Carroll County, MD Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)
Key Facts
- Licensing authority
- County Commissioners, after public hearing (§ 6-104)
- School/church/park buffer
- 1,000 feet under § 158.154
- Buffer from another such business
- 2,500 feet under § 158.154
- First-offense zoning fine
- $50, rising to $500 per day
- Criminal fine ceiling
- Up to $1,000 under Md. Land Use Article
- Exempt providers
- Health clubs, hospitals, chiropractors, licensed massage practitioners
Summary
Carroll County Code § 6-104 lets the County Commissioners license massage establishments after a public hearing, while zoning § 158.154 keeps them at least 1,000 feet from schools, churches, parks, libraries, licensed childcare, and residential lots, and 2,500 feet from another such business.
“Massage establishment” means any establishment doing business in Carroll County where massages are administered. ... After a public hearing, the County Commissioners may adopt an ordinance or regulations governing massage establishments, including: (1) massage establishment licensing; (2) license and administrative fees; (3) license application procedures; (4) license issuance procedures; (5) license display requirements; (6) license renewal procedures; (7) license revocation or suspension procedures; (8) penalties for violation of the ordinance or regulations; and (9) any other administrative provisions that the County Commissioners consider necessary.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-15: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through July 30, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Carroll County Code § 6-104 (Title 6, Licenses) defines a "massage establishment" as any establishment doing business in the county where massages are administered, and "massage" as treating the external parts of the body for compensation by touching, rubbing, stroking, kneading, tapping, or vibrating with the hand, arm, foot, mouth, or other body part or an instrument. The regulatory authority in the section exempts bona fide health clubs, chiropractors, hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, individually licensed massage practitioners, physical therapists, physicians, and barber shops or beauty salons that massage only the scalp, face, neck, or shoulders.
After holding a public hearing, the County Commissioners may adopt an ordinance or regulations covering massage establishment licensing, license and administrative fees, application and issuance procedures, license display and renewal, revocation or suspension procedures, and penalties. Separately, the zoning code fixes where a massage establishment may sit. 154, a massage establishment (grouped with adult entertainment and striptease businesses) may not locate within 1,000 feet of a religious establishment, a public or private school, a public park or recreational facility, a public library, a licensed or registered childcare home or institution, or a residentially zoned or used lot, and may not sit within 2,500 feet of another adult entertainment business, massage establishment, or striptease business. 999.
Violations & Fines
Locating a massage establishment inside the § 158.154 buffer distances is a Chapter 158 zoning violation enforced under § 158.999: civil fines run $50 for a first offense, $100 for a second, $200 for a third, and $500 for each later offense, with every day of a continuing violation treated as a separate offense. A criminal fine of up to $1,000 can also apply under the state Land Use Article, and an unpaid fine doubles if not paid within 15 days of notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Carroll County require a license to open a massage establishment?
How close can a massage establishment be to a school or church?
Can two massage establishments operate near each other?
What happens if a massage establishment violates the location rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Carroll County
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