Compton, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)
Key Facts
- License cap
- 1 per 30,000 residents
- Application fee
- $600 nonrefundable
- Buffer distance
- 1,000 ft from homes, church, school, park
- Minimum age
- 21 years old
- Operating hours
- Closed 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- Decision window
- 90 days (directory)
- Misdemeanor penalty
- $1,000 fine / 6 months
Summary
Compton caps massage establishment licenses at one per 30,000 residents and requires a Chief of Police-issued business license before any massage business may open. Operators pay a $600 nonrefundable investigation fee, must locate at least 1,000 feet from any other massage establishment, residential zone, church, school or park, and cannot operate between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
a. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or allow to be operated a massage establishment in or upon any premises within the City unless a valid business license shall have been issued for such operation in accordance with the provisions set forth in this section. All massage establishments shall be required to obtain any other licenses or permits required by local, state and federal law.
b. There shall be a maximum of one massage establishment license granted for every 30,000 residents within the City of Compton.
Full Breakdown
4). Each application must disclose the applicant's residence and employment history for five years, any prior license suspensions or revocations, a full criminal history, and a plot plan showing all businesses the applicant controls within 1,000 feet. 6). Once approved, the operator has 180 days to actually obtain the business license or the authorization automatically expires. ; a posted price list in English must match what is actually charged; linens cannot be reused between patrons; and every technician must wear a fully opaque garment covering from the shoulders to no higher than one inch above the knee.
No one may enter or remain on the premises while using alcohol or drugs, and touching another person's genitals during a massage is expressly forbidden for both managerial personnel and technicians.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a license, after 9:00 p.m., or in violation of any operating standard is a misdemeanor under § 9-15.30, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in jail, or both. The Chief of Police may separately suspend or revoke the establishment's license or a technician's permit at his sole discretion for any violation, and the City Attorney can sue to abate a noncompliant massage establishment as a public nuisance and enjoin its operation.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Compton
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