Buena Park, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issued by
- Buena Park Police Chief
- Spacing requirement
- 500 ft from schools, churches, parks
- Permit term
- 24 months
- Therapist requirement
- CAMTC state certification required
Summary
Buena Park requires a police-issued massage establishment permit before opening, on top of state CAMTC certification for every therapist, with a 500-foot buffer from schools, churches and parks.
No person may own or operate a massage establishment in the city unless:
1. Each person administering massage (whether as an employee or independent contractor) is either a certified massage therapist or a certified massage practitioner; and 2. The owner obtains, and continues to maintain, a current massage establishment permit; and 3. The massage establishment complies with all requirements of the city zoning code. A massage establishment permit may be provisionally granted and will become operative upon approval of a conditional use permit where required by the zoning code; and 4. The owner obtains and maintains a valid city business license; and 5. The massage establishment is not within five hundred feet of the nearest property line of any public or private school, church, public or private park, or other massage establishment.
B. Massage Establishment Permit Application Procedure.
1. The owner of a proposed massage establishment shall be the only person eligible to obtain a massage establishment permit for such business. The owner shall not be eligible to obtain a massage establishment permit unless the owner is at least eighteen years of age. A separate permit is required for each massage establishment location.
2. The following shall be submitted to the chief at the time of application for a massage establishment permit:
a.
Full Breakdown
No one may own or operate a massage establishment in Buena Park unless every person administering massage is CAMTC-certified, the owner holds a current city massage establishment permit and business license, the business complies with the zoning code (a conditional use permit may be required), and the location sits at least 500 feet from the nearest school, church, park, or other massage establishment. The police chief reviews background checks, fingerprints and photos before issuing a permit, which runs 24 months.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a valid permit, allowing a non-CAMTC-certified person to give massage, or violating permit conditions can lead to suspension, revocation, or misdemeanor prosecution by the city.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do individual massage therapists need a separate city permit?
Can a massage business open near a school in Buena Park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Buena Park
California rules heatmap·Compare Buena Park to another location·View the California business licensing & operations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Massage Establishments in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Orange County handle massage establishments.