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Pinellas County, FL Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)

Few Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Local regulation
None: county declines to legislate
Governing authority
FL Board of Massage
State statute
Fla. Stat. ch. 480
County code section
§ 42-59

Summary

Unincorporated Pinellas County does not license or regulate massage establishments locally. The county code defers entirely to Florida's Board of Massage Therapy and Chapter 480 of the Florida Statutes.

City-specific rules exist: Largo, and Safety Harbor have their own massage establishments rules that differ from Pinellas County's county-level regulations. If you live in one of those cities, check the city-specific page instead.

It is not the intent of the board of county commissioners to legislate with respect to matters of massage establishments. These matters are regulated by state agency, the department of professional regulation, board of massage, and by F.S. ch. 480.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 124).

Full Breakdown

Pinellas County Code § 42-59 states plainly that the board of county commissioners does not intend to legislate on massage establishments. Those businesses are instead regulated by the state's Department of Professional Regulation, Board of Massage, under Florida Statutes Chapter 480, which sets licensure, education and practice standards for massage therapists and establishments statewide. There is no county massage-establishment permit, inspection program or local licensing requirement in unincorporated Pinellas County.

Violations & Fines

Because the county imposes no local licensing scheme, violations are pursued under state law: unlicensed practice or an unlicensed establishment is enforced by the Florida Department of Health under F.S. ch. 480, not by Pinellas County.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Pinellas County require a local massage establishment permit?
No. County Code § 42-59 says the county does not intend to regulate massage establishments; licensing is handled entirely by the state's Board of Massage under F.S. ch. 480.
Who enforces massage licensing rules in unincorporated Pinellas County?
The Florida Department of Health's Board of Massage Therapy, not the county, under Florida Statutes Chapter 480.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Pinellas County

PawnbrokersSome RestrictionsTowing CompaniesSignificant RestrictionsAdult EntertainmentSignificant RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: MicrochippingSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic ZoningSome Restrictions

All Pinellas County rules

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Massage Establishments in Cities Across Pinellas County

St. Petersburg, FLClearwater, FLLargo, FLPinellas Park, FLSafety Harbor, FLSeminole, FLTarpon Springs, FL