Ogden, UT Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)
Key Facts
- Licensing agency
- Ogden Building Services Division
- State prerequisite
- DOPL registration/license required
- Penalty
- Civil penalty or class B misdemeanor
- Revocation moratorium
- 3 years at same location
- Adopted
- Ord. 2025-37, 12-9-2025
Summary
Ogden City requires every massage establishment to hold a massage business license from the Building Services Division before opening, on top of DOPL registration. Operating without one, or letting an unlicensed practitioner work, is unlawful and can trigger a class B misdemeanor plus license revocation.
It shall be unlawful for any establishment owner to operate that massage establishment at any location in the city without first obtaining a massage business license from the division. It is unlawful for a massage establishment operator to employ or retain any person to practice massage for compensation, or to allow any person to perform massage for compensation on the premises of a massage establishment, unless that person is a DOPL-licensed massage professional and is identified as an authorized massage professional on the business license application or through the notice described in Section 5-18-10 . ... Upon revocation of the business license, no massage establishment shall be permitted to operate at that location by any person for a period of three years ("the moratorium period").
Full Breakdown
Ogden City Code Chapter 5-18 governs massage businesses. Section 5-18-5 makes it unlawful for anyone to practice massage for compensation in the city unless licensed by the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL), and unlawful for any massage establishment to operate without DOPL registration. Section 5-18-6 adds a city-level requirement: an establishment owner may not operate at any location in Ogden City without first obtaining a massage business license from the Building Services Division, and an operator may not employ or retain anyone to perform massage for compensation unless that person is a DOPL-licensed massage professional identified on the license application.
Operating under a name or designation not specified in the license is also prohibited. The chapter's stated purpose (5-18-1) is to prevent massage therapy from being used as a front for human trafficking or prostitution while relying on DOPL's statewide licensing scheme in Utah Code Title 58, Chapter 47b for professional qualifications. The Building Services Division may inspect establishments under 5-18-13; refusing an inspection or interfering with an inspector is grounds for suspension or revocation under 5-18-15. D). C).
Violations & Fines
Operating a massage establishment without a city license, or letting an unregistered or unlicensed person perform massage for compensation, is a civil penalty or class B misdemeanor under 5-18-14.B, punished per Title 1, Chapter 4, with each day a separate offense. The division may also suspend or revoke the license after a hearing under 5-18-15/5-18-16, with appeal rights under 5-18-17.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a city license in addition to my DOPL massage license?
What happens if Ogden revokes my massage business license?
Can the city deny a new license application at a location with a revoked license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ogden
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