Bayonne, NJ Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)
Key Facts
- Initial establishment fee
- $250
- Individual practitioner fee
- $50
- Location buffer
- 1,000 feet from school/house of worship
- License term
- Calendar year, from Jan. 1
- Inspections
- At least once annually, unannounced
Summary
Operating a massage establishment in the City of Bayonne requires a City Clerk license approved by the Municipal Council, a $250 initial fee, state certification, and a location more than 1,000 feet from any school or house of worship.
It shall be unlawful to operate any massage establishment in the City of Bayonne without first obtaining a license therefor. The owner of a massage establishment desiring a license shall make written application to the City Clerk setting forth the name of the applicant, location of the places sought to be licensed, whether or not the applicant is registered by the New Jersey State Department of Health and any other facts which the City Clerk may consider pertinent. ... No application for a new massage establishment license shall be granted unless the establishment is more than 1,000 feet away from any public or private educational institution (including elementary, high school and/or college level) or house of worship. ... The applicant shall pay a $250 fee upon filing an initial application for the operation of a business engaged in providing massage therapy services and any individual applicant (as opposed to a business entity) who wishes to be licensed for massage therapy purposed under this chapter shall pay an initial application fee of $50.
Full Breakdown
Section 4-22.2 of the Bayonne City Code makes it unlawful to operate a massage establishment in the city without first obtaining a license, requiring the owner to file a written application with the City Clerk giving the applicant's name, the location to be licensed, and whether the business is registered with the New Jersey State Department of Health. The Municipal Council must approve every application before a license issues, and it cannot approve one unless a valid State license is attached. Individual massage practitioners also need their own license, conditioned on being at least 18, holding certification under N.J.S.A.
45:11-53 et seq., passing a physician's health certification within 30 days, being fingerprinted for a Police Department background check, and having no disqualifying criminal convictions. Section 4-22.2.c bars any new massage establishment license within 1,000 feet of a public or private school or a house of worship. The initial business application fee is $250, with a $50 initial fee for an individual practitioner under Section 4-22.2.f, and licenses run annually from January 1 with renewal payments due by January 31. Section 4-22.2.m requires at least one unannounced Health Officer inspection per year, with a $40 reinspection fee if conditions are unsatisfactory.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a license, misrepresenting an application, or violating conditions such as the sexual-misconduct provisions of Section 4-22.7 can result in suspension or revocation of the license under Section 4-22.2.o-p, and any violation is separately punishable under the general penalty in Chapter 1, Section 1-5 as set out in Section 4-22.6.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far must a Bayonne massage establishment be from a school?
What does a Bayonne massage practitioner need to get licensed?
Can Bayonne revoke a massage establishment's license for a criminal conviction?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bayonne
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Massage Establishments in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle massage establishments.