Reading, PA Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)

Chapter 364, adopted in 2004 and rewritten in full by Ordinance No. 74-2017, makes it unlawful for any person to act as a massage therapist unless such person holds a valid permit issued by the permit administrator, under Section 364-103(A). The permit administrator is Reading's Health Officer, per Section 364-102. Section 364-103(B) entitles any qualified applicant to a permit unless the administrator finds a material misstatement in the application, unpaid fees, or disqualifying conduct, a term defined in Section 364-102 to include a massage-related misdemeanor or felony conviction within the past five years, a felony committed on a massage establishment's premises, or revocation of a massage license or permit by any state, county or municipality within five years.

Section 364-105 requires every applicant to hold current national certification from a recognized school and to satisfy one of five listed education-and-experience tracks, ranging from 600 classroom hours to a passed National Certification exam, and Section 364-104 caps the permit administrator's decision window at 60 working days, after which an unanswered application is deemed approved; a 60-day temporary permit is available on payment of first-year fees. A denied applicant can appeal in writing within 30 days under Section 364-106, triggering a hearing at least 30 days later, and the same appeal path applies to a suspended or revoked permit under Section 364-107.

Section 364-108 gave practitioners already permitted under the prior ordinance two years to come into compliance, and Section 364-109 exempts state-licensed health professionals, reflexologists working only on feet, hands or ears, and touch-free energy-work practitioners. Section 364-110 lets a fully permitted massage business locate anywhere home occupations are zoned as allowed.