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Monterey, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)

Significant Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Permit issuer: Police Chief, § 7-3.03(a)
Also requires: State CAMTC certification, § 7-3.02
Decision timeline: 60 days, § 7-3.06(a)
Permit term: 1 year, renew annually
Background check: 5-yr history + fingerprints
Violation penalty: Misdemeanor, § 7-3.15

Summary

Operating a massage establishment in Monterey requires a City permit from the Police Chief in addition to state CAMTC certification, under City Code § 7-3.03(a). The permit regime layers fingerprinting, criminal-history screening and annual renewal on top of the state certification individual massage therapists and practitioners already carry.

a.Except as otherwise provided in Section 7-3.04, it shall be unlawful for any person to own or operate a massage establishment in the City without first having obtained a permit to conduct such business pursuant to this Article.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 3721, passed July 7, 2026).

Full Breakdown

02 requires anyone providing massage for compensation to hold current California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) certification as a massage therapist or practitioner. 05(i)). 07(a)). 06(d)). 03(f)). 04 exempts state-licensed medical professionals, barbers and cosmetologists acting within their license, athletic trainers, and hospitals or accredited schools, so a chiropractor's office or a gym's incidental stretching service does not need this permit.

Violations & Fines

Owning or operating a massage establishment without the permit, employing an uncertified or unlisted massage therapist, operating under an unapproved name, or continuing after an ownership change without an amended permit are all unlawful under § 7-3.03. Violating any provision of the Article is a misdemeanor under § 7-3.15, and the City can also pursue administrative citations under §§ 1-2.00 through 1-2.13 alongside any other civil or criminal remedy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need both a state certification and a city permit to open a massage business in Monterey?

Yes. Individual therapists need CAMTC certification under § 7-3.02, and the business itself needs a separate City permit from the Police Chief under § 7-3.03(a) before it can operate, plus any required business license or Chapter 38 use permit.

How long does the City take to approve a massage establishment permit?

The Police Chief has sixty calendar days from a complete application to issue or deny it under § 7-3.06(a), though the Chief may extend that period when necessary.

What can get my massage establishment permit denied?

Section 7-3.07(a) lists grounds including a disqualifying misdemeanor or felony conviction by an owner within the preceding five years, current sex-offender registration under Penal Code § 290, or a massage permit revoked or denied in any jurisdiction within the last five years.

Does a gym offering occasional massage need this permit?

No, if massage is incidental. Section 7-3.01(e) excludes a personal fitness center, gym, athletic facility or health club from the definition of 'massage establishment' when massage makes up ten percent or less of the business.

Sources & Official References

[1]Monterey City Code § 7-3.03

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