Ventura, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- SBMC § 8.300.060
- Certificate expires
- June 30 every year
- Fee
- Set by city council resolution
- State credential required
- CAMTC certification
- Limited exemption
- Single events under 48 hours
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor or infraction, plus nuisance abatement
Summary
Operating a massage establishment in the City of Ventura requires a certificate of registration under San Buenaventura Municipal Code Section 8.300.060, separate from the business tax certificate every massage business must also hold. Certificates expire each June 30th, and the license authority can suspend or revoke one for background disqualifications, fraud, or chapter violations.
No person shall engage in, conduct, carry on, or permit to be engaged in, conducted, or carried on, in or upon any premises within the city, the operation of a massage establishment without a certificate of registration issued pursuant to this chapter. ... A separate certificate of registration shall be obtained for each and every massage establishment owned or operated by such person, and no certificate shall be transferable to a separate location of the same business. ... Certificates of registration shall expire on June 30th of each year, and may be renewed as provided in Section 8.300.110.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-008, passed May 12, 2026).
Full Breakdown
010). 110, and requires a fee set by council resolution that is never refunded even if the certificate is later suspended or revoked. 080 are extensive: they require the applicant's identification, employment history for five years, a scaled floor plan, a designated manager and receptionist with no disqualifying criminal background, a fire clearance from the fire department, proof of workers' compensation insurance, and written property owner consent; owners with a five-percent-or-greater interest who are not state-certified must also submit fingerprints for a Department of Justice and FBI records check. 300. 410.
Violations & Fines
A Chapter 8.300 violation is a misdemeanor under Section 8.300.390 unless the city attorney reduces it to an infraction, and each day a violation continues is a separate offense. The city can also pursue civil administrative penalties under Chapter 1.50, declare an offending establishment a public nuisance, recover abatement costs including a nuisance abatement lien or special assessment against the property, and seek an injunction with attorney's fees against continued operation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a city license to open a massage business in Ventura?
How long does a Ventura massage certificate of registration last?
Are any massage services exempt from Ventura's certificate requirement?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ventura
California rules heatmap·Compare Ventura to another location·View the California business licensing & operations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Massage Establishments in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Ventura County handle massage establishments.