James City County, VA Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)

James City County Code § 12-115 makes it unlawful for any person to conduct, perform or permit a massage to a patron on premises in the county except by a massage technician holding a permit issued pursuant to Va. 1-3029, and technicians must have that permit available whenever they perform a massage. Section 12-114 defines 'massage' as treating the external parts of the body for medical, hygienic, exercise or relaxation purposes by rubbing, stroking, kneading, tapping, pounding, vibrating or stimulating with the hands or an instrument, or by applying air, liquid or vapor baths.

A 'massage technician' is defined as anyone who administers a massage for consideration and holds a valid permit under that state statute, issued by the State Board of Nursing. Section 12-116 exempts physicians, surgeons, chiropractors, osteopaths, licensed nurses, licensed physical therapists and approved-school graduates acting under a physician's direct prescription, and exempts barbershops and beauty parlors that massage only the scalp, face, neck or shoulders. Section 12-117 separately bars any massage technician from massaging, fondling or touching an 'erogenous area,' defined in § 12-114 as the genitals, pubic area, anus or perineum of any person, or the vulva or breasts of a female, and bars a technician from exposing or failing to keep such an area covered with fully opaque clothing while in a patron's presence. 00 of gross receipts, separate from the individual technician's state permit requirement.