Las Vegas, NV Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)
Key Facts
- Establishment license fee
- $400 per year
- Therapist/practitioner fee
- $200 per year
- Permitted hours
- 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- Minimum employee age
- 18 years old
- Background check
- Metro investigation required
- Governing chapter
- LVMC Chapter 6.52
Summary
Operating a massage establishment or practicing massage therapy in Las Vegas requires a city license under LVMC 6.52.040, layered on top of the Chapter 6.06 privileged-business rules for businesses the City Council has found affect public welfare. Establishments pay a $400 annual fee, therapists and practitioners pay $200, and Metro investigates every applicant before the City Council decides.
No person shall engage in, conduct or carry on...the operation of a massage establishment, or the performance of massage therapy as a massage therapist or a massage establishment licensee practitioner, without first obtaining and thereafter maintaining a valid unexpired license for that activity pursuant to this Title. A licensed medical professional providing medical massage therapy or an area for ancillary medical massage therapy at the medical professional's licensed place of business is not required to obtain a license for operation of a massage establishment. ... Each massage establishment must pay in advance an annual license fee of four hundred dollars, together with the additional license fees for professional employees described in LVMC 6.04.060... Each independent massage therapist and massage establishment licensee practitioner must pay in advance an annual license fee of two hundred dollars. ... no person shall operate a massage establishment outside of the hours of 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 61).
Full Breakdown
52 licenses massage establishments, massage establishment licensee practitioners, and independent massage therapists separately. 040, no one may operate a massage establishment or perform massage therapy as a therapist or practitioner without first obtaining and maintaining a valid unexpired license; a licensed medical professional performing medical massage or ancillary medical massage at their own licensed office is exempt. 060, or the establishment can instead require each professional employee to pay $200 as an independent therapist would, and $200 a year for each independent massage therapist or massage establishment licensee practitioner. Establishments with separate men's and women's facilities still count as one establishment for fee purposes. m. 100. 180. 200.
Violations & Fines
Operating without the required license, or violating any Chapter 6.52 rule, is punishable under the Title 1 general penalty, LVMC 1.24.010: up to a $1,000 fine, up to six months in jail, or both, with each day a separate offense under 1.24.020. The City Council may also deny, suspend or revoke a massage establishment license for cause under 6.52.170(B), and the Director may deny, refuse to renew or revoke a therapist's license under 6.52.180(B) for a lapsed State license or a prostitution-solicitation conviction within three years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a doctor's office offering massage need this license?
Can a massage business operate 24 hours?
How much does a Las Vegas massage license cost?
Can a past conviction block a massage therapist license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Las Vegas
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Massage Establishments in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Clark County handle massage establishments.