St. Louis County, MO Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)
Key Facts
- Application fee
- $500, non-refundable
- Renewal fee
- $355 every year
- Buffer distance
- 1,000 feet from schools, churches, spas
- Hours closed
- 1:30 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.
- Alcohol
- Banned on premises entirely
- Maximum penalty
- 6 months jail and/or $500 fine
- Permit term
- One year, non-transferable
Summary
Anyone operating a massage establishment or outcall service in unincorporated St. Louis County needs a permit from the Director of Licenses under County Code §626.041, backed by a $500 non-refundable application fee. The county won't approve a location within 1,000 feet of a school, church, synagogue or another massage establishment (§626.035), and every licensed business must close between 1:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. Violators risk six months in jail and a $500 fine.
It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in, conduct or carry on, or to permit to be engaged in, conducted or carried on, in or upon any premises in the county, the operation of a massage establishment or an outcall massage service, as herein defined, without first having obtained a permit duly issued by the Director, as set forth herein. ... 626.035 - Massage Establishments—Limitations on Location.—1. No massage establishment permit, as hereinafter set forth, shall be issued by the Director to any such proposed operation which shall be located less than one thousand (1,000) feet from the property line of any property on which there is located an elementary, junior high school, high school, vocational high school, church or synagogue.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 85 | Traffic: Supplement 80).
Full Breakdown
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Violations & Fines
Operating without a permit, allowing sexual conduct for compensation, serving alcohol on-site, or running past the 1:30 a.m. curfew all violate Chapter 626 and are punishable under §626.110 by up to six months in the County Jail, a $500 fine, or both. The Director can additionally suspend a permit for up to 90 days or revoke it outright, with the permittee entitled to a hearing and a right of appeal to the St. Louis County Circuit Court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a county permit to open a massage business in St. Louis County?
How close can a massage business be to a school?
What hours can a massage establishment operate?
Can a massage permit be sold or transferred?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Louis County
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