How to Register an X-Ray Machine inCalifornia: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide

California uses one online portal for new facilities, machine additions and removals, ownership changes, corrections, and withdrawals. This page gives the state process and the two major county shielding-plan paths.

Heartland Physics can review the project scope and confirm whether its current qualifications and authorization cover any shielding work required for this project. Use the current government sources linked below for registration, plan review, fees, inspections, and filing requirements.

Quick answer

Register every radiation machine through the California portal within 30 days after acquisition. California assigns one FAC number to each physical facility address.

Ordinary diagnostic machines may generally be used after installation when all state and local requirements are complete; mammography and therapy equipment above 500 kVp require additional approval.

Start here: direct online filing and forms

What to gather

• Legal entity and DBA names
• Physical and mailing addresses
• Business phone and facility contact
• Machine manufacturer, model, tube count, acquisition date, and room location
• Previous owner and FAC information for an ownership change
• Room plan, workload, adjacent-area use, and construction details for shielding

Step 1: Complete the shielding design before construction

Complete the technical shielding design before walls, doors, viewing windows, or operator barriers are built. The design should use the actual machine type, maximum kVp, planned workload, room drawing, surrounding occupancy, and construction details. Use a provider whose current qualifications cover the work and any applicable local review.

Step 2: Open the state portal and select the correct action

Choose New Facility when the physical address has no California FAC number. Choose Update Registration to add or remove machines or change facility information. Choose Ownership Change when the operating entity or taxpayer ID changes.

Choose Withdraw only when the facility no longer possesses any functional radiation machine.

Step 3: Enter every machine

For each unit, enter the manufacturer, model, tube count, acquisition date, and exact room or department. Submit the form and save the confirmation email and tracking ID.

Step 4: Receive and save the FAC number

After processing, California emails the FAC number for a new facility. Use that number on future communications. The registration appears in the state verification search after processing.

Step 5: Pay the state registration fee

If payment is not collected in the portal, California mails the initial fee notice after processing. Renewal fees are shown on the facility’s invoice. State registration runs for two years from the end of the month issued.

Step 6: Complete the local shielding-plan step

Los Angeles County requires its Radiation Shielding Plan Check Service Request for X-ray and PET/CT rooms. The package includes the request, room plan, and required physics report. Email DPHRadiation@ph.lacounty.gov to receive the secure upload link.

Current listed fees are $622 per machine at 70 kVp or below, $977 per machine from 71–300 kVp, and $1,776 per machine above 300 kVp. Do not pay until the county issues an invoice.

San Diego County requires its shielding-plan application, the physicist report, and room plans. Submit them to the Radiological Health Program, 5500 Overland Avenue, Suite 110, San Diego, CA 92123.

The current base plan-check fee is $117 for up to two rooms for fiscal year 2026–27; complex reviews may be billed at $197 per hour.

Outside Los Angeles and San Diego counties, confirm with the applicable county or city authority whether local shielding-plan, building, or health review applies before construction.

Step 7: Keep registration current

Use the same portal within 30 days to report a new machine, removed machine, location change, address change, name change, or ownership change.

A machine kept in storage remains registered unless it is physically incapable of producing radiation or is no longer in the facility’s possession.

Special equipment

• Mammography: obtain the required mammography machine certificate before patient use.
• Therapy above 500 kVp: obtain Department authorization before treatment use.
• All facilities: maintain a radiation-protection program and the required employee notice posting.

Do not make this mistake

Do not assume the state portal completes a county shielding-plan review. State registration and local construction or shielding approval are separate tasks.

How Heartland Physics can help

Heartland Physics can review the project and confirm whether its current qualifications cover the shielding work. The state registration process and any county or city shielding-plan review remain separate requirements controlled by the applicable regulator.

State program contact

California Registration Support Unit: XrayRegistration@cdph.ca.gov. Los Angeles Radiation Management: DPHRadiation@ph.lacounty.gov. For San Diego, use the official Radiological Health Program contact page.

Source note

Use the current government sources linked on this page. Requirements, forms, fees, contacts, and procedures can change.

The state or local authority controls if a requirement changes before the next review.