New Braunfels, TX Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)

Article VII treats a "massage parlor" as any place offering physical massage, steambaths, hot boxes, reducing exercises or magnetic baths, whether at the establishment or on a home-call basis (§ 18-201). Section 18-211 makes operating one without a license from the local health authority unlawful, though it carves out state- or federally-licensed practitioners, physicians, chiropractors, school athletic trainers, and beauty parlors doing facial massage. Applying means filing a sworn, quadruplicate application with the local health authority (§ 18-212) disclosing the applicant's identity, the location, staffing, equipment, massage experience, and any felony or vice-related conviction, accompanied by a physician's certificate that the applicant has no active venereal or communicable disease and a police certificate confirming fingerprinting and a photograph.

Section 18-213 bars a license to anyone who isn't of good moral character, had a license revoked in the past two years or denied in the past 12 months, or has a moral-turpitude, indecency, prostitution or narcotics conviction, and the establishment can't double as living or sleeping quarters or be treated as a home occupation under the zoning ordinance. 00 a year, runs January 1 to December 31 with no refunds, and belongs only to the person and location named on it. Section 18-215 lists eleven grounds for revocation or suspension, including sexual acts on the premises, disturbing the peace, drinking on-site, soliciting for immoral purposes, false statements on the application, and letting anyone work without a city health card or without having been fingerprinted; the local health authority holds a hearing on ten days' notice, and the licensee has ten days to appeal an adverse decision to the city council.