Stockton, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)

Stockton Municipal Code Chapter 5.48 makes it unlawful to operate a massage establishment "without first having obtained a written permit from the Director of Finance," and caps issuance at "only one operator's license for each massage establishment" (§ 5.48.040). Applications go to the Director of Finance under oath, in duplicate, with a Council-set fee (§ 5.48.050), and must be accompanied by two passport-size photos, two sets of fingerprints taken by the Stockton Police Department, and written proof the applicant is at least 18 (§ 5.48.060); no permit issues to anyone under 18, including an underage officer or manager of an applicant partnership or corporation (§ 5.48.070).

The Director of Finance routes every application to the Police Chief, Fire Chief, and Director of Community Development for investigation; the Police Chief checks for massage-related or felony convictions within the prior three years, revoked California massage permits within three years, PC § 290-registrable or PC §§ 314/315/316/318/647(a)(b)(d) convictions within 10 years, Health and Safety Code Division 10 felonies within 10 years, material misrepresentations, and theft convictions within three years (§ 5.48.080). The chapter runs on a 45-day clock: the Director of Finance must grant or deny within 45 days of filing, with denial appealable to the City Manager within 30 days (§ 5.48.110), and further appealable to the City Council within 10 days of the City Manager's decision (§§ 5.48.190-.200).

A separate business license under Title 5 is still required (§ 5.48.090), and licenses renew annually by application filed within the 30 days before expiration (§ 5.48.100). Massage technicians need their own work permit from the Director of Finance and must complete a residence course of study at a recognized school of massage within 60 days before applying (§§ 5.48.320, 5.48.330). Operationally, establishments may not run between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. (§ 5.48.230), may not sell, serve, furnish, keep or possess alcoholic beverages on the premises (§ 5.48.240), and out-call massage is prohibited unless authorized in writing by a state-licensed physician, chiropractor, osteopath, or the Chief of Police (§ 5.48.250).

Certified massage practitioners and certified massage therapists licensed under Business and Professions Code § 4600 et seq. through the California Massage Therapy Council are exempted from the chapter's conflicting local requirements (§ 5.48.020).