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Denver, CO Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

License required since
July 1, 2022
Issuing agency
Denver Dept. of Excise and Licenses
Applicant screening
National FBI background check
Operating hours ban
11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
Governing ordinance
DRMC Chapter 33.5

Summary

Denver requires anyone operating a massage business to hold a license from the Department of Excise and Licenses, effective July 1, 2022, with exemptions for licensed massage therapists working solo and certain health professionals.

On and after July 1, 2022, it shall be unlawful for any person to operate a massage business without a valid massage business license issued by the department pursuant to this article.

Source: Denver Revised Municipal CodeView official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 147 Update 3).

Full Breakdown

Under Chapter 33.5 of the Denver Revised Municipal Code, operating a massage business without a Department of Excise and Licenses-issued license has been unlawful since July 1, 2022. Applicants and all principals must pass a national FBI background check, and licenses are denied to anyone under 18, convicted of a felony within five years, convicted of a fraud- or sex-related offense, or required to register as a sex offender under Colorado law. Licensed businesses cannot operate between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., must keep employee licensure and background records for five years, and cannot permit sexual acts on the premises. Solo licensed massage therapists and several other categories are exempt.

Violations & Fines

Operating without a license, allowing unlicensed massage therapists to work, permitting sexual acts on premises, or operating between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. can bring suspension, revocation, or denial of the license for up to five years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do solo massage therapists need a Denver massage business license?
No. Section 33.5-2(b)(7) exempts a place of business where a licensed massage therapist practices as a solo practitioner, along with several health-professional and school-based exemptions.
What hours must Denver massage businesses stay closed?
Licensed massage businesses cannot operate between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. under DRMC § 33.5-8(h); doing so is an unlawful act that can trigger license discipline.

Sources & Official References

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