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Warren, MI Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)

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

Key Facts

Establishment license fee
$200.00, Sec. 18-18(52)
Closing hours
10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.
Suspension cap
Up to 90 days, Sec. 19-63
Appeal bond
$1,000 cash bond, Sec. 19-65
Minimum age for massage
18, absent doctor's order
Issuing authority
City clerk, after investigation

Summary

Warren requires a city clerk-issued license to operate a massage or spa establishment, on top of the state massage therapist license every practitioner must hold under MCL 333.17951. Establishments cost $200 to license, must close between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., and can lose the license for prostitution-related conduct.

(a)The city clerk shall issue massage establishment/spa establishment license upon investigation, and after receipt of all of the required information and reports if the applicant meets the requirements hereunder and the requirements of city ordinances and has paid the necessary fees.(b)It shall be unlawful for any person to operate massage/spa establishment without a valid establishment license issued by the clerk in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.(c)It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a massage/spa establishment unless each and every massage therapist has a valid massage therapist license issued by the state pursuant to MCL 333.17951 et seq. of the public health code, as amended, unless exempt from such licensing law.(d)It shall be unlawful for any individual to work as a massage therapist without having a valid massage therapist license issued by the state pursuant to MCL 333.17951 et seq. of the public health code unless exempt from such licensing law.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 102).

Full Breakdown

00 under the Chapter 18 fee schedule, Item 52. 17951 et seq. m. Section 19-17 sets minimum facility standards before a license can issue: at least a 60-watt light in each treatment room, hot and cold running water, closed linen cabinets, separate male and female dressing and toilet facilities, and enclosed treatment rooms with doors that close but do not lock, sized to accommodate at least two patrons. Section 19-40 bars massaging anyone under 18 without a doctor's order or a parent present, and Section 19-41 makes any sexual contact for monetary gain grounds for license revocation.

The city clerk can suspend a license for up to 90 days for a minor violation under Section 19-63, or revoke it outright under Section 19-64 for a significant violation or repeat suspensions. A licensee appealing a revocation must post a $1,000 cash bond under Section 19-65, refundable only if the revocation is set aside.

Violations & Fines

Operating a massage or spa establishment without the Chapter 19 license, or letting a therapist work without a valid state license, is unlawful under Section 19-4 and grounds for suspension of up to 90 days under Section 19-63 or outright revocation under Section 19-64. Sexual contact for monetary gain is unlawful under Section 19-41 and is expressly grounds for revocation regardless of any other penalty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a separate license for my massage establishment in Warren?
Yes. Section 19-4 requires a city clerk-issued massage/spa establishment license in addition to each individual therapist's state license under MCL 333.17951 et seq. The establishment license costs $200.00, and it's unlawful to operate without both.
What hours can a Warren massage establishment stay open?
None between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. Section 19-10 flatly bars keeping any massage establishment open for any purpose during those hours, regardless of what services are being offered.
Can Warren revoke a massage establishment's license?
Yes. Section 19-64 lets the city clerk revoke a license for a significant violation, three suspensions within ten years, or misrepresentation on the application; Section 19-41 also makes sexual contact for monetary gain automatic grounds for revocation. Appealing a revocation requires posting a $1,000 cash bond.

Sources & Official References

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