Inglewood, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)

Section 8-69.1 makes it unlawful to administer any massage, alcohol rub, fomentation, bath, or electric or magnetic treatment to another person without a permit from the Chief of Police, and separately makes it unlawful for any person to be employed at an establishment where such treatments are given unless that individual holds the permit. This is layered on top of § 8-69's business-level requirement: the establishment itself needs a business license from the Finance Department, a Special Use Permit from the Planning Commission or City Council, and a Building Permit from the City Building Official before it can operate. Massage, acupressure, acupuncture, and chiropractor establishments that provide on-site massage or acupressure therapy must also meet the mandatory special use conditions set out in §§ 12-95.4.1 and 12-95.2 of the Municipal Code, which govern where and how the use can be sited.

Application, issuance, revocation, and suspension of both the business-level and individual masseur permits are handled under the same procedures, set out in Article 3 of Chapter 8, per § 8-69.2. The individual permit requirement applies regardless of whether the person is the business owner or a rank-and-file employee, so a masseuse who lacks a Police Chief permit cannot legally work at an otherwise properly licensed Inglewood establishment.