Charleston, WV Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required
- Yes, from city collector
- Annual fee
- $20.00, nontransferable
- Pre-issuance inspections
- Fire, building, health
- Hours restriction
- Closed 12:30 a.m.–6:00 a.m.
- Enforcement
- Police department
Summary
Charleston requires a city permit to operate a massage parlor, with a $20 annual fee and mandatory fire, building, and health inspections before issuance.
It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in the operation of a massage parlor without securing a permit from the city collector's office in accordance with the provisions established in this division. ... Any person making an application for a permit shall be required to pay an annual permit fee in the amount of $20.00. The permit shall be nontransferable and the applicant shall, in addition to the annual fee, file a new application annually.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 56).
Full Breakdown
Operating a massage parlor in Charleston without a permit from the city collector's office is unlawful under Sec. 18-751. Applicants pay a $20.00 annual, nontransferable permit fee and must refile every year (Sec. 18-753). Before the collector issues or renews a permit, the fire chief, building commissioner, and health commissioner must each inspect the site and give favorable recommendations (Sec. 18-754). Permits must be displayed conspicuously on site (Sec. 18-755) and can be revoked for violating state law, city ordinances, or the article's provisions (Sec. 18-756). The police department enforces the article (Sec. 18-722), and parlors must stay closed between 12:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. (Sec. 18-725).
Violations & Fines
Operating without a permit is a misdemeanor citation from the police department; a permit can also be revoked outright for violating any city ordinance, state law, or the article's rules, including the sexual-activity ban in Sec. 18-724(15).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Charleston massage parlor permit cost?
Who inspects a massage parlor before Charleston issues a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Charleston
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