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

Article I of Chapter 5.11 regulates massage. Under § 5.11.040 it is unlawful for any business to provide massage therapy in the city unless every individual it uses to perform massage, whether as employee, independent contractor or sole proprietorship, is a certified massage practitioner (certified by the California Massage Therapy Council), an established massage practitioner or a probationary massage practitioner, and the business holds a valid massage establishment permit from the police chief plus a valid city business license. Probationary practitioners work under the supervision of a certified or established practitioner at a business with a valid permit. Massage schools need a massage establishment permit too, and instruction can be given only through a licensed school holding one.

The application in § 5.11.070 lists the establishment's legal name, address and telephone number, the names and addresses of all owners, and every employee, student and independent contractor who will perform massage, each with certification or permit documentation. Owners or operators who are not practitioners submit to a background check with live scan fingerprints and five years of employment history, and all owners provide photo identification and a signed statement. The police chief can issue the permit, valid for two years, and no reapplication is accepted within one year after a denial or revocation. A permit cannot issue for a location where another massage establishment is serving a suspension or revocation, has received a notice of suspension, revocation or fine within the ten day period or while an appeal is pending, or has unpaid fines. Renewal is filed at least thirty days before expiration, changes are reported within thirty days, a nonrefundable fee set by council resolution accompanies each application and renewal, and a permit is not transferable to a new owner.

Section 5.11.080 adds operating rules. All practitioners register in person with the Pismo Beach Police Department. A session begun before 9:00 p.m. ends at 9:00 p.m., and in an establishment all clients exit at that time. Certificates are displayed in the reception area, and the establishment keeps a complete, legible written record of each massage therapy service.