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Bakersfield, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Permit issuer
Bakersfield police department
Permit term
2 years from issuance
Operating hours
7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Practitioner requirement
Current CAMTC certification
Minimum employee age
18 years old
Record retention
2 years, open to police

Summary

Every massage establishment in Bakersfield must hold a city permit from the police department under Municipal Code Section 5.32.030, valid two years, while individual massage professionals must carry state CAMTC certification instead of a city practitioner permit, and services may only be provided between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Every person conducting, managing, owning, or operating a massage establishment in the city, except as exempted in this chapter, shall first obtain a permit under this chapter. Said permit shall be numbered and must be displayed in a prominent place on the premises in which the business is conducted. ... R. A massage shall be provided or given only between the hours of seven a.m. and ten p.m. All clients shall exit the premises by ten p.m. and no massage business shall allow any person to reside within the premises or in attached structures owned, leased or controlled by the massage business.

Source: Bakersfield Finance DepartmentView official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 5221, passed July 15, 2026).

Full Breakdown

045. 130. 050; grounds for denial include convictions for sex offenses requiring Penal Code Section 290 registration, specified controlled-substance convictions within five years, or a prior massage permit revocation anywhere within the past three years. ; every employee performing massage must be at least 18; establishments must maintain sanitary linens laundered between clients, disinfect wet areas daily, and keep a two-year log of treatment dates, client names, and the professional who performed each service, open to police inspection. 090 bars exposing or intentionally touching a client's or employee's genitals, anus, or perineum, bars advertising that suggests prohibited sexual services are available, and requires that clients of one sex never be massaged within view of a client of the opposite sex, apart from an accompanying parent, spouse, guardian, or caregiver.

Violations & Fines

Operating a massage establishment contrary to Chapter 5.32 is declared a public nuisance the city attorney may pursue criminally, civilly, or through administrative remedies under Section 5.32.100, with each day of violation charged as a separate offense. The chief of police may deny, revoke, or refuse to renew a permit for a chapter violation, fraud or material misrepresentation in the application, or conduct endangering public health or safety (Section 5.32.070), and a denied or revoked applicant may appeal to the city manager within 15 calendar days of the mailed notice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do individual massage therapists need a Bakersfield city permit?
No, not anymore. Section 5.32.020 states the city will no longer issue massage practitioner permits; instead, every massage professional (with a narrow exemption under Section 5.32.130) must be certified through the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) and display that certificate at their workstation while working.
What hours can a Bakersfield massage establishment operate?
Section 5.32.080(R) limits massage services to between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., requires all clients to leave the premises by 10 p.m., and prohibits the business from letting anyone reside on the premises or in attached structures it owns, leases, or controls.
How long is a Bakersfield massage establishment permit valid?
Under Section 5.32.040(B), an establishment permit is valid for two years from the date of issuance unless revoked or suspended sooner, and Section 5.32.045 requires the holder to file a renewal application and fee at least 90 days before it expires.
What conduct is banned inside a Bakersfield massage establishment?
Section 5.32.090 prohibits exposing or intentionally touching a client's or employee's genitals, anus, or perineum during a massage, bars advertising that suggests such services are offered, and forbids massaging a client of one sex within view of a client of the opposite sex except for an accompanying parent, spouse, guardian, or caregiver.

Sources & Official References

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