Lakewood, WA Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)
Key Facts
- Business license required
- LMC 5.35.050
- License term
- 1 year, renewable
- Fees due
- 4 weeks before opening
- Unlicensed operation penalty
- Up to 364 days jail, $5,000 fine
- Ordinary violation penalty
- Up to 90 days jail, $1,000 fine
- Minimum practitioner age
- 18 years
Summary
Lakewood, Washington requires a massage business license under LMC 5.35.050 before operating; running one unlicensed is a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine.
5.35.050 License for business required. ... It is unlawful to conduct, operate or maintain a massage business unless such establishment or premises is licensed as hereinafter provided. ... C. Violation of LMC 5.35.050 and/or 5.35.060. Any person who violates LMC 5.35.050 and/or 5.35.060 shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a jail sentence of up to 364 days, or a fine of up to $5,000, or both.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 852, passed June 15, 2026).
Full Breakdown
35 governs massage businesses in Pierce County's City of Lakewood. 060 separately requires anyone performing massage to hold a current, valid Washington State massage practitioner's license. 070: it is unlawful to manage a massage business without a massage manager license, though a manager who is also a licensed practitioner working at a business with a valid business license is excused from paying the separate manager license fee. 080. 100 require the applicant's name, residence address, phone number, date and place of birth, driver's license number and Social Security number, plus the business name, address, and the names and financial interests of any partner or shareholder owning 10 percent or more of the business; all applicants go through a background check administered by the City or its law enforcement agency.
130. 250 requires practitioners to be at least 18 and validly licensed, with at least one licensed practitioner on-site whenever the business is open to patrons.
Violations & Fines
Under LMC 5.35.030, ordinary violations of Chapter 5.35 are a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both, plus a civil penalty of up to $250 per violation assessed by the City Manager or designee. Operating without a business license under LMC 5.35.050, or performing massage without the required practitioner's license under LMC 5.35.060, is elevated to a gross misdemeanor carrying up to 364 days in jail, a fine of up to $5,000, or both, and the City has stated its intent that a conviction serve as a predicate offense for further prosecution under RCW 18.130.190(7)(a) and (7)(b). The City may also pursue an injunction or other equitable relief under LMC 5.35.040 to stop ongoing violations regardless of any other remedy pursued.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a separate Lakewood license if I already have a Washington State massage practitioner license?
How much jail time can operating an unlicensed massage business in Lakewood carry?
Can a massage business license be sold with the business?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lakewood
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Massage Establishments in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle massage establishments.