Cupertino, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)
Key Facts
- License required
- separate City Manager license per location
- CAMTC exemption
- applies only to certified-therapist-only establishments
- Application review
- 60 working days to issue or deny
- Term
- license/permit expires 365 days, no grace period
- Denial grounds
- certain criminal convictions, misstatement, public-welfare harm
Summary
Cupertino requires anyone operating a massage establishment to hold a separate City Manager license for each location, on top of a standard business license. Chapter 9.06 exempts establishments that employ only CAMTC-certified therapists from the establishment license, but licensed or not, operating with a suspended, revoked, or expired license is unlawful.
It is unlawful for any person to engage in, conduct or carry out, in or upon any premises within the City, the operation of a massage establishment without a massage establishment license obtained from the City Manager. In addition to a City business license, a separate establishment license shall be obtained for each separate massage establishment operated by such person. ... It is unlawful to operate, establish or maintain a massage establishment while the license issued for such business has been suspended, revoked, or has expired.
Full Breakdown
040 makes it unlawful to operate a massage establishment within the City without a massage establishment license from the City Manager, and requires a separate license for every location a person runs, in addition to the standard City business license. 5 program (commencing at Business and Professions Code Section 4600) through the California Massage Therapy Council is exempt from the establishment license, though it still needs a business license. 041 separately requires anyone who personally performs massage to hold a massage therapist permit or CAMTC certificate.
055). 065). 070 for a material misstatement, a registrable sex offense or violent, theft, or controlled-substance conviction, or a finding that the operation would hinder public health, safety, or welfare.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a required license or permit, or after one has been suspended, revoked, or expired, violates Chapter 9.06 and is itself declared a public nuisance abatable under Chapter 1.09 (Section 9.06.240), enforced as a violation under Chapter 1.12 and Chapter 1.10 (Section 9.06.250). The City Attorney may also bring a civil action to enjoin a continuing violation under Section 9.06.260, and a suspended or revoked location cannot reapply until the prior license fully lapses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a separate license for each massage location I operate in Cupertino?
Is my massage business exempt if all my therapists are CAMTC certified?
What can get a massage license application denied in Cupertino?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cupertino
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