Clayton County, GA Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)

Clayton County Code § 22-136 requires anyone who wants to practice as a massage therapist, or operate a massage establishment, to get a license from the county department of community development before starting. S. Department of Education, or completed a two-year supervised apprenticeship and passed the National Certification Examination for Professional Massage and Bodywork. The application under § 22-138 must disclose five years of addresses, criminal history, and prior license revocations, and both the operator and each employee must be fingerprinted and background-checked by the county police department, which has 30 days to verify compliance.

00 per year for a therapist's license; the county issues a badge bearing the therapist's photo and name that must be worn and displayed at all times on the premises. Operating requirements in § 22-118 require the establishment to stay clean and sanitary, post its price rates in the reception area, provide separate dressing rooms for each sex, and keep a licensed massage therapist present and available whenever the doors are open. under § 22-118(f), and § 22-121 bars any alcoholic beverage on the premises.

Physicians, registered nurses, licensed barbers and beauticians performing cosmetic scalp or facial massage, and licensed physical therapists are exempt under § 22-124. Operating without a license is declared a public nuisance under § 22-123, subject to injunction in addition to any criminal prosecution.