Palm Springs, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit
- required per location from City Manager
- Massagist certification
- CAMTC certificate required
- Business license
- also required (Ch. 3.40-3.96)
- Operating hours
- 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. only
- Alcohol
- prohibited on premises
Summary
Palm Springs requires a City Manager-issued massage establishment permit for every business location under Section 5.34.040, plus a CAMTC certificate for every massagist and a separate business license. Massage businesses may only operate between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., and alcohol is banned on the premises.
(a) Massage Establishment Permit Required. No person shall engage in or carry out the business of massage unless he or she has a valid massage establishment permit issued by the City Manager pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter for each and every separate office or place of business conducted by such person. (b) California Massage Therapy Council Certificate Required. (1) No person shall practice massage in exchange for money or any other consideration or gratuity within the City unless that individual is a certified massage therapist as defined in Section 5.34.030, with a valid and current CAMTC-issued certificate. ... (c) Business License Required. In addition to the requirements of subsections (a) and (b) above, no person shall engage in or carry out the business of massage without first having procured a business license pursuant to the requirements of Palm Springs Municipal Code Chapters 3.40 through 3.96 inclusive and having paid the tax hereunder.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4923139; v14 updated 2026-06-24).
Full Breakdown
040(b). 96 is required in addition to both. 060. Applicants must submit fingerprints, a 2-by-2 photograph, criminal history, three years of employment history, and CAMTC certificates for every massagist on staff. 130: waterproofed wet-room construction, disinfecting equipment for reusable instruments, closed cabinets separating clean from soiled linen, and sex-separated toilet facilities where one water closet serves every 15 or more employees or patrons of that sex. m. 180 makes it unlawful for any massagist to expose genitals, engage in sexual activity, or work in transparent or see-through attire while providing services.
Violations & Fines
Operating or working in a massage establishment without the required City Manager permit, or violating any other Chapter 5.34 provision, is punishable under Sections 1.01.140 and 1.01.150 of the general penalty code per Section 5.34.220, and the City Council has separately declared any Chapter 5.34 violation a public nuisance under Section 5.34.230. The City Manager may also revoke or suspend the permit after notice and a hearing for good cause or any chapter violation under Section 5.34.120.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all massage therapists in Palm Springs need a state certification?
What hours can a Palm Springs massage business stay open?
What does the massage establishment permit application process involve?
Are any professions exempt from the massage establishment permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Palm Springs
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Massage Establishments in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Riverside County handle massage establishments.