Spokane Valley, WA Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)
Key Facts
- Business license required
- Yes, under SVMC Chapter 5.05
- Minimum practitioner age
- 18 years old
- Prohibited hours
- 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
- Police inspection window
- Within 120 days of licensing
- Background check turnaround
- 10 business days
- First-offense license penalty
- Class 3 civil infraction
Summary
A massage or reflexology business in Spokane Valley needs a City business license under Chapter 5.05 SVMC and must comply with Chapter 5.30 SVMC: licensed therapists only, no operating between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., and mandatory display of business and therapist licenses that police can inspect during open hours.
A. A person is prohibited from operating a massage or reflexology business without a valid business license. B. A business license must be obtained, pursuant to Chapter 5.05 SVMC, prior to engaging in or conducting business within the City. C. If a massage or reflexology business's owner changes, the business license shall automatically terminate on the date of such change and a new license shall be applied for in accordance with SVMC § 5.05.060.
Full Breakdown
05, obtained before conducting business, and it lapses automatically if ownership changes. 080(E). 110. Businesses must conspicuously display the business license plus copies of every therapist's license or certificate, and therapists must carry government-issued photo ID on their person. Law enforcement may inspect common areas of the business, but only while it is open, and cannot enter treatment rooms without consent, a warrant, or another lawful basis. 60 RCW. 060.
Violations & Fines
A violation of the business-license requirement in § 5.30.030 is punished under § 5.05.080's civil infraction ladder: a Class 3 civil infraction for a first offense, Class 2 for a second arising from the same facts, and Class 1 for a third or later. All other Chapter 5.30 violations, including underage practice, missing displays, or unlicensed practitioners, are penalized under § 8.20.110. A license can be denied or revoked based on a prior conviction for narcotics or sexual offenses connected to the business, regardless of where the conviction occurred, with denial or revocation appealable to the City's hearing examiner within 14 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a massage business in Spokane Valley operate overnight?
Does the City check the background of massage business owners?
What happens if a therapist practices without a valid state license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Spokane Valley
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