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

Section 7-3.03(a) makes it 'unlawful for any person to own or operate a massage establishment in the City without first having obtained a permit,' and separately, § 7-3.02 requires anyone providing massage for compensation to hold current California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) certification as a massage therapist or practitioner. The establishment permit is issued by the Police Chief under § 7-3.05 after a signed application disclosing every owner's identity, business form, and property interest, plus, for any owner who is not personally CAMTC-certified, five years of criminal history, sex-offender registration status under Penal Code § 290, and fingerprints (§ 7-3.05(i)).

The Police Chief must issue or deny within sixty days of a complete application (§ 7-3.06(a)) and may deny for reasons including a disqualifying conviction within the preceding five years, current § 290 registration, or a prior revoked or denied massage permit in any jurisdiction within five years (§ 7-3.07(a)). A permit runs one year and must be renewed annually to keep operating (§ 7-3.06(c)); it cannot be sold, transferred, or assigned, and any attempted transfer voids it immediately, requiring the new owner to apply from scratch (§ 7-3.06(d)).

The permit is separate from, and in addition to, any City business license or Chapter 38 conditional use permit the location needs (§ 7-3.03(f)). Section 7-3.04 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.