Fargo, ND Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)
Key Facts
- Licensing agency
- Fargo Cass Public Health
- Renewal date
- Annually on January 1
- Penalty
- Class B misdemeanor, unlicensed operation
- Staffing rule
- Only licensed massage therapists permitted
Summary
Fargo requires massage therapy establishments to hold an annual license from Fargo Cass Public Health, with a police background investigation and Class B misdemeanor penalties for unlicensed operation.
No person shall operate a massage therapy establishment without first applying for and obtaining a license issued by the public health department. The license shall be subject to all the terms and conditions of this article and any other approved regulations as provided in this article. The initial application for a license shall extend from the date of issuance until year-end. Thereafter, the massage therapy establishment license may be renewed annually, January 1, by the director of public health. The fee for an initial license and any renewal thereof shall be as established by resolution of the board of city commissioners, and applicants shall complete an application form furnished by the public health department. A license shall apply only to the premises described in the application, and in the license issued thereon, and only one location shall be so described in each license.
The chief of police or their designee shall investigate the facts stated in the application and shall report the results of the investigation to the public health department prior to the issuance of a license. Said investigation shall include the character, reputation, and fitness of the applicant to hold a license, or any other pertinent information as to whether such license should be granted. Upon satisfaction of compliance with all license requirements, the massage therapy establishment license shall be issued.
Source: 5330 (2021), 5411 (2023).
Full Breakdown
Any massage therapy establishment operating in Fargo must first apply for and obtain a license from the public health department under Fargo Municipal Code § 13-1802. The chief of police investigates the applicant's character and fitness before the license issues, and it must be renewed annually on January 1. Licenses apply only to the specific premises named on the application. Establishments must staff only duly-licensed massage therapists; operating without a license or employing unlicensed practitioners is a violation under § 13-1807, and article 13-18 offenses are classified as Class B misdemeanors under § 1-0306.
Violations & Fines
Operating unlicensed, employing anyone but a licensed massage therapist, refusing inspection access, or falsifying an application violates § 13-1807; article 13-18 offenses are Class B misdemeanors under § 1-0306.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a license to open a massage establishment in Fargo?
Can a massage establishment employ therapists without a state license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fargo
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