Columbus, OH Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)
Key Facts
- Establishment application fee
- $150, non-refundable
- Masseuse/masseur application fee
- $75, non-refundable
- Registration term
- 1 year, then renewal
- Out-call massage services
- prohibited citywide
- Penalty
- first-degree misdemeanor
Summary
Columbus requires massage and bath establishments to register with the License Section, pay a $150 fee, and renew every year before opening.
No person shall engage in, conduct or carry on, or permit to be engaged in, conducted or carried on, in or upon any premises in the city of Columbus, the operation of a massage or bath establishment as herein defined without first being properly registered with the city of Columbus in accordance with this chapter.(B)No person shall engage in the business of or be employed as a registered masseuse or masseur in the city of Columbus unless the person has registered with the city of Columbus, License Section. (Ord. 1682-77; Ord. 973-02 § 1 (part); Ord. 1489-2006 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021; Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 85 | Form Based Code: ?).
Full Breakdown
No one may operate a massage or bath establishment in Columbus without registering with the city's License Section, and no one may work as a masseuse or masseur without separately registering. The establishment application costs $150 (non-refundable) and requires the operator's identity and the services offered; the individual masseuse/masseur application costs $75 and requires fingerprints, a criminal history check, and a photo. Registrations expire after one year. The License Section can deny, suspend, or revoke registration for code violations, disqualifying criminal convictions, or operating without a valid certificate, and inspectors may enter a registered establishment at any time it's open for business.
Violations & Fines
Operating unregistered, employing an unregistered masseuse/masseur, or failing to post the registration is a first-degree misdemeanor under Columbus City Codes § 540.99.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Columbus require a separate license for each massage therapist?
Can a Columbus massage establishment offer in-home or hotel massage calls?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Columbus
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