Stonecrest, GA Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)

Sec. 15.8.2 of the Stonecrest Code creates two distinct licenses: a massage therapist license for any natural person who administers massages, and a massage establishment license for any business, natural or corporate, that operates a massage business or lets a therapist work there. Both are required before opening; the establishment license does not substitute for the therapist's own license, and vice versa. To qualify as a therapist, an applicant must be of good moral character with no disqualifying felony or moral-turpitude conviction, and must hold a diploma from a state-certified school showing completion of at least 500 classroom hours covering anatomy and physiology, massage theory, technique and clinical practice.

Establishment applicants face their own standards: Georgia residency or corporate registration, a posted sign identifying the business as a massage establishment, minimum lighting and ventilation levels, no beds or mattresses on the premises, and a valid certificate of occupancy before the license issues. Once licensed, massage of the genitals or anus is expressly prohibited, alcohol may not be stored or served on the premises, and minors need medical or parental authorization to be treated. The City Manager or the finance director's designee can inspect a licensed premises and its records at any time during business hours without notice.