Woodland, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)

Woodland's Massage Establishment Permit Law, Municipal Code Chapter 5.20, requires anyone owning or operating a massage establishment in the city to hold both a business license under § 5.04.040(A) and a permit under § 5.20.040, unless exempt under § 5.20.120. Applicants file with the Chief of Police and must disclose prior addresses, business history, any license suspensions or revocations, and all criminal convictions in the preceding eight years, and must submit to fingerprinting and photographing (§ 5.20.040(B)). The Chief of Police must approve or deny a complete application within 60 days, extendable by 30 days if needed information is outstanding (§ 5.20.040(C)).

A permit can be denied for a false statement, a prior nuisance injunction, a prior license denial or revocation by any jurisdiction or the California Massage Therapy Council, or a conviction for specified Penal Code offenses, including Section 647(b) or Section 290 registration, within the preceding eight years. Permit holders must keep a licensed massage technician on the premises during all operating hours and may not massage a patron's genitals, anus or, for a female patron, breasts, keeping those areas covered whenever a technician is alone with a patron (§ 5.20.040(C)(4)).

Athletic clubs devoting 10% or less of their floor area to massage are exempt from the establishment permit, though their technicians still need individual permits (§ 5.20.220(E)). A denied applicant may appeal in writing to the City Council. Operating without a permit, or after a permit or California Massage Therapy Council certification has been revoked, is unlawful under §§ 5.20.190 and 5.20.200.