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Clinton Township, MI Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)

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

Key Facts

License required
Owner/operator, per establishment
Issuing office
Township Clerk
Pre-license review
Chief of Police and Building Official
Max criminal penalty
93 days jail, $500 fine
Transferability
Not assignable or transferable

Summary

Clinton Township requires anyone who owns or operates a massage establishment, including a massage school, to hold a Township license under Chapter 850. Operating without one is a chargeable violation, and applicants file a sworn application with the Township Clerk covering staff, hours, and services offered.

It shall be a violation of this chapter for any person to own or operate a massage establishment, including any massage school, without a license. Existing massage establishments shall submit an application for a license within sixty days of enactment of this chapter.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-25: Local legislation current through May 26, 2026).

Full Breakdown

04 makes it a violation to own or operate a massage establishment, including any massage school, without a license, and required existing establishments to apply within sixty days of the chapter's enactment. 05: an applicant files a sworn, notarized application listing the business name and address, a copy of the signed lease or the property owner's written consent, the name and address of every manager and each massage therapist/myomassologist and employee (with proof they meet the chapter's training and certification standards), a description of services including any off-site work, and the days and hours the establishment will operate.

08 before a license issues. 16; a new owner must apply from scratch. 14 for anyone denied, suspended, or revoked. The Board of Trustees adopted the ordinance in part to guard against human trafficking fronting as massage business, citing the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, and it declares the license a privilege rather than a right.

Violations & Fines

Operating a massage establishment without the required license, or in violation of any provision of Chapter 850, is a misdemeanor under Section 850.99 punishable by up to ninety-three days in the Macomb County jail, a fine of up to $500 plus court costs, and possible probation. The Township Clerk can also deny, suspend, or revoke a license outright for cause under Sections 850.11 through 850.13, separate from any criminal charge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I operate a massage business in Clinton Township without a license?
No. Section 850.04 makes it a violation to own or operate a massage establishment, including a massage school, without a Township license, and existing businesses had only sixty days from the ordinance's enactment to apply.
Who reviews a massage establishment license application?
The Township Clerk collects the sworn application under Section 850.05, then the Chief of Police and the Building Official each investigate and make a recommendation under Sections 850.07 and 850.08 before the license is issued.
Can I sell or transfer my massage establishment license to a new owner?
No. Section 850.16 states the license is not subject to assignment or transfer, so a change in ownership requires a fresh application rather than a transfer of the existing license.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Clinton Township

All Clinton Township rules

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