Lauderhill, FL Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)
Key Facts
- License required
- Certificate of use and local business tax receipt
- Tax classification
- Beauty and personal services shop, Sec. 12-53(5)
- Annual tax
- $200.99, plus $33.50 per chair or station
- Late/no-receipt penalty
- 25% of tax due, Sec. 12-33(b)
- Nonpayment beyond 150 days
- $250 penalty plus court costs
- Zoning limit
- Ch. 480-licensed massage only in listed settings
Summary
The City of Lauderhill requires any massage business to hold a certificate of use and local business tax receipt under Code of Ordinances Section 12-23, taxed under the 'Beauty and personal services shop' category at $200.99 under Section 12-53, with a 25% penalty for operating without one.
The fact that any person represented themselves as being engaged in any business, occupation or profession for which a local business tax is required for the transaction of business or the practice of any such profession, shall be evidence of the liability of such person to pay a local business tax, regardless of whether such person actually transacts any business or practices a profession. ... Any person engaging in or managing any business, occupation or profession, without first obtaining a local business tax receipt, if required hereunder, shall be subject to a penalty of twenty-five (25) percent of the local business tax determined to be due, in addition to any other penalty provided by law or ordinance. ... (5)Beauty and personal services shop: Hair, nails, massage, etc. . .$200.99
Full Breakdown
Section 12-23 of the Code of Ordinances makes representing oneself as engaged in a business for which a local business tax is required, including by displaying a business sign or advertising, evidence of liability to pay that tax whether or not business is actually transacted. Section 12-22 requires the current certificate of use to be posted conspicuously where it can be seen upon inspection, and produced on request to any city official, with a citation for failure to do so. Section 12-53 fixes the local business tax for a 'Beauty and personal services shop: Hair, nails, massage, etc.' at $200.99, plus $33.50 per chair or station under item 5b, and requires a nonrefundable $57.88 initial certificate-of-use processing fee.
Because massage is grouped under this personal-services shop classification rather than a standalone massage-establishment chapter, a Lauderhill massage business obtains its certificate of use and business tax receipt through the general process in Sections 12-22 through 12-24, which also requires a separate local business tax receipt for each business location under Section 12-24. The finance director makes the final call on which tax classification applies where a business performs multiple functions at one location. Under the Land Development Regulations' 'Personal Services' definition, massage performed by a person licensed as a massage therapist under Chapter 480, Florida Statutes, is treated as a lawful personal-services use only in specific settings, such as seated upper-body or foot massage while clothed, or massage administered in a hospital, nursing home, or licensed health and wellness spa of at least 2,800 square feet; massage outside those settings is excluded from the personal-services definition.
Violations & Fines
Section 12-33(b) subjects anyone engaging in or managing a business, including a massage business, without first obtaining the required local business tax receipt to a penalty of twenty-five (25) percent of the tax due, on top of any other penalty provided by law or ordinance. Section 12-33(c) adds that a business that still has not paid within 150 days of the initial notice faces civil action in county court and a $250 penalty plus court costs, attorney fees, and collection costs. Section 12-33(d) authorizes a notice of violation, citation, revocation of the certificate of use, or closure of the business after notice and a hearing opportunity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a massage business in Lauderhill need a license?
What happens if a massage business operates without a business tax receipt?
Can anyone give a massage as a personal service in Lauderhill?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lauderhill
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