Pacifica, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)

, restrict commercial massage in the City to practitioners certified by the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC), and register massage businesses locally. 03 sets the core rule: it is unlawful for any individual to practice massage for compensation within the City unless certified by CAMTC, and unlawful for any business to provide massage unless every practitioner it employs is CAMTC-certified and the business holds a valid City registration certificate; practitioners already working in Pacifica when the chapter took effect but not meeting current CAMTC standards may keep practicing without CAMTC certification but must still complete City registration.

04 lays out the registration application, requiring owner names and addresses and, for any owner who is not CAMTC-certified, a background check covering five years of business and employment history; the resulting City registration certificate is valid for two years, and no reapplication is accepted within one year of a denial or revocation. A massage establishment with 640 square feet or more of treatment space must also obtain a Planning Department use permit under Article 33 of Chapter 4 of Title 9 before the registration certificate issues. even if a session started earlier. 10 lets the certification officer levy administrative fines, appealable to a hearing officer within ten days.