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

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

Key Facts

Permit issuer
Chief of Police (background check)
Filing fee
Non-refundable, set by Council resolution
Health fee
Paid to LA County Health Department
State exemption
Certified therapists under Bus. & Prof. Code § 4600
Violation
Misdemeanor + declared public nuisance

Summary

Operating a massage establishment in Baldwin Park without an operator's permit from the Chief of Police is unlawful under § 118.02 and treated as a public nuisance if it happens anyway. Getting one requires a police background investigation, a non-refundable filing fee, and a health fee paid to the LA County Health Department.

It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in, conduct or carry on, or to permit the engagement in, conduct of or carrying on the business or operation of a massage establishment within the city without first obtaining an operator's permit pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, and complying with all other applicable provisions of this code, including, but not limited to, securing the necessary business license and complying with all applicable land use regulations.

Full Breakdown

02 makes it unlawful to engage in, conduct, or carry on the business of a massage establishment in the city without first obtaining an operator's permit, plus a business license and compliance with land use rules. 04; only one fee applies no matter how many owners or operators are named on a single application. 34 requires the Council to set a separate annual health services fee, paid directly to and retained by the Los Angeles County Health Department, to cover its inspection role under the chapter.

03, including physicians, chiropractors, osteopaths, physical therapists and acupuncturists, supervised nurses, licensed health facilities, and barbers, cosmetologists, and manicurists performing limited massage within the scope of their own license. Anyone holding a current certificate under the state's massage therapist certification program (Cal. & Prof. ) is also exempt from the city's separate permitting scheme, though other non-conflicting provisions of Chapter 118 still apply to them. Individual massage practitioners and out-call massage providers face their own separate permitting tracks later in the chapter, each with its own application, examination, and issuance requirements.

Violations & Fines

Any violation of Chapter 118, including operating without the required permit, is a misdemeanor under § 118.35(A). An establishment operated contrary to the chapter is separately declared a public nuisance under § 118.35(B), letting the city pursue abatement, removal, and injunctive relief in addition to, or instead of, criminal prosecution. Penalties under § 118.35(C) are cumulative with any other city, county, or state remedy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who issues a massage establishment permit in Baldwin Park?
The Chief of Police, under § 118.02 and § 118.04. The applicant submits a sworn written application and pays a non-refundable filing fee set by City Council resolution, and the Chief of Police conducts a background investigation before the permit is issued or denied.
Is a licensed massage therapist ever exempt from Baldwin Park's permit?
Yes. Section 118.03(G) exempts anyone holding a current certificate under the state's massage therapist certification program in Bus. & Prof. Code § 4600 et seq., along with the business that employs only such certified practitioners, though the chapter's other non-conflicting provisions still apply.
What happens if a massage business operates without a permit?
It is a misdemeanor under § 118.35(A), and the establishment itself is declared a public nuisance under § 118.35(B), which lets the city pursue abatement, removal, and injunctive relief in court in addition to, or instead of, criminal prosecution.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Baldwin Park

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