Baldwin Park, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (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?
Is a licensed massage therapist ever exempt from Baldwin Park's permit?
What happens if a massage business operates without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Baldwin Park
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Massage Establishments in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle massage establishments.