In enacting this chapter, the City Council recognizes that massage
therapy is a professional pursuit which can offer the public valuable
health and therapeutic services, but that unless properly regulated,
the practice of massage therapy and the operation of massage businesses
may be associated with unlawful activity and pose a threat to the
quality of life in the local community. It is the purpose and intent
of this chapter to provide for the orderly regulation of offices and
establishments providing massage therapy services, and to prevent
and discourage the misuse of massage therapy as a front for human
trafficking, prostitution, and related activities in violation of
state law, all in the interests of the public health, safety, and
welfare, by providing certain minimum building, sanitation, and operation
standards for such businesses, and by requiring certain minimum qualifications
for the operators and practitioners of such businesses. It is the
further intent of this chapter to streamline local massage therapy
permitting procedures, while still facilitating and advancing the
ethical practice of massage therapy, by relying upon the uniform statewide
regulations enacted by the Legislature in 2008 as Business and Professions
Code Sections 4600 et seq., known as the Massage Therapy Act, as subsequently
amended, and by restricting the commercial practice of massage in
the city to those persons duly certified to practice by the California
Massage Therapy Council formed pursuant to those statutes.
(Ord. 3064-15 § 1)
For the purpose of this chapter, unless the context clearly
requires a different meaning, the words, terms, and phrases set forth
in this section shall have the meanings that are given them in this
section:
"Authorized massage professional"
means a massage professional who is identified in a permit
issued pursuant to this chapter as a person employed or retained by
a massage establishment to practice massage.
"Compensation"
means the payment, loan, advance, donation, contribution,
deposit, exchange, or gift of money or anything of value.
"Director"
means the director of public safety or his or her designee
charged with the administration of this chapter.
"Inspector"
means the person or persons designated by the city to conduct
any inspections required or permitted under this chapter.
"Massage," "massage therapy," and/or "bodywork"
for purposes of this chapter mean the skillful application
of touch, including but not limited to, pressure, stroking, kneading,
compression on or movement of the external surfaces of the body by
a practitioner to produce increased awareness, relaxation, pain relief,
injury rehabilitation, or neuromuscular reeducation.
"Massage establishment"
means any business that offers massage therapy, baths or
health treatments including, but not limited to, aromatherapy, vapor,
shower, electric tub, sponge, hot towels, mineral fermentation, sauna,
steam or any other type of bath, involving massages or baths in exchange
for compensation. Home-based massage businesses and businesses that
provide outcall massage services are also considered to be massage
establishments. For purposes of this chapter, the term "massage establishment"
may be applied to include establishments which offer or advertise
themselves as providing "relaxation" or "tanning" where the essential
nature of the interaction between the employee and the customer involves
"massage" as defined herein. The terms, names or phrases listed on
business license or fictitious name application forms are not necessarily
conclusive as to the nature of the business.
"Owner" or "massage establishment owner"
means any of the following persons:
(1)
The sole proprietor of a sole proprietorship operating a massage
establishment.
(2)
Any general partner of a general or limited partnership that
owns a massage establishment.
(3)
Any person who has a ten percent or greater ownership interest
in a corporation that owns a massage establishment.
(4)
Any person who is a member of a limited liability company that
owns a massage establishment.
(5)
All owners of any other type of business association that owns
a massage establishment.
"Outcall massage service"
means the engaging in or carrying on of massage therapy for
compensation at locations other than a massage establishment at a
fixed location.
"Patron"
means an individual on the premises of a massage establishment
for the purpose of receiving massage therapy.
"Person"
means any individual, firm, association, partnership, corporation,
joint venture, limited liability company, or combination of individuals.
"Reception and waiting area"
means an area immediately inside the main entry door of the
massage establishment dedicated to the reception and waiting of patrons
or visitors of the massage establishment and which is not a massage
therapy room or otherwise used for the provision of massage therapy
services.
"Sole proprietorship"
means a massage establishment where the owner owns one hundred
percent of the business and has one or no other employees or independent
contractors.
"Visitor"
means any individual not retained or employed by the massage
establishment and not receiving or waiting to receive massage therapy
services, but excluding law enforcement personnel or governmental
officials performing governmental business.
(Ord. 3064-15 § 1)
The requirements of this chapter are in addition to any business license and business license tax requirements imposed pursuant to Chapter
5.04 of this code.
(Ord. 3064-15 § 1)
The requirements of this chapter are in addition to any permits
or authorizations that may be required under other applicable laws
including but not limited to the city's building, fire, zoning, and
health regulations.
(Ord. 3064-15 § 1)
This chapter shall not apply to the following classes of individuals
while engaged in the performance of the duties of their respective
professions:
(a) Physicians, surgeons, chiropractors, osteopaths, podiatrists, physical therapists, nurses, acupuncturists or any other person licensed to practice any healing art under the provisions of Division
2 (commencing with Section
500) of the
Business and Professions Code when engaging in such practice within the scope of his or her license.
(b) Trainers
of any amateur, semi-professional, or professional athlete or athletic
team, so long as such persons do not practice massage therapy as their
primary occupation at any location where they provide such services
in the city.
(c) Barbers,
estheticians, and cosmetologists who are duly licensed under the laws
of the State of California, while engaging in practices within the
scope of their licenses.
(d) Individuals
administering massages or health treatments involving massage to persons
participating in singleoccurrence athletic, recreational, or educational
events such as road races, track meets, triathlons, educational events,
or conferences, provided that the event is open to the public or to
a significant segment of the public such as employees of sponsoring
or participating corporations, and the massage services are provided
at the site of the event during, immediately preceding, or immediately
following the event.
(e) Somatic
practitioners who use no physical touch of any kind at any time in
their practice.
(f) Enrolled
students of a school of massage when they are performing massage within
the city as part of a formal supervised internship or training program
operated by the school, without compensation other than school credit,
on the premises of a massage establishment duly authorized to operate
pursuant to the terms of this chapter; and provided that the operator
of the massage establishment has first notified the director in writing
of the name, residence address, and school of the students and the
dates of the trainings.
(Ord. 3064-15 § 1)
On or after April 30, 2016, it is unlawful for any individual
to practice massage therapy for compensation within the city unless
that individual is a CAMTC-certified massage professional.
(Ord. 3064-15 § 1)
The owners of the massage establishment shall file an application
for a permit on a form provided by the director. The application shall
be accompanied by the fee established by the city's fee schedule.
The application shall include the following information:
(a) The
name, address, and telephone number of the massage establishment.
(b) The
name, residence address and telephone number, and business address
and telephone number of each owner of the massage establishment.
(c) The
form of business under which the applicant will be conducting the
massage establishment, i.e., corporation, general or limited partnership,
limited liability company, or other form. If the applicant is a corporation,
the name of the corporation shall be set forth exactly as shown in
its articles of incorporation, together with the names and residence
addresses of each of its officers, directors, and each shareholder
holding more than ten percent of the stock of the corporation. If
the applicant is a general or limited partnership, the application
shall set forth the name and residence address of each of the partners,
including limited partners. If one or more of the partners is a corporation,
the provisions of this section pertaining to a corporate applicant
shall apply. If the applicant is a limited liability company, the
application shall set forth the name and residence address of each
of the members. If one or more of the members is a partnership, limited
liability company, or corporation, the provisions of this section
pertaining to a partnership, limited liability company, or corporate
applicant shall apply, as applicable.
(d) The
name, address, and telephone number of the owner of the real property
upon, in, or from which the certified massage establishment is to
be operated. In the event the applicant is not the legal owner of
the property, the application shall be accompanied by a copy of any
written lease between the applicant and the property owner authorizing
use of the premises for a massage establishment, or, alternatively,
if there is no written lease, then a written, notarized acknowledgment
from the property owner that the property owner has been advised that
a massage establishment will be operated by the applicant upon, in,
or from the property owner's property.
(e) If
the massage establishment will be located on a property in a residential
or commercial condominium or other common interest development, the
applicant shall submit a notarized statement from the homeowner's
association or condominium owner's association acknowledging that
the association has been advised that a massage establishment will
be operated by the applicant and that such use of the property is
allowed by the property's covenants, codes, and restrictions.
(f) A
description of the proposed massage establishment, including the type
of treatments to be administered.
(g) The
name of each individual who the massage establishment employs or retains
to perform massage therapy for compensation, whether on or off the
massage establishment premises.
(h) The
name of each individual who is regularly employed or retained by the
massage establishment to perform services on the premises other than
massage therapy, and the nature of their services.
(i) For
each individual who the massage establishment does or will employ
or retain to perform massage therapy for compensation, whether on
or off the massage establishment premises, a copy of that individual's
current certification from the CAMTC as a certified massage practitioner
or certified massage therapist, and a copy of his or her current CAMTCissued
identification card.
(j) For
each owner of the massage establishment who is a CAMTC-certified massage
professional, a copy of his or her current certification from the
CAMTC as a certified massage practitioner or as a certified massage
therapist and a copy of his or her current CAMTC-issued identification
card.
(k) For
each owner of the massage establishment who is not a CAMTC-certified
massage professional, the following information:
(1) Whether any owner of the massage establishment has within the five
years immediately preceding the date of application been convicted
of any felony in any state.
(2) Whether any owner of the massage establishment is currently required
to register under the provisions of Section 290 of the California
Penal Code.
(3) The business, occupation, and employment history of each owner of
the massage establishment for five years preceding the date of application,
and the inclusive dates of same.
(4) One set of fingerprints to be taken at the permit authority, and
any required fee for such fingerprinting shall be paid by the applicant.
(l) Whether
any license or permit has ever been issued to the applicant by any
jurisdiction under the provisions of any ordinance or statute governing
massage or somatic practice, and as to any such license or permit,
the name and address of the issuing authority, the effective dates
of such license or permit, whether such license or permit was ever
suspended, revoked, withdrawn, or denied; and copies of any documentary
materials relating to such suspension, revocation, withdrawal, or
denial.
(m) Such
other information as may be required by the permit authority to determine
compliance with any other eligibility requirements for issuance of
the permit as specified by federal, state, or local law.
(n) A
statement that within the last five years the applicant has not failed
to comply with a final court order or administrative action of an
investigatory agency finding a violation of applicable federal, state
and local wage and hour laws, including, but not limited to, the Federal
Fair Labor Standards Act, the California
Labor Code, and any local
minimum wage ordinance or prevailing wage requirements. For purposes
of this subsection, a final court order or administrative action is
one as to which there is no pending appeal and the time for filing
an appeal has passed.
(Ord. 3064-15 § 1; Ord. 3133-18 § 5)
The director may deny an application for a massage establishment
permit on any of the following grounds:
(a) The
massage establishment, as proposed by the applicant, would not comply
with the requirements of this chapter.
(b) The
massage establishment, as proposed by the applicant, would not comply
with any applicable law, including, but not limited to the city's
building, fire, zoning, and health regulations.
(c) The
applicant has knowingly made any false, misleading or fraudulent statement
of material fact in the application for a massage establishment permit.
(d) Any
owner of the massage establishment, within five years immediately
preceding the date of filing of the application, has been convicted
in a court of competent jurisdiction of any offense that relates directly
to the operation of a massage establishment whether as a massage establishment
owner or operator or as a person practicing massage for compensation,
or as an employee of either; or has at any time been convicted in
a court of competent jurisdiction of any felony the commission of
which occurred on the premises of a massage establishment.
(e) Any
owner of the massage establishment is currently required to register
under the provisions of Section 290 of the California
Penal Code.
(f) Any
owner of the massage establishment, within five years of the date
of application, has been convicted in a court of competent jurisdiction
of any violation of Sections 266, 266a, 266e, 266f, 266g, 266h, 266i,
266j, 315, 316, 318, 647(b), or 653.22 of the California
Penal Code,
or conspiracy or attempt to commit any such offense, or any offense
in a jurisdiction outside of the State of California that is the equivalent
of any of the aforesaid offenses.
(g) Any
owner of the massage establishment has been subjected to a permanent
injunction against the conducting or maintaining of a nuisance pursuant
to Sections 11225 through 11235 of the California
Penal Code, or any
similar provision of law in a jurisdiction outside the State of California.
(h) Any
owner of the massage establishment, within five years of the date
of application, and as established by clear and convincing evidence,
has engaged in acts prohibited under California
Penal Code Sections
266, 266a, 266e, 266f, 266g, 266h, 266i, 266j, 315, 316, 318, 647(b),
or 653.22.
(i) Any
owner of the massage establishment is an individual who has not attained
the age of eighteen years.
(j) Any
owner of the massage establishment, within five years immediately
preceding the date of filing of the application, has had a permit
or license to practice massage for compensation or to own and/or operate
a massage establishment revoked or denied in any jurisdiction.
(k) Any
owner of the massage establishment currently owns or operates a massage
establishment in the city of Sunnyvale that is not in good standing
due to the existence of uncorrected violations or unpaid fines or
fees.
(l) Within
the last five years, the applicant has failed to comply with a final
court order or administrative action of an investigatory agency finding
a violation of applicable federal, state and local wage and hour laws,
including, but not limited to, the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act,
the California
Labor Code, and any local minimum wage ordinance or
prevailing wage requirements. For purposes of this subsection, a final
court order or administrative action is one as to which there is no
pending appeal and the time for filing an appeal has passed.
(Ord. 3064-15 § 1; Ord. 3133-18 § 5)
All massage establishment operators shall be deemed to know
and understand the requirements and prohibitions of this chapter.
Any massage establishment permit issued pursuant to this chapter may
be suspended or revoked by the director after a hearing, where the
director finds that any of the following have occurred on even a single
occasion:
(a) The
permittee or any person employed or retained by the massage establishment
has violated any provision of this chapter.
(b) The
permittee or any person employed or retained by the massage establishment
has been convicted in a court of competent jurisdiction of having
violated, or has engaged in conduct constituting a violation of, any
of the following: California
Penal Code Sections 266, 266a, 266e,
266f, 266g, 266h, 266i, 266j, 315, 316, 318, 647(b), or 653.22, or
conspiracy or attempt to commit any such offense, or any offense in
a jurisdiction outside of the State of California that is the equivalent
of any of the aforesaid offenses.
(c) The
permittee or any person employed or retained by the massage establishment
is required to register under Section 290 of the California Penal
Code.
(d) The
permittee has been subject to a permanent injunction against the conducting
or maintaining of a nuisance pursuant to this code, or Sections 11225
through 11235 of the California
Penal Code, or any similar provision
of law in any jurisdiction outside the State of California.
(e) The
permittee or any person employed or retained by the massage establishment
has engaged in fraud or misrepresentation or has knowingly made a
misstatement of material fact while working in or for the massage
establishment.
(f) The
permittee has continued to operate the massage establishment after
the massage establishment permit has been suspended.
(g) Massage
has been performed on the premises of the massage establishment, with
or without the permittee's actual knowledge, by any person who is
not a duly authorized CAMTC-certified massage professional.
(h) A
person who is not a duly authorized CAMTC-certified massage professional
has provided outcall massage services through or on behalf of the
massage establishment.
(i) There
have been one or more acts prohibited under California
Penal Code
Sections 266, 266a, 266e, 266f, 266g, 266h, 266i, 266j, 315, 316,
318, 647(b), or 653.22 taking place on the premises of the massage
establishment, whether or not any criminal prosecution has been pursued
or conviction obtained for such acts, and whether or not they occurred
with or without the actual knowledge of the permittee.
(j) The
permittee or any person employed or retained by the massage establishment
or any other person on the premises of the massage establishment has
engaged in conduct or committed acts that a reasonable person in the
patron's position would understand as an offer to perform on or engage
in with the patron acts that are sexual in nature or that involve
touching of the patron's genitals, or anal region.
(k) The
permittee or any person employed or retained by the massage establishment
has engaged in sexually suggestive advertising related to massage
services on the premises of the massage establishment, including,
but not limited to displaying photographs of individuals clothed in
swim attire, or attire that is transparent, see-through or substantially
exposes the individual's undergarments, breasts, buttocks, or genitals,
describing massage services as "erotic," "sensual" or similarly sexual
in nature, listing advertisements in adult media, or describing the
appearance or age of massage providers.
(l) If
the applicant has failed to comply with a final court order or administrative
action of an investigatory agency finding a violation of applicable
federal, state and local wage and hour laws, including, but not limited
to, the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act, the California
Labor Code,
and any local minimum wage ordinance or prevailing wage requirements.
For purposes of this subsection, a final court order or administrative
action is one as to which there is no pending appeal and the time
for filing an appeal has passed.
(Ord. 3064-15 § 1; Ord. 3133-18 § 5)
The following rules shall apply to any hearing required by this
chapter. All parties involved shall have the right to offer testimonial,
documentary, and tangible evidence bearing on the issues, to be represented
by counsel, and to confront and cross-examine witnesses. Any relevant
evidence may be admitted if it is the sort of evidence upon which
reasonable persons are accustomed to rely in the conduct of serious
affairs. Any hearing under this chapter may be continued for a reasonable
time for the convenience of a party or witness.
(Ord. 3064-15 § 1)
Any massage establishment operated, conducted, or maintained
contrary to the provisions of this chapter shall be, and the same
is hereby declared to be, unlawful and a public nuisance, and the
city attorney may, in addition to or in lieu of prosecuting a criminal
action hereunder, commence an action or actions, proceeding or proceedings,
for the abatement, removal and enjoinment thereof, in the manner provided
by law. Such remedies shall be in addition to any other judicial and
administrative penalties and remedies available to the city under
this code or under state law.
(Ord. 3064-15 § 1)