Yakima, WA Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)
Key Facts
- License required
- Under YMC Chapter 5.52
- Business hours
- 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. only
- License transferability
- Non-transferable, cancels on sale
- Violation penalty
- Gross misdemeanor
- Enforcing agency
- Yakima Police Department
Summary
Yakima requires every massage or reflexology business to hold a valid, non-transferable business license under YMC 5.52, subject to denial or revocation for trafficking convictions, unlicensed practice, or nuisance operations.
A person is prohibited from operating a massage or reflexology business without a valid business license pursuant to Yakima Municipal Code (YMC) 5.52.
2. A business license issued under this chapter is not assignable or transferable.
3. If a massage or reflexology business’s address or owner changes, the business license previously issued to the withdrawing owner or owners is considered cancelled. The new owner or owners must apply and obtain their own business license as provided for in YMC Chapter 5.52 prior to commencing activities in the city through the acquired business.
4. The business name and address of each licensed business are considered public records under Chapter 42.17 RCW, and subject to public record disclosure. (Ord. 2025-018 § 1, 2025)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4980636; v1 updated 2026-08-03; through 08-03-2026).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 5.31 of the Yakima Municipal Code requires massage and reflexology businesses to obtain a business license under YMC Chapter 5.52 before operating. The license is not assignable or transferable, and a change in the business's address or owner cancels the existing license, so a new owner must apply for and obtain their own license before continuing operations. The city may deny a new license or revoke an existing one for stipulated orders, deferred prosecution, or convictions under specified federal and state trafficking and prostitution statutes, for illegally transferring a license, failing to renew, or where the business's operations constitute a public nuisance. Licensed businesses may operate only between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m., and the Yakima police department may inspect common areas during business hours to confirm licensing and practitioner identification.
Violations & Fines
Operating a massage or reflexology business without the required license, or violating this chapter's licensing, hours, or inspection provisions, is a gross misdemeanor under YMC § 5.31.180, in addition to license denial or revocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Yakima massage business license be transferred to a new owner?
What hours can a massage business operate in Yakima?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yakima
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