Moore County, NC Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)

Section 9-47 of the Moore County Code requires any person, partnership, corporation or association to obtain a privilege license before operating a massage therapy establishment, defined in Section 9-42 as any business offering massage therapy, including health clubs, physical culture studios and massage clinics. The application, filed under oath with the tax collector, must list the premises address, the name and residence address of every principal officer, and a complete history of any convictions for crimes involving sexual misconduct or prostitution by anyone named in the application, plus any prior revocation of a massage license.

The tax collector forwards the application to the sheriff for an investigative report, to the planning department to confirm zoning and building compliance, and to the county fire marshal for fire-code compliance, all within 45 days. The county manager approves the license only if the application contains no misstatement of fact, every owner is over 18 with no disqualifying conviction, the establishment meets zoning, building and fire codes, and no owner has had a massage license revoked in the preceding three years. 00 fee set under Section 9-51 triggers issuance.

00 renewal fee under Section 9-52, and can be revoked by the county manager under Section 9-49 for violations including employing an unlicensed massage therapist, zoning or fire-code violations, fraudulent advertising using the word 'massage,' or an owner's or employee's conviction for sexual misconduct.