Southaven, MS Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)

Title VIII, Chapter 3 of the Southaven Code (Ord. No. 32, 9-4-84) regulates massage parlors. Section 8-67 makes it unlawful to operate a parlor or work as a masseur or masseuse without first obtaining a permit. Under § 8-68 the application is made in writing under oath to the chief of police and lists the parlor's location, its owners and every person with an ownership interest, the proposed operators, and each masseur or masseuse to be employed, with a recent picture of each practitioner.

Before recommending a permit to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen, the chief of police investigates the character and reputation of the owners, operators and practitioners and inspects the premises (§ 8-69). Everyone involved must obtain a health certificate from the county health department at least once a year. Section 8-70 bars a permit for anyone who is not an adult bona fide resident citizen of the city at the time of application, who was denied a permit within the past five (5) years, or who has a felony, liquor, drug, gambling or moral turpitude conviction. A permittee who moves out of the city forfeits the permit immediately.

The permit fee is $50.00 and no permit is valid for more than one (1) year (§ 8-73). Parlors cannot do business on Sunday and stay open on other days only between 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. (§ 8-75), and must comply with all fire, building, electrical, plumbing, zoning and safety regulations (§ 8-76). The chief of police has the county health officer inspect each parlor, and an unsanitary parlor immediately forfeits its permit until the officer certifies the problem corrected (§ 8-71). Section 8-74 exempts medical doctors, licensed physical therapists, athletic team trainers, massage therapists holding a state or national license, schools, and religious or fraternal organizations such as the Y.M.C.A. and Y.W.C.A.