Oak Park, IL Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)

Oak Park Village Code Chapter 8, Article 38 governs massage establishments village-wide. Section 8-38-2 makes it unlawful to operate a massage establishment on any premises in the Village without first obtaining a license, and section 8-38-3 requires a criminal background check of every applicant unless the applicant already holds an Illinois massage therapist license; the Village Manager or a designee can also demand fingerprints processed by the Illinois State Police with the FBI, at the applicant's cost. Section 8-38-4 sets operating standards: establishments must stay clean and sanitary, employees must wear nontransparent outer garments covering sexual and genital areas, touching of sexual or genital areas is barred except for specific clinical therapies (post-mastectomy scar tissue work, prenatal perineal massage, and lower abdominal therapy for reproductive or digestive pain), and the premises may not be used for habitation.

Establishments with employees other than the license holder must adopt a written anti-sexual harassment policy covering complaint procedures and paid time off for reporting, and must post an anti-human-trafficking notice where two or more workers are employed. Section 8-38-5 conditions license issuance on compliance with the Village's Building, Health, Housing and Fire Prevention Codes and zoning ordinance, and on the applicant's good moral character, weighing felony or misdemeanor convictions and any prior massage license revocation. Section 8-38-6 requires every massage therapist working on-site to hold a current Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation license under the Illinois Massage Licensing Act, with proof kept on file for Village inspection. Licenses may be suspended or revoked under section 8-38-12, and the license itself must be posted on the premises under section 8-38-11.