Memphis, TN Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)

City Code Sec. 6-48-3 makes it unlawful to "act as a massage operator or bather or conduct a massage institute or bathhouse or other similar business establishment in the city without first obtaining a permit" from the city treasurer or designee. The application (Sec. 6-48-4) must list the applicant's name, age, residence, and prior occupations, years of relevant experience, all employees' names and addresses, three adult character references, and a sworn declaration of truthfulness. Within ten days of receipt, the director of police services investigates the applicant (Sec.

6-48-5). Under Sec. 6-48-6 a permit issues only if the applicant has never been convicted of a felony or a crime involving sexual misbehavior, the proposed operation would comply with building, zoning and health regulations, and no similar permit was previously denied, revoked or suspended. Denials may be appealed to police services officials within ten days, then to city council (Sec. 6-48-7). 00 per operator (Sec. 6-48-8); permits run 12 months from issuance and expire each July 1 (Secs. 6-48-9C, 6-48-10). Employees must also be free of felony or sexual-misbehavior convictions, and permittees must keep an on-file employee list with the police services division (Sec.

6-48-11). The city-county health department must inspect each institute or bathhouse at least four times a year (Sec. 6-48-16A), and businesses must keep a patron appointment book available for inspection (Sec. 6-48-14A). m. (Sec. 6-48-18), enclosed massage areas cannot exceed three-fourths wall coverage, genital massage is barred, opaque clothing covering genitalia, buttocks and (for women) breasts is mandatory (Secs. 6-48-17, 6-48-19), and persons under 18 and alcoholic beverages are prohibited on the premises (Secs. 6-48-21, 6-48-22).