Cumberland County, NC Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)

Cumberland County licenses massage parlors, health salons, physical culture studios and clubs under Sec. , though the article exempts licensed hospitals, nursing homes, and the offices of physicians, chiropractors and osteopaths practicing at their principal location (Sec. 7-181). A premises license can only be issued to an owner who is a physician, a registered nurse with at least two years' experience, a licensed practical nurse with at least four years' experience, or a licensed physical therapist (Sec. 7-211(b)). Every masseur or masseuse must separately hold an individual operator's permit and must have completed 1,000 hours of study, including 500 accredited classroom or clinical hours, at a county-approved massage school (Sec.

7-212). Licenses and permits run on the calendar year, expiring December 31, and renewal applications are due to the county manager's office at least 30 days before expiration (Sec. 7-213(c)-(d)). m. (Sec. 7-192); massages across sexes are barred outright without a physician's signed order limited to ten treatments (Sec. 7-183(g)); and licensees must record every patron's name, address and two forms of photo identification in a permanently bound, numbered ledger open to law enforcement and health inspectors (Sec. 7-194). The sheriff's department periodically inspects licensed premises and can recommend revocation to the board of commissioners for felony convictions, crimes of moral turpitude, or nuisance activity on-site (Sec. 7-215).