Durham County, NC Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)
Key Facts
- Establishment license fee
- $100.00 application, $25.00 annual renewal
- Therapist license fee
- $50.00 application, $15.00 annual renewal
- Reviewing agencies
- Sheriff, inspections division, fire marshal
- Approval body
- Board of county commissioners
- Revocation grounds
- Sexual-misconduct conviction, unlicensed employee, code violation
Summary
Operating a massage therapy establishment in unincorporated Durham County requires a privilege license from the county under Sec. 8-66, on top of individual massage-therapist licensing under Sec. 8-65. The Sheriff, inspections division and fire marshal must all report on an application before the board of commissioners can approve it.
(d)An application in proper form, accompanied by all reports required by this section and by the application fee as required herein, shall be submitted to the board of commissioners which shall approve the application if the board determines that:(1)The application contains no misstatement of fact.(2)The applicant, and any person having legal or beneficial ownership interest in the proposed establishment is over the age of 18 years and has not been convicted of any crime involving sexual misconduct, as set forth herein.(3)The proposed establishment conforms to all requirements of applicable zoning, building and fire prevention codes.(4)The applicant or any person having a legal or beneficial ownership interest in the proposed establishment has not, for the three-year period preceding the application, had a previously issued license for engaging in the business or profession of massage or a license to operate a massage business revoked.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 8, Article III licenses both massage therapists and the businesses that employ them. Section 8-65 requires any individual practicing massage therapy for compensation to first obtain a privilege license, which requires AMTA-approved training or membership, a sworn application listing prior occupations and any sexual-misconduct or felony convictions, and an application fee under Sec. 00 for a therapist. Section 8-66 separately requires the establishment itself to hold a privilege license: the sworn application must disclose every owner's convictions and any prior license revocations, and the tax collector routes the application to the Sheriff for a background investigation, to the county inspections division to confirm zoning and building compliance, and to the county fire marshal to confirm fire-code compliance, each within 30 days.
The board of commissioners then approves the establishment license only if the application contains no misstatement, every owner is over 18 with no sexual-misconduct conviction, the premises conforms to zoning, building and fire codes, and no owner has had a massage license revoked in the prior three years. 00. Licensed establishments and therapists must post their license on the premises or in their work area at all times, and the article exempts physicians, chiropractors, physical therapists, athletic trainers and licensed cosmetologists performing beautification-only treatments.
Violations & Fines
Violating any provision of Article III is a misdemeanor punishable under the county's general penalty, Sec. 1-6, per Sec. 8-64. Separately, either license can be revoked for cause under Sec. 8-68: grounds include a sexual-misconduct conviction, fraudulent or deceptive advertising, employing an unlicensed therapist, or violating any zoning, building or fire-prevention ordinance, following ten days' written notice and a hearing before the board of commissioners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a separate license for my massage business and for myself as a therapist?
Who investigates a new massage establishment application in Durham County?
Can a massage license be taken away after it's issued?
Are chiropractors or physical therapists required to get this license to give massage?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Durham County
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