St. Joseph County, IN Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)

Section 113.05(A) requires every person intending to operate a massage establishment or practice massage therapy to obtain the appropriate license from the St. Joseph County Department of Health. Section 113.06(A) reaches landlords as well: no one may allow massage therapy in or on a property they own without first obtaining a current massage establishment license.

Section 113.05(B) exempts five groups. Indiana licensed nurses, physicians, chiropractors, osteopaths, physical therapists and physical therapist assistants qualify if their license is displayed prominently. Students at a recognized school qualify while performing massage only as part of training. Athletic trainers qualify in a training facility with space and equipment for ten customers at once. Barbers, cosmetologists and pedicurists qualify for massage of the face, head, neck, shoulders or feet offered only as an adjunct to their main business. Indiana licensed estheticians qualify for skin manipulation at a state licensed salon, but need a massage therapy license to work on muscle and connective tissue. Under § 113.07(D), the department can inspect a claimed exemption, and the owner or manager must produce documentation proving it.

The establishment application under § 113.06(C) is renewed annually and filed on or before February 28 of each calendar year on the department's form. It must list the establishment's legal name, address and telephone, the applicant's residence address, a picture of the owner (who must be the applicant), three years of business history including any prior suspended or revoked permit or license, an employee register with names, nicknames, aliases, home addresses, hire and termination dates and duties, a detailed floor plan, rates, services and hours, and a lease with the property owner's name, address and phone. Section 113.06(D) adds documentation that the location is properly zoned, and (E) requires a corporation to match its articles of incorporation and name its current officers.

Three limits apply after approval. An applicant cannot own multiple establishments with the same hours if listed as the only massage therapist at each (§ 113.06(F)). No one may reside on the premises (§ 113.06(G)). Any change to the application information must be reported to the department in writing within ten business days (§ 113.06(H)).