Raleigh, NC Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)
Key Facts
- Licensing authority
- NC Board of Massage
- State law
- NCGS §90-622
- Unlicensed practice
- Class 1 misdemeanor
- Local role
- Zoning and privilege tax
Summary
North Carolina preempts most local massage licensing through the Massage and Bodywork Therapy Practice Act (NCGS Chapter 90 Article 36), requiring state board licensure while Raleigh handles zoning and privilege license enforcement.
Article 36. Massage and Bodywork Therapy Practice.
§ 90-620. Short title. This Article shall be known as the North Carolina Massage and Bodywork Therapy Practice Act. [...]
§ 90-623. License to practice required.
(a) A person shall not practice or hold out himself or herself to others as a massage and bodywork therapist without first applying for and receiving from the Board a license to engage in that practice.
(b) A person holds out himself or herself to others as a massage and bodywork therapist when the person adopts or uses any title or description including "massage therapist", "bodywork therapist", "masseur", "masseuse", "massagist", "somatic practitioner", "body therapist", "structural integrator", or any derivation of those terms that implies this practice.
(c) It shall be unlawful to advertise using the term "massage therapist" or "bodywork therapist" or any other term that implies a soft tissue technique or method in any public or private publication or communication by a person not licensed under this Article as a massage and bodywork therapist. Any person who holds a license to practice as a massage and bodywork therapist in this State may use the title "Licensed Massage and Bodywork Therapist". No other person shall assume this title or use an abbreviation or any other words, letters, signs, or figures to indicate that the person using the title is a licensed massage and bodywork therapist. An establishment employing or contracting with persons licensed under this Article may advertise on behalf of those persons.
Full Breakdown
Under NCGS §90-622, massage and bodywork therapists must hold licenses from the NC Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy. Raleigh cannot impose competing professional licensing but regulates establishment zoning under the Unified Development Ordinance and collects local privilege taxes. Establishments must display state credentials, maintain client records, and operate during hours allowed by zoning district. Police and the state board investigate complaints jointly; unlicensed practice is a Class 1 misdemeanor under NCGS §90-634.1.
Violations & Fines
Practicing massage without an NC Board license, employing unlicensed therapists, or operating outside permitted zoning districts triggers state criminal charges plus city zoning enforcement, fines, and possible business license revocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Raleigh require its own massage license?
Where can massage businesses locate?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Raleigh
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