Kirkwood, MO Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)

Division 1 of Chapter 13 treats massage businesses as an activity affecting the public health, safety and general welfare under § 13-81. Section 13-91(a) makes it unlawful for any person to establish, maintain or conduct any massage business within the City unless the person has applied for and secured a license. The application under § 13-91(b) requires the owner's name and address, proof of age 18 or older, two current photographs, a criminal history disclosure, and a list of every massage therapist working at the business.

Section 13-92 sends that application to the Building Commissioner and the Police Department for an inspection and background investigation, and § 13-93 conditions issuance on compliance with the § 13-83 minimum standards: disinfecting and sterilizing equipment for reusable tools, closed clean and soiled linen storage, separate dressing and toilet facilities when serving male and female patrons simultaneously, and hot-and-cold lavatories with soap. Operating requirements in § 13-84 add posted price rates and clean, nontransparent employee attire. Section 13-86 bans alcohol on the premises outright, and § 13-89 makes it unlawful to touch or fondle a patron's sexual or genital areas, fail to keep those areas covered, or provide outcall massage service off the licensed premises.

Every therapist working there must also individually hold a permit under § 13-96, and § 13-87 makes it unlawful for the business to employ anyone as a massage therapist without one.