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Chandler, AZ Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Permit required
Massage establishment permit, Ch. 17
Issuing office
Management Services Director + Police investigation
Decision window
60 days from complete application
Prohibited hours
No services 12:00 a.m.–6:00 a.m.
Renewal
Expires Dec. 31; renew by Jan. 1
Reapplication bar
1 year after denial or revocation
Penalty
Misdemeanor under Code § 1-8

Summary

Chandler requires a current massage establishment permit before anyone may operate a massage business in the city. The Management Services Director issues permits after a Police Department background investigation, and services may not be offered between midnight and 6:00 a.m.

No person, as defined in this Code, Chapter 1, Section 1-2, shall conduct or operate a massage establishment without a current massage establishment permit as required by this chapter.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 79).

Full Breakdown

S. Title 32, Chapter 42, displayed where patrons can see it. 1). 4) demands the applicant's legal name, five years of addresses and employment history, full fingerprints run through DPS and the FBI, proof of age and work eligibility, and a complete employee log listing every massage therapist's license number, updated within 24 hours of any change. 2). Permits expire December 31 each year and must be renewed by January 1 (§ 17-10). , to hire a therapist without a current state license, or to knowingly hire a therapist convicted within five years of a felony, prostitution, indecent exposure, pornography, or another moral-turpitude offense, and it bars co-locating with a bar, photography/model studio, sexually oriented business, or bookstore.

1, including fraud, false statements, or any chapter violation; the permittee gets 10 calendar days to request a hearing before the Hearing Officer (City Manager or designee), held within 30 business days. After a denial or revocation, § 17-14 bars a new application for that person or location for one year.

Violations & Fines

Operating a massage establishment without a current permit, letting the permit lapse and continuing to operate, or providing services between midnight and 6:00 a.m. under § 17-12 is a misdemeanor under Chandler City Code § 17-16, prosecuted per Chapter 1, Section 1-8. A permit denial or revocation under § 17-13.1 can also follow from the same conduct, and failing to request a hearing within 10 calendar days waives the right to appeal, making the revocation final on the eleventh day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Chandler massage establishment permit replace my state therapist license?
No. Chandler City Code § 17-2.2 requires every therapist to separately hold a current Arizona massage therapist license under A.R.S. Title 32, Chapter 42, displayed visibly on-site, in addition to the establishment permit the business itself must hold under § 17-2.1.
How long does Chandler take to approve a massage establishment permit?
The Director has 60 days from the date all application materials and requirements are complete to issue or deny the permit, per § 17-3.1. The application first goes to the Chief of Police for an investigation into the applicant's background.
Can a Chandler massage business operate late at night?
No. Section 17-12.B makes it unlawful for a permitted massage establishment to provide services any time between 12:00 midnight and 6:00 a.m., regardless of the permit's other terms.
What happens if I don't renew my Chandler massage permit on time?
Operating after your permit lapses is treated as operating without a permit and draws a Council-set penalty on top of the annual fee (§ 17-10.C). If it goes unrenewed more than 60 days, you must reapply as a brand-new applicant rather than simply renew.

Sources & Official References

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