Boise, ID Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)

Boise City Code chapter 3-10, titled the Massage Establishment Licensing Ordinance, was adopted because the City found massage establishments are sometimes used for unlawful purposes and requires strict compliance regardless of how many businesses self-regulate. Section 3-10-7 makes it unlawful for an owner or manager to permit anyone to engage or attempt to engage in massage therapy within a massage establishment unless it possesses a valid City license or qualifies for an exemption; applications go through the City Clerk's Office under section 3-1A-6. Six categories are exempt: State-licensed hospitals, residential care and assisted living facilities; public and private secondary schools and accredited colleges eligible for federal financial aid, including their athletic programs; sports venues where athletic trainers massage professional athletes (an exemption that does not extend to other businesses sharing the same structure, such as a hotel); business locations of State-licensed physicians, surgeons, osteopaths, physical therapists, chiropractors, podiatrists, nurses or kinesiologists; barbers and cosmetologists massaging only the neck, face, scalp, hair, hands or feet as part of a haircut, shave, manicure or pedicure; and any establishment with only one massage therapist, an exemption lost the moment a second therapist is employed or practices there.

Section 3-10-8 requires new and renewal applications to include an occupancy permit and, for every owner and manager, a social security number, date of birth, physical description, City-taken photograph, State photo ID copy, five years of employment history, and a copy of each massage therapist's State license. 5); and every establishment must close for business between 10:00 PM and 7:00 AM. Establishments must keep a book of each therapist's name, birth date and State license copy, a posted service menu with prices, and a log of every session's date, time, service type, payment and gratuity, retained on site for at least one year.