Turlock, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)
Key Facts
- Practicing therapist
- CAMTC certificate required
- Business
- City Business License required
- Non-certified owner/manager
- Police permit + fingerprinting
- Operating hours
- 6 a.m.-10 p.m. only
- Adopted
- Ordinance 1334-CS, Nov. 2025
Summary
Turlock requires every massage business to hold a City Business License and every therapist a CAMTC certificate, with non-certified owners needing a fingerprinted Police Department permit first.
Any person or massage business shall obtain a valid City Business License pursuant to Chapter 3-1 TMC to conduct massage for compensation within the City. Applicant shall provide a copy of a current and valid CAMTC certificate for every person who will be performing or engaging in the practice of massage for the massage business. Such certificate[s] shall be provided to the Chief of Police or designee to confirm the validity of the certificate[s]. The Chief of Police or designee shall notify City staff whether or not the applicant has a valid CAMTC certificate and may proceed with the business license application process.
(b) Every massage business owner[s] or manager[s] who does not qualify as a massage therapist and is not CAMTC certified must obtain a Massage Business Permit and be subject to the requirements of TMC § 6-9-205 prior to the issuance of a City Business License. If any massage business owner[s] or manager[s] are denied a Massage Business Permit then a City Business License cannot be issued to the massage business until such time as the denied business owner[s] or manager[s] is removed from the application for the City Business License and replaced with a person who meets the requirements of this chapter. (Ord. 1334-CS, 11/13/2025)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4937289; v6 updated 2026-06-25).
Full Breakdown
Turlock Municipal Code § 6-9-203 requires any person or massage business to obtain a City Business License under Chapter 3-1 TMC before conducting massage for compensation, and every practicing therapist must hold a current CAMTC certificate. Massage business owners or managers who are not themselves CAMTC-certified must first obtain a Massage Business Permit from the Chief of Police under TMC § 6-9-205, which requires fingerprinting and a background check covering sex offenses, violent crimes, and drug trafficking within the prior five years. Massage is also restricted to the hours of 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. under TMC § 6-9-106(b). The chapter, added by Ordinance 1334-CS in November 2025, replaced Turlock's older massage licensing rules citywide.
Violations & Fines
Operating without the required license, permit, or CAMTC certificate is a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 and six months in jail under TMC § 6-9-213, or an administrative fine of up to $1,000 under § 6-9-214.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a special license to open a massage business in Turlock?
Can a Turlock massage business owner skip the CAMTC certificate?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Turlock
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Massage Establishments in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle massage establishments.