Massage businesses in Portland must employ Oregon-licensed LMTs under the Oregon Board of Massage Therapists and obtain a city business license through Revenue Division before operating commercially.
Oregon regulates massage therapy at the state level through the Oregon Board of Massage Therapists (OBMT) under ORS Chapter 687. Every practitioner must hold a current LMT license, and establishments must verify each therapist's credentials. In Portland, the establishment itself also needs a standard city business license filed with the Revenue Division. Zoning rules under PCC Title 33 restrict massage parlors in some districts, and sting operations target unlicensed establishments. Therapists working in homes must also confirm home-occupation rules under PCC 33.203.
Operating without state LMT licensing, employing unlicensed therapists, or running an establishment in a non-conforming zone can trigger OBMT discipline, criminal charges, and city zoning enforcement.
See how Portland's massage establishments rules stack up against other locations.
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