process applications explains the 120-day and 60-day rules. If the answer is no, you have 60 days from the notice to appeal. Our guide to regional center fair hearings shows how.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for regional center services online?
Some regional centers have an online form or portal; others take referrals by phone or email. Check your center’s “Apply for services” page. Whatever the method, keep a written copy of your request with the date, because the 15-working-day intake deadline starts then.
Is there an age limit to apply?
No. Children, teens and adults can apply. For full eligibility, the disability must have started before age 18, so adults should gather childhood school or medical records. Babies under 3 use Early Start instead of the standard intake.
Does it cost anything to apply?
Families are not charged for intake or assessment: the Department of Developmental Services says there is no charge for the diagnosis and eligibility assessment. Eligibility does not depend on income. At assessment, you will be asked for copies of any health insurance or Medi-Cal cards.
Who can help me apply?
Family resource centers, local Autism Society affiliates and free helplines can walk you through the process. See our list of autism helplines in California for who to call.
Next step
Find your regional center and send the intake request today. Then use the documents checklist for regional center intake to prepare, and see the overview of autism services in California for what comes after.
Questions? Call the Autism Society of California information line at 1-800-869-7069, or connect with your local Autism Society of California affiliate.