Modesto, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)
Key Facts
- State certification required
- Valid CAMTC certificate (§5-2.201(A))
- Local license required
- City Business License (§5-2.203)
- Legal hours
- 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. (§5-2.106(B))
- Non-certified owners/managers
- Need police-issued Massage Business Permit
- Misdemeanor penalty
- Up to $1,000 fine, 6 months jail (§5-2.213)
- Administrative fine
- Up to $1,000 per day (§5-2.214)
Summary
Modesto requires every person performing massage for compensation to hold a current California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) certificate under Code Section 5-2.201, and every massage business to hold a City Business License under Section 5-2.203. Massage may only be performed between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., per Section 5-2.106(B).
A.It shall be unlawful for any person to perform or engage in the practice of massage for compensation within the City unless that person possesses a current, valid, unsuspended and unrevoked CAMTC certificate. ... It shall be unlawful for any person or massage business to conduct massage for compensation within the City without first obtaining a valid City Business License pursuant to Modesto Municipal Code 6-1.103. ... B.Massage shall only be performed between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. No massage business shall be open and no massage shall be provided between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. A massage commenced prior to 10:00 p.m. shall terminate prior to 10:00 pm. and all clients shall exit the massage establishment prior to 10:00 pm.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 71).
Full Breakdown
201(B) extends that duty to the massage business itself, which cannot let any employee, contractor, or volunteer provide massage without one. 207 and renewal required within 30 days of expiration. 205 requires them to obtain a Massage Business Permit from the Chief of Police, submit to fingerprinting and a background check, and pay a fingerprinting and investigation fee, with permits deniable for material misstatements or listed criminal convictions, such as certain sex offenses or controlled-substance felonies, within the preceding five years; a denied applicant can appeal to the City Manager within 10 days for a fee of $250.
required to finish and clients to leave by that hour. and, for out-call service, requiring written authorization from a licensed physician, surgeon, chiropractor or osteopath. 208.
Violations & Fines
A violation of the massage chapter's mandatory requirements is a misdemeanor under Section 5-2.213, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 per violation, up to six months in County Jail, or both. The City can instead, or in addition, pursue an administrative fine of up to $1,000 under Section 5-2.214, with each day of continued violation counted separately, and the Chief of Police can suspend or revoke a Massage Business Permit under Section 5-2.206 for reasons including a chapter violation or fraudulent application information. An unlawfully operated massage business is also declared a public nuisance under Section 5-2.211, which the City Attorney can seek to abate or enjoin in court, and which can also be pursued as an unlawful business practice under Business and Professions Code Section 17200.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every massage therapist in Modesto need a state certificate?
What are the legal hours for a Modesto massage business?
What extra permit do massage business owners or managers need?
What happens if a Modesto massage business violates the ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Modesto
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