Newport Beach, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- Police Department
- Technician requirement
- Current CAMTC state certification
- Permit term
- 3 years
- Hours ban
- 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.
- Background check trigger
- Owner with 5%+ interest, uncertified
- Suspension cap
- Up to 60 days
Summary
Newport Beach bars anyone from operating a massage establishment without a Police Department operator's permit, and every technician must hold a current CAMTC state certification. Massage is off-limits between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.
On or after May 1, 2015, it shall be unlawful for any individual to practice massage for compensation within the City unless that individual is a certified massage technician and further, it shall be unlawful for any massage establishment within the City to provide massage services or allow massage services to be performed at the massage establishment unless all individuals performing massage at the massage establishment are certified massage technicians. In addition, it shall be unlawful for any person, association, partnership, company or corporation to operate a massage establishment within the City without first obtaining an operator's permit pursuant to this chapter, securing the necessary business license as required by this Code, and complying with Title 20.
Full Breakdown
50 restricts commercial massage to persons certified by the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC). 015 makes it unlawful to practice massage for compensation unless certified, and unlawful to operate a massage establishment without first obtaining an operator's permit, securing a business license, and complying with Title 20 zoning. 020, providing ownership structure, a State Certificate for every technician, government ID, and, for any non-certified owner holding a 5% or greater interest, a full background check including fingerprints and an eight-year address and employment history; the Chief of Police has up to 60 days (extendable 30 more) to complete the investigation.
m. Doors must stay unlocked during business hours and no room may be lockable except an exterior door. An operator's permit runs three years and cannot be sold, transferred or assigned; a change of ownership voids it.
Violations & Fines
The Chief of Police may deny, suspend or revoke an operator's permit under Section 5.50.055 for material misrepresentation, a chapter violation, employing anyone who is not CAMTC-certified, or fraud in obtaining the permit; suspensions run up to 60 days. Unauthorized disclosure of confidential patron records is a misdemeanor under Section 5.50.030(B)(9). A permit holder gets written notice and 15 days to appeal a denial, suspension or revocation to the City Manager, who must decide within 45 days of the hearing, subject to judicial review under Code of Civil Procedure Section 1094.5.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Newport Beach
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