Broward County, FL Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)
Key Facts
- Licensed staff required
- Full-time during business hours
- Geographic reach
- Countywide, incorporated + unincorporated
- Underlying license
- Fla. Stat. Ch. 480 masseur license
- Owner presence
- Owner or licensed designee on-site
- Governing law
- Broward County Code Art. X, Ch. 20
Summary
Broward requires every massage establishment to keep a state-licensed masseur or masseuse on duty full-time whenever open, and bars opposite-sex contact or clothing-removal requests unless the provider holds that license.
It shall be unlawful to operate any of the establishments described in sections 20-211(b) and 20-211(e) hereof, as defined in this article, unless there shall be in its employ and on duty full-time during the hours open for business, at least one licensed masseur or licensed masseuse.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72 | Administrative Code: Supplement 28).
Full Breakdown
Article X of the Broward County Code governs massage establishments, health spas and encounter studios. Sec. 20-214 makes it unlawful to operate one of these establishments unless a masseur or masseuse licensed under Chapter 480, Florida Statutes is employed and on duty full-time during all hours the business is open. Sec. 20-212 and 20-213 separately bar opposite-sex physical contact for a fee and requests to remove clothing unless the person providing the service holds that state license. Sec. 20-217 makes the article apply countywide, in both the unincorporated and incorporated areas of Broward County, layered on top of any municipal massage ordinance.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a licensed masseur or masseuse on duty (Sec. 20-214), permitting opposite-sex contact from an unlicensed provider (Sec. 20-212), or requesting clothing removal outside a licensed service (Sec. 20-213) is a violation; Sec. 20-218 punishes conviction as provided by law, and owners/managers who knowingly permit staff to violate the article face liability under Sec. 20-216.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this Broward massage ordinance apply inside Fort Lauderdale or Hollywood too?
Can an unlicensed employee give an opposite-sex massage for a fee?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Broward County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Broward County to another location·View the Florida business licensing & operations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.