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Adams County, CO Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

License required since
March 1, 2026 (Ord. 18, eff. 11/1/2025)
Application fee cap
$150, not based on employee count
Background check
Fingerprint-based CBI check for owners, operators, most staff
License term
One calendar year, non-transferable
Max fine
$1,000 civil infraction per day of violation
Licensing Authority
Permits & Licensing Manager, Community & Economic Development Dept.
Appeal path
Hearing Officer, then District Court under Rule 106(a)(4)

Summary

Since March 1, 2026, no one may own, operate, or let a property host a massage facility in unincorporated Adams County without a county license under Ordinance No. 18. Every owner, operator, and most employees must pass a fingerprint-based background check, and the County can deny, suspend or revoke a license over trafficking, prostitution or sex-offender history.

City-specific rules exist: Thornton, and Westminster have their own massage establishments rules that differ from Adams County's county-level regulations. If you live in one of those cities, check the city-specific page instead.

On or after March 1, 2026, no person shall own or operate a massage facility in unincorporated Adams County without a valid massage facility license issued by the County, nor shall any property owner permit the use of their premises to be operated as a massage facility without a valid massage facility license issued by the County. ... The Licensing Authority may require a reasonable administrative fee, not to exceed $150 dollars or such other higher amount as set forth in C.R.S. § 30-15-401.4(4)(a)(II), as may be amended, for issuing or renewing licensure. Such administrative fee shall not be based on the number of employees.

Full Breakdown

Ordinance No. 18, the Adams County Massage Facility Licensing Ordinance (adopted 09/09/2025, amended 02/17/2026), requires a license from the Community and Economic Development Department's Permits & Licensing Manager for any place of business where massage therapy is practiced, with exemptions for licensed medical offices, barbershops and salons, athletic-team training rooms, bona fide athletic clubs, charity events under 72 hours per six months, and solo licensed massage therapists who do not use a business name or who disclose their name or license number in every ad.

3 requires applicants to disclose felony or misdemeanor convictions for prostitution, solicitation, human trafficking, fraud, theft, embezzlement or money laundering, sex-offender registration status, and any prior license surrender, suspension, denial or revocation, plus a floor-plan sketch and photographs of the premises; the administrative fee is capped at $150 and cannot be based on employee count. Article II requires a fingerprint-based Colorado Bureau of Investigation background check for every owner, operator and most employees, with a licensed massage therapist exempt from the employee background-check trigger. 4 lets the Licensing Authority deny an application for unpaid fees, a site the County's Development Standards and Regulations do not allow to host a massage facility, disqualifying convictions, sex-offender registration, or a prior revoked or suspended license. 2 bans operating unlicensed, employing anyone who skipped a background check, advertising sexual services, permitting sexual acts, or using the premises as living quarters.

Violations & Fines

Operating, or letting a property be operated, as an unlicensed massage facility is a civil infraction under Section 6.2, punishable by up to $1,000 per day the violation continues, plus state-law surcharges. Two or more violations make the facility a public nuisance the County Attorney or District Attorney can enjoin in Adams County District Court; license denials, suspensions and revocations are appealable to an independent Hearing Officer and then to District Court under C.R.C.P. Rule 106(a)(4).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all massage businesses in unincorporated Adams County need a county license?
Yes, since March 1, 2026, under Ordinance No. 18. Exemptions exist for licensed medical offices, barbershops and salons providing incidental massage, athletic-team training rooms, bona fide athletic clubs, short charity events, and solo massage therapists who use their own legal name or license number in advertising.
What does the county background check cover?
Article II requires a fingerprint-based Colorado Bureau of Investigation criminal history check for every owner, operator and most employees, following C.R.S. § 24-33.5-424.5. Licensed massage therapists and staff with no client contact, like janitorial contractors, are excluded from the employee background-check requirement.
Can Adams County deny a massage facility license?
Yes. Section 3.4 lets the Licensing Authority deny an application over unpaid fees, a location the county's Development Standards and Regulations do not allow for a massage facility, disqualifying convictions for prostitution, trafficking or money laundering, sex-offender registration, or a previously revoked or suspended license.
What happens if a facility operates without a license?
It is a civil infraction under Section 6.2 with a fine of up to $1,000 for every day the violation continues, and two or more violations make the facility a public nuisance the County Attorney or District Attorney can ask a judge to shut down by injunction.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Adams County

All Adams County rules

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