Passaic, NJ Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)

Chapter 90A, Article III of the Code of the City of Passaic makes it unlawful to operate a massage, bodywork or somatic therapy establishment, or to practice as a therapist, without first obtaining a City permit (§ 90A-9). Applications go to the Division of Health and must list every therapist and employee, disclose criminal history, and include two passport-style photographs and three character references (§ 90A-10). Before a permit issues, the Building Inspector, Fire Inspector and Police Chief inspect the premises, and the Police Chief runs a criminal-history check through the State Bureau of Investigation, which can support denial for offenses enumerated in § 90A-14, including prostitution, moral-turpitude crimes and dishonesty offenses (§ 90A-13).

Once open, an establishment must display its permit and every therapist's permit in a conspicuous spot (§ 90A-15), post price rates, provide self-closing dressing rooms and laundered linens, and keep the interior visible from the street during closed hours (§ 90A-16). The Health Officer, Police Chief and Building Inspector inspect each establishment at least twice a year (§ 90A-17). Initial application costs $2,500 and the license itself is $500; individual therapist permits cost $100 to apply and $50 to renew. m. on Sunday (§ 90A-21D, E, F).

Permits must be renewed annually by January 1 (§ 90A-9C), and establishments operating as of the article's 2017 adoption had 60 days to apply and 150 days to obtain a permit (§ 90A-22).