St. Martin Parish, LA Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)
Key Facts
- Definition
- Business not licensed by the state as a massage business
- Classification
- Item 7 under Sec. 34-3, a sexually oriented business
- License tier and fee
- Type I, $1,000.00 initial and renewal
- Issuing authority
- Sheriff of St. Martin Parish
- Employee card fee
- $40.00 for issuance or renewal; valid two years
- Penalty under Sec. 34-16
- $100.00 to $500.00 fine, up to 30 days in jail, or both
Summary
In unincorporated St. Martin Parish, Chapter 34 of the Code treats a massage center, a commercial business not licensed by the state as a massage business, as a sexually oriented business. Sec. 34-3 classifies it, Sec. 34-6 puts it in the Type I tier at $1,000.00, and the Sheriff issues the license.
Massage center refers to a commercial business which is not licensed by the state as a massage business and which allows its employees, for compensation, to manipulate soft tissue including effleurage (stroking), patrissage (kneading), tapotement (percussion), compression, vibration, friction, (active/passive range of motion), Shiatsu, and acupressure, either by hand, forearm, elbow, foot, or with mechanical appliances for the purpose of body massage. ... Sexually oriented business means any establishment that is an adult arcade, adult bookstore, adult novelty store, adult video store, adult cabaret, adult motel, adult motion picture theater, massage center, exotic dance service, or semi-nude model studio as defined in this section, as well as any other establishment that regularly features or regularly shows any sexually oriented entertainment activity, including any dual purpose business.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 34 of the St. Martin Parish Code does not create a stand-alone massage license. It folds massage into the sexually oriented business scheme. Sec. 34-2 defines a massage center as a commercial business not licensed by the state as a massage business that allows its employees, for compensation, to manipulate soft tissue by hand, forearm, elbow, foot or mechanical appliances for the purpose of body massage. The same section defines a massagist as a person not licensed by the state as a massage therapist who does the same for compensation. A business licensed by the state as a massage business does not meet the Sec. 34-2 definition of massage center.
Because the definition of sexually oriented business names massage center, Sec. 34-3 lists massage centers as classification 7 and Sec. 34-4 applies: no operating without a valid sexually oriented business license, a separate license for each place of business, and an application filed in person at the Sheriff's office with fingerprints. Sec. 34-6 places massage centers in the Type I tier with adult cabarets, adult motels, adult motion picture theaters, escort agencies and exotic dance services, at $1,000.00 for the initial license and annual renewal, plus a nonrefundable $75.00 processing fee for an initial application or $35.00 for a renewal. Sec. 34-8 makes the license valid for one year.
The employee side matters too. A massagist working in a massage center needs a sexually oriented business employee card under Sec. 34-4(b), priced at $40.00 for issuance or renewal under Sec. 34-6(b) and valid for two years under Sec. 34-8(b).
Related definitions raise the stakes. Sec. 34-2 defines an escort to include a person who agrees to perform a massage where one or more of the persons is nude, semi-nude or in a state of nudity, and its definition of prostitute covers prostitution by massage. Sec. 34-18 prohibits nudity in a sexually oriented business, and Sec. 34-13 bars operating between 12:00 midnight and 6:00 a.m.
Violations & Fines
Operating a massage center without the Sec. 34-4 license is a violation of Chapter 34. Sec. 34-16 sets a fine of not less than $100.00 nor more than $500.00, or up to 30 days in the parish jail, or both, with each day a separate offense. Sec. 34-9(e) adds progressive Sheriff fines of $500.00, $750.00 and $1,000.00 for a license and $100.00, $250.00 and $500.00 for an employee card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a state-licensed massage business need the parish sexually oriented business license?
What does a massage center license cost in unincorporated St. Martin Parish?
Do massage workers need their own card?
What hours can a massage center operate?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Martin Parish
Compare St. Martin Parish to another location·View the Louisiana business licensing & operations overview
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