Austin, TX Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)
Key Facts
- State licensing
- TX Occupations Code Ch. 455
- Local registration
- Austin Code Ch. 4-9
- Regulator
- TDLR plus Austin Code
- Hours rule
- Limited overnight operation
- Trafficking enforcement
- APD Human Trafficking Unit
Summary
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation licenses massage therapists and establishments statewide under Occupations Code Chapter 455; Austin City Code Chapter 4-9 layers local registration, zoning, and human-trafficking inspections on top of the state license.
Sec. 455.151. LICENSE REQUIRED. (a) Unless the person is exempt from the licensing requirement, a person may not act as a massage therapist, massage school, massage therapy instructor, or massage establishment unless the person holds an appropriate license issued under this chapter. (b) Unless the person is exempt from the licensing requirement, a person may not represent that the person is a massage therapist, massage school, massage therapy instructor, or massage establishment unless the person holds an appropriate license under this chapter.
Full Breakdown
Massage therapy in Austin requires both a TDLR therapist license under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 455 and an establishment license. Austin Code Chapter 4-9 adds local registration, building inspection, and zoning compliance, and supports anti-trafficking enforcement by APD's Human Trafficking Unit. Establishments must post licenses publicly, maintain client records, restrict operating hours, prohibit residential lodging on premises, and block entry to anyone under 18 unaccompanied. TDLR may suspend licenses for sexual misconduct, unlicensed practice, or trafficking indicators. Austin's 2018 SB 2065 overhaul tightened licensing and gave municipalities clearer enforcement tools. Mobile and outcall massage requires the same license as fixed-location work. Code Compliance handles routine inspections; APD handles criminal enforcement.
Violations & Fines
Operating an unlicensed establishment, employing an unlicensed therapist, or trafficking indicators trigger TDLR fines up to $5,000 per violation, license revocation, and Austin class C misdemeanor citations. Federal trafficking charges and asset forfeiture can apply for repeat offenders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need both a state and a city license to open a massage business in Austin?
Are mobile massage therapists subject to the same rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Austin
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