Gaston County, NC Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)

Article IV of Chapter 10 of the Gaston County Code of Ordinances licenses the "business or profession of massage" and any massage parlor, health club, physical culture studio, or similar establishment (§ 10-80, § 10-81). Section 10-82 makes it unlawful to practice as a masseur or masseuse, or to run such a business, without a license, and treats each day of noncompliance as a separate offense. An applicant files with the county manager and board of commissioners, must show proof of good moral character, and must furnish a health certificate for every owner, agent, and employee who will work under the license (§ 10-83, § 10-84).

00 for a massage parlor license, valid until May 31 of the following year (§ 10-85). The county police chief inspects licensed premises and can recommend revocation to the board for any violation of the article or a conviction involving moral turpitude, after ten days' written notice and a hearing (§ 10-86). Every employee giving massages must also be individually licensed, and the licensee must file each employee's name, address, and phone number with the police chief within seven days of any change (§ 10-87, § 10-88).

(§ 10-89). The article bars a massage business from knowingly pairing a masseur or masseuse with a client of the opposite sex, bars off-premises massage, and bars massaging private parts for hire (§ 10-90). Anyone under 18 is barred from patronizing a massage parlor unless carrying a physician's written treatment order, and the operator must verify a patron's age (§ 10-91). Hospitals, nursing homes, and the offices of licensed physicians, chiropractors, and osteopaths performing manipulation as part of their practice are exempt (§ 10-81(b)).