Wichita, KS Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)
Key Facts
- Business license fee
- $200 per two years
- Therapist permit fee
- $75 per two years
- ID card replacement fee
- $5.00
- Minimum applicant age
- 18 years old
- Daily closing hours
- Midnight to 6:00 a.m.
- Maximum misdemeanor fine
- $2,500 plus up to 1 year jail
- Appeal deadline
- 10 business days to city clerk
Summary
Operating a massage therapy business in Wichita without a license is unlawful under Wichita Municipal Code Sec. 3.55.030. The city requires a two-year business license costing $200 from the city treasurer's office, plus a separate two-year massage therapist permit costing $75 for each practitioner. Applicants face background checks for felonies and crimes of moral turpitude, and violations carry fines up to $2,500 with mandatory minimums.
Sec. 3.55.030. - License required. It is unlawful for any person to operate a massage therapy business without a valid license as required by this chapter.
... Sec. 3.55.220. - Penalties. Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter within the corporate limits of the city shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction hereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than $2,500.00 or by imprisonment for not more than one year or by both such fine and imprisonment, however, upon a conviction of an offense related to the conduct of a massage business, the court shall impose a mandatory minimum fine of no less than $250.00. Upon a conviction of an offense relating to the conduct of an individual massage therapist, the court shall impose a mandatory minimum fine of no less than $100.00.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 35).
Full Breakdown
55: the business itself needs a license, and every person providing massage needs a separate permit. Sec. 040 requires business applicants to file a sworn application with the city treasurer disclosing ownership, the proposed location, business hours, and whether any owner has a felony or moral-turpitude conviction, pending charge, or sex-offender registration. Sec. 96. Individual therapists apply separately under Sec. 070 and must show they passed the MBLEx or a pre-February-2015 NCTMB exam, completed 500 classroom hours at a recognized massage school, or logged 150 accredited hours plus continuing education and association membership under Sec.
080. Fees set by Sec. 090 are non-refundable and never prorated: $200 for a two-year business license, $75 for a two-year therapist permit, and $5 to replace a lost identification card. daily under Sec. 170(d) and keep entry doors unlocked during open hours, except sole proprietors without staff may lock them for safety. The health officer or chief of police may suspend a license or permit for up to 30 days on five days' written notice for incomplete applications, unpaid fees, sanitary violations, or other chapter violations, and may revoke it for false statements, disqualifying convictions, failure to allow inspection, or four or more suspension-level offenses within two years under Sec.
130. Exemptions under Sec. 020 cover state-licensed healing-arts practitioners, medical care facilities, adult care homes, barbers and cosmetologists, tax-supported school employees, family members receiving uncompensated massage, supervised massage students, and athletic trainers.
Violations & Fines
Operating a massage business or working as a massage therapist without the required license or permit is a misdemeanor under Sec. 3.55.220, punishable by a fine of up to $2,500, up to one year in jail, or both, with a mandatory minimum fine of $250 for business-related violations and $100 for individual therapist violations. The city may also enjoin unlicensed operation as a public nuisance under Sec. 3.55.240, and the health officer or chief of police can suspend a license or permit for up to 30 days or revoke it outright for false statements, disqualifying convictions, or repeated violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need both a business license and a personal permit to give massages in Wichita?
What disqualifies an applicant from getting a Wichita massage license or permit?
Can a Wichita massage therapy business operate around the clock?
What happens if I operate a massage business in Wichita without a license?
Can I appeal if Wichita denies, suspends, or revokes my massage license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wichita
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