Acworth, GA Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)

prior to practicing massage therapy, bodywork therapy, operating a massage therapy establishment, bodywork therapy establishment, spa, or related practice or business," on top of the state license a massage therapist already needs. A spa establishment can offer massage only if "no more than one-third of the employees on the premises are dedicated to the provision of massage therapy," and must show at least two other bona fide services with a floor plan for city staff to review before any license issues. " Section 22-75 requires a written application to the customer service department with a copy of each therapist's active state license, and requires fingerprints and a police background check for any employee who is not a licensed massage therapist, at the applicant's expense.

Section 22-77 sets an annual license fee on the city's fee schedule and bars any change of location or transfer of the license without a new application. Section 22-81 flatly bans genital or anal touching by any therapist or employee and requires every establishment to post the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Human Trafficking Notice, at least five by ten inches, in a non-customer area such as a break room or bathroom.