Chapter 6. Massage of California Government Code >> Division 1. >> Title 5. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 6.
The legislative body of a city for incorporated areas or
county for unincorporated areas may enact an ordinance which provides
for the licensing for regulation of the business of massage when
carried on within the city or county.
The ordinance may condition the issuance of a license to
engage in the business of massage upon proof that a massage business
meets the reasonable standards set by the ordinance, which may
include, but need not be limited to, the following areas:
(a) Age of massage personnel.
(b) Education and experience of massage personnel.
(c) Passage by massage personnel of a practical examination of
competence.
(d) Sanitary conditions of the massage establishment.
(e) Hours of operation of the massage business.
(f) Prohibition of the sale or serving of food or beverage or the
conducting of nonmassage business on the premises of the massage
business. In the event that the business premises in which such
massage business is conducted possesses or is qualified to possess a
certificate of occupancy issued by such city or county, the
prohibition of this subdivision shall apply only to the portion of
the premises exclusively devoted to the conduct of the massage
business.
(a) The ordinance may also provide that a license to engage
in the business of massage may be denied upon a showing by the
licensing authority of either of the following:
(1) Proof that the massage personnel and the owners or operators
of a massage business have been convicted of a violation of Section
266i, 315, 316, 318, or subdivision (b) of Section 647 of the Penal
Code, or proof that the massage personnel or the owners or operators
of a massage business have been convicted in any other state of any
offense which, if committed or attempted in this state, would have
been punishable as one or more of the above-mentioned offenses of
this subdivision.
(2) Proof that the massage personnel and the owners or operators
of a massage business have been convicted of any felony offense
involving the sale of a controlled substance specified in Section
11054, 11055, 11056, 11057, or 11058 of the Health and Safety Code or
proof that the massage personnel or the owners or operators of the
massage business have been convicted in any other state of any
offense which, if committed or attempted in this state, would have
been punishable as one or more of the above-mentioned offenses of
this subdivision.
(b) The ordinance shall also provide that a license to engage in
the business of massage shall be denied upon a showing by the
licensing authority of proof that the massage personnel or the owners
or operators of a massage business are required to register under
the provisions of Section 290 of the Penal Code.
(a) This chapter does not apply to cosmetologists, barbers,
or to persons licensed to practice any healing art pursuant to
Division 2 (commencing with Section 500) of the Business and
Professions Code or the Chiropractic Act when engaging in this
practice within the scope of his or her license.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this chapter shall
apply to an independent contractor of any person described in
subdivision (a) if the independent contractor is engaged in, or is
purported to be engaged in, the business of massage.
(a) The Legislature in enacting this chapter recognizes the
existing power of a city or county to regulate a lawful massage
business pursuant to Section 37101, or pursuant to Section 16000 or
16100 of the Business and Professions Code, or under Section 7 of
Article XI of the California Constitution.
(b) Nothing contained in this chapter shall be a limitation on
that existing power or on the existing authority of a city to license
for revenue purposes. A city, county, or city and county shall not
enact or enforce an ordinance that conflicts with the provisions of
this section or Chapter 10.5 (commencing with Section 4600) of
Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code.
(c) Nothing contained in this chapter shall authorize a city,
county, or city and county to do any of the following:
(1) Prohibit a person of one sex from engaging in the massage of a
person of the other sex.
(2) Define a massage establishment as an adult entertainment
business, or otherwise regulate a massage establishment as adult
entertainment.
(3) Require a massage establishment to have windows or walls that
do not extend from the floor to ceiling, or have other internal
physical structures, including windows, that interfere with a client'
s reasonable expectation of privacy.
(4) Impose client draping requirements that extend beyond the
covering of genitalia and female breasts, or otherwise mandate that
the client wear special clothing.
(5) Prohibit a massage establishment from locking its external
doors if the massage establishment is a business entity owned by one
individual with one or no employees or independent contractors.
(6) Require a massage establishment to post any notice in an area
that may be viewed by clients that contains explicit language
describing sexual acts, mentions genitalia, or specific contraception
devices.
(7) Impose a requirement that a person certified pursuant to
Chapter 10.5 (commencing with Section 4600) of Division 2 of the
Business and Professions Code take any test, medical examination, or
background check or comply with education requirements beyond what is
required by Chapter 10.5 (commencing with Section 4600) of Division
2 of the Business and Professions Code.
(8) Impose a requirement that an individual holding a certificate
issued in accordance with Chapter 10.5 (commencing with Section 4600)
of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, obtain any other
license, permit, certificate, or other authorization to provide
massage for compensation. However, this paragraph shall not be
construed to prohibit a city, county, or city and county from
requiring by ordinance that a massage business or establishment
obtain a license, permit, certificate, or other authorization in
order to operate lawfully within the jurisdiction.
(9) Impose a dress code requirement on a person certified pursuant
to Chapter 10.5 (commencing with Section 4600) of Division 2 of the
Business and Professions Code in excess of those already imposed
pursuant to paragraph (10) of subdivision (a) of Section 4609 of the
Business and Professions Code.
(10) Prohibit a person certified pursuant to Chapter 10.5
(commencing with Section 4600) of Division 2 of the Business and
Professions Code from performing massage for compensation on the
gluteal muscles, prohibit specific massage techniques recognized by
the California Massage Therapy Council as legitimate, or impose any
other specific restriction on professional practice beyond those set
forth in subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of
Section 4609 of the Business and Professions Code, except as
authorized by Section 460 of the Business and Professions Code.