Bristol, CT Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)

Article VII of Chapter 13 licenses massage establishments in the City of Bristol. Section 13-109 makes it unlawful to operate a massage establishment used by patrons for hire or reward, or to advertise being in the massage business, without a valid license from the department, with the license fee set by the department itself. A separate state license is required for the practitioners: § 13-110 requires every massage therapist or practitioner working at a Bristol establishment to hold a Connecticut massage therapy license. The application for the establishment license, detailed in § 13-111, requires the applicant's identifying information, fingerprints taken by the Bristol Police Department, business history, any prior license denials, suspensions or revocations, a floor plan, and the names of anyone holding a ten percent or greater financial interest.

Section 13-112 lets city agencies inspect the proposed premises before the director issues the license, which under § 13-113 runs for one year and must be renewed at least sixty days before expiration. Once operating, § 13-115(b) bars any massage establishment from staying open between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., and requires a licensed practitioner and a responsible manager on duty during all other hours. Section 13-117 requires the director's designee to inspect every licensed establishment at least once a year, and the director of health may enter at any reasonable time during business hours to check compliance.