West New York, NJ Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)

Chapter 248 of the Code of the Town of West New York, adopted by the Board of Commissioners 12-16-2015 as Ord. No. 26/15, requires two licenses: one for each massage business and a separate one for each massage practitioner (§ 248-6A). The Town Health Department issues both, and a practitioner must also be certified by the State of New Jersey (§ 248-4B). Every business applicant is fingerprinted; for a partnership every partner, and for a corporation the president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer, submit prints to the Police Director/Chief of Police.

Applications go on a Health Department form with the fee set in Chapter 186, the New Jersey certificate or license, all addresses for the last five years, written proof of age, criminal convictions, two non-relative character references and a declaration under penalty of perjury (§ 248-6C). Fees are annual and nonrefundable, a change in ownership needs a new application and license, and a criminal background check fee is added (§ 248-5). The Health Department can issue within 30 days of a complete application unless it finds a ground for refusal, such as a dishonored fee, an operation that would not comply with building, zoning, fire and health codes, a false statement, a prior denied or revoked license, or a conviction involving sexual misconduct with children or prostitution (§ 248-6D). Licenses cannot be transferred (§ 248-7).

Operating rules include a posted price list, a posted license, an hours sign at least 18 inches wide by 16 inches long (§ 248-15), the 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. limits on commencing business (§ 248-16), no alcohol on the premises, no sleeping or living quarters, no massage of anyone under 18 without parental permission or presence, and a register of practitioners and employees. Liability insurance of not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence is required, with the certificate delivered to the Clerk within 10 days of license issuance or the license is revoked (§ 248-8G(4)). Health, Police, Construction and Fire Departments can inspect announced or unannounced (§ 248-14).