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Fort Wayne, IN Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)

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

Key Facts

Establishment permit fee
$250/year per location
Employee permit fee
$25/year
Permitting body
Board of Public Safety
Business hours limit
Closed 10 p.m.-6 a.m.
Fine range
$200-$2,500 per violation/day

Summary

Fort Wayne requires a $250/year Board of Public Safety permit to operate a massage establishment, plus a $25/year permit for each masseuse or attendant.

The nonrefundable fee for a person who operates a massage establishment is $250 per year for each location... The nonrefundable fee for a person employed in a massage establishment is $25 per year... No massage establishment shall be kept open for any purpose between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-60: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. G-19-26, passed 7-14-26, and Res. 83-19, passed 12-17-19 State legislation current through Legislative Service, 2025 Acts, Pamphlet No. 3).

Full Breakdown

Under Chapter 114, anyone operating a massage establishment must get a permit from the Board of Public Safety through the City Controller: fingerprints, a 10-year address and employment history, and a criminal-history check. Establishments pay $250/year per location; each employed masseuse or masseur pays $25/year. Licensed massage therapists (nationally certified, state-accredited-school graduates, or licensed LPNs/RNs/physicians/chiropractors/etc.) are exempt from the establishment permit and pay no fee. Establishments must stay closed 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., can't operate from living quarters, and must keep entrances unlocked during business hours.

Violations & Fines

Fines run $200 to $2,500 per violation per day, and the Board of Public Safety can suspend or revoke the permit after a hearing. A past sex-offense or moral-turpitude conviction, or a permit surrendered under investigation, disqualifies an applicant for five years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do licensed massage therapists need this permit?
No. Nationally certified or state-licensed massage therapists (and LPNs, RNs, physicians, chiropractors, etc.) are exempt from the establishment permit under § 114.02(A).
Who issues the Fort Wayne massage establishment permit?
The City Controller processes the application, but the Board of Public Safety votes to approve or deny it under § 114.03(C).

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Fort Wayne

Noise Ordinances: Construction HoursSome RestrictionsSecondhand DealersSome RestrictionsPawnbrokersSome RestrictionsAdult EntertainmentSignificant RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Cat RulesSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: MicrochippingLight RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Pet Groomer RulesSome RestrictionsFire Regulations: Propane StorageSome RestrictionsLandscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage TreesSome Restrictions

All Fort Wayne rules

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