It is the purpose and intent of this chapter to provide for the orderly regulation of massage businesses and massage establishments and also to comply with state regulations as it relates to massage and massage therapy services. The City Council recognizes massage is a viable professional field offering the public valuable health and therapeutic services. While there are significant health benefits that can result from massage, there are also significant risks of injury by persons improperly trained and/or educated in providing massage services. There are also opportunities for illegal acts of prostitution, lewdness and human trafficking that can occur in massage businesses and massage establishments.
This chapter establishes minimum standards for massage businesses, massage establishments, and massage therapists so as to protect and safeguard the public health, safety and welfare and to enhance the reputation of the profession and integrity of the services provided. The establishment of reasonable standards for the issuance of business licenses and restrictions on operations would serve to reduce the risk of illegal activity and would thereby benefit the public health.
It is the purpose and intent of the City Council that massage businesses, massage establishments, and massage therapists offering such services be regulated so as to ensure that persons offering massage services possess the minimum qualifications necessary to operate such a business and are able perform the services offered to ensure that those offering these services conduct their work in a lawful and professional manner and comply with required building, sanitation and health standards.
(Ord. 1334-CS, 11/13/2025)
Unless the particular provision or the context otherwise requires, the definitions and provisions contained in this section shall govern the construction, meaning, and application of words and phrases used in this chapter.
(a) 
"California Massage Therapy Council" or "CAMTC"
shall mean the non-profit organization created to regulate the massage industry set forth in Chapter 10.5 of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code of the State of California (commencing with Section 4600).
(b) 
"CAMTC certificate"
shall mean a current and valid certificate issued by the California Massage Therapy Council to a massage practitioner pursuant to Business and Professions Code Section 4601(b) or any later enacted amendment.
(c) 
"Certified massage therapist" or "massage therapist"
shall mean any individual, certified by the CAMTC and possessing a valid CAMTC certificate and licensed to practice or administer massage, in exchange for any form of compensation within the City of Turlock. All persons certified by CAMTC shall have the right to perform or engage in the practice of massage consistent with the Massage Therapy Act, the qualifications established by his or her certification, and the provisions of this chapter stated herein.
(d) 
"City"
shall mean the City of Turlock.
(e) 
"Client"
shall mean the customer or patron who pays for or receives massage services.
(f) 
"Compensation"
means the payment, loan, advance, donation, contribution, deposit, exchange, or gift of money or anything of value.
(g) 
"Employee"
shall mean any person employed by a massage business who may render any service to the business and who receives any form of compensation from the business. For the purposes of this chapter, the term "employee" shall include independent contractors, agents and volunteers.
(h) 
"Licensee" or "business licensee"
shall mean any person who receives from the City of Turlock a Business License pursuant to Chapter 3-1 TMC.
(i) 
"Manager"
means a person who supervises, manages, directs, organizes, controls, or in any other way is responsible for or in charge of the conduct of the activities within a massage business or a massage establishment. Evidence of management includes, but is not limited to, evidence that the individual has power to direct or hire and dismiss employees, control hours of operation, create policy or rules or purchase supplies. A manager may also be an owner.
(j) 
"Massage" or "massage therapy"
shall mean any method of treating the external parts of the body for remedial, health, or hygienic purposes for any form of compensation by means of pressure on or friction against, or stroking, kneading, rubbing, tapping, pounding, vibrating, or stimulating, of the external parts of the body with hands or other parts of the body, with or without the aid of any mechanical or electrical apparatus or appliances; or with or without such supplementary aids as rubbing alcohol, liniments, antiseptic, oils, powder, creams, lotions, ointments, or other similar preparations commonly used in this practice; or by baths, including but not limited to Turkish, Russian, Swedish, Japanese, vapor, shower, electric tub, sponge, mineral, mud, fermentation or any other type of bath.
(k) 
"Massage business"
means any business that offers massage in exchange for compensation, whether at a fixed place of business or at a location designated by the client through outcall or on-site massage services. The term "massage business" includes a certified massage therapist who is the sole owner, operator and employee of a massage business operating as a sole-proprietorship, including those that rent space as an independent contractor from a spa, day spa or salon. For the purposes of this chapter, the term "massage business" may include those businesses that provide separate massage services, such as spas, day spas, and salons, but shall not apply to massages performed to limited areas of the neck, face and/or scalp, hands or feet of the clients when that massage is accessory to and within the scope of a barber's, cosmetologist's, and esthetician's state license. For spas, day spas, and salons that are solely renting space to one or more certified massage therapist[s] as independent contractor[s] who otherwise meet all the provisions of this chapter, those spas, day spas and salons shall not be treated as "massage business" for purposes of this chapter and rather each such independent contractor shall be treated as the "massage business." However, such spas, day spas and salons shall be "massage establishments" as defined in subsection (l) of this section.
(l) 
"Massage establishment"
shall mean a fixed location where massage for compensation is regularly conducted. For the purposes of this chapter, the term "massage establishment" shall include those businesses that provide separate massage services, such as spas, day spas and salons, but shall not apply to massages performed to limited areas of the neck, face and/or scalp, hands or feet of the clients when that massage is accessory to and within the scope of a barber's, cosmetologist's, and esthetician's state license.
(m) 
"On-site massage"
shall mean a massage given to an individual who remains fully clothed during the massage and at a location other than a massage business or massage establishment, and is limited to massages that take place at malls, business offices, sports complexes, convention centers and public events.
(n) 
"Operator" or "massage business operator"
shall mean any and all owners of a massage business.
(o) 
"Out-call massage"
shall mean engaging in or carrying on of massage for compensation in a location other than a duly licensed massage establishment.
(p) 
"Owner"
shall mean any of the following:
(1) 
The sole proprietor of a massage business or massage establishment; or
(2) 
Any person who is a general partner of a general or limited partnership that owns a massage business; or
(3) 
Any person who has a five percent (5%) or greater ownership interest in a corporation that owns a massage business; or
(4) 
Any person who is a member of a limited liability company that owns a massage business; or
(5) 
Any person who has a five percent (5%) or greater ownership interest in any other type of business association that owns a massage business.
(q) 
"Permittee" or "massage business permittee"
shall mean any person who receives from the City of Turlock a Massage Business Permit pursuant to TMC § 6-9-205.
(r) 
"Person"
shall mean any individual.
(s) 
"Reception area"
shall mean the area immediately inside the front door of the massage establishment, dedicated to the reception and waiting of clients and visitors of the massage establishment, which is not a massage room or otherwise used for the provision of massage services.
(t) 
"Salon"
shall mean a business that offers a variety of services intended to meet personal needs of individuals such as hair cutting, hairdressing, hair design, manicures and pedicures, and massage.
(u) 
"Sole proprietorship"
shall mean a massage business where the owner owns one-hundred percent (100%) of the business, is the only person who provides massage services for compensation for that business pursuant to a valid and active CAMTC certificate, and has no other employees or independent contractors that perform massage for the business.
(v) 
"Spa" or "day spa"
shall mean a business that offers a variety of services intended to meet personal needs of individuals such as skin treatment, manicures and pedicures and massage.
(Ord. 1334-CS, 11/13/2025)
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the following classes of individuals or businesses while engaged in the performance of their duties:
(a) 
Physicians, surgeons, nurses, chiropractors, osteopaths, acupuncturists, podiatrists, physical therapists, who are duly licensed to practice their respective professions, in the State of California under the provisions of Division 2 (commencing with Section 500) of the Business and Professions Code.
(b) 
Persons operating or employed at hospitals, nursing homes, sanitariums, or any other health facility duly licensed by the State of California.
(c) 
Trainers of any amateur, semi-professional or professional athlete or athletic team, so long as such persons' practice of massage is limited to such athletes and athletic teams.
(d) 
Persons operating or employed at athletic clubs or fitness facilities, where such facility is designed and equipped for indoor sports, exercise, or physical education, and where massage services are provided to members of such facilities.
(e) 
Barbers, cosmetologists, or estheticians who are duly licensed under the laws of the State of California, while engaging in practices within the scope of their licenses, so long as the barber, cosmetologist or esthetician limits any massages he/she performs in the course of his/her professional duties to the neck, face and/or scalp, hands or feet of the clients when that massage is accessory to and within the scope of the barber's, cosmetologist's, and esthetician's state license.
(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 wherein the student receives school credit, operated by the school, without receiving any form of compensation, including tips, on the premises of a massage establishment duly authorized to operate in the City.
(g) 
Persons performing a therapeutic modality for which the state does not offer licenses or certification under the provisions of Division 2 (commencing with Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 500) of the Business and Professions Code and the modality is performed with minimal touching and the client remains fully clothed at all times, such as Reiki, Reflexology, Rolfing or the Bowen Technique.
(Ord. 1334-CS, 11/13/2025)
(a) 
No person or massage business shall perform either on-site massage or out-call massage for compensation without possessing a CAMTC certificate in conjunction with a valid City Business License.
(b) 
Out-call massage shall not be performed unless authorized in writing by a physician, surgeon, chiropractor or osteopath duly licensed to practice in the State of California.
(c) 
Out-call massage and on-site massage shall only be conducted between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
(d) 
Out-call massage or on-site massage shall not be conducted in the following locations:
(1) 
A hotel/motel room or any other similar location used primarily for transitory habitation purposes.
(2) 
The residence of the out-call or on-site massage therapist.
(Ord. 1334-CS, 11/13/2025)
All massage establishment owners, operators, employees, sole proprietors, independent contractors and any person performing massage within the City shall comply with all of the following health and safety requirements.
(a) 
Massage establishments and massage therapists shall at all times have an adequate supply of clean sanitary towels, coverings and linens. Clean towels, coverings, and linens shall be stored in enclosed cabinets. Towels, non-disposable coverings, and linens shall not be used on more than one (1) client, unless they have first been laundered and disinfected. Disposable towels and disposable coverings shall not be used on more than one (1) client. Soiled linens and paper towels shall be deposited in separate receptacles.
(b) 
In the massage establishment, wet and dry heat rooms, steam or vapor rooms or cabinets, toilet rooms, showers and bathrooms, whirlpool baths, and pools shall be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected as needed, and at least once each day when the premises are open, with a hospital-grade disinfectant. Bathtubs shall be thoroughly cleaned with a hospital-grade disinfectant after each use. All walls, ceilings, floors and other physical facilities for the establishment shall be in good repair and maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.
(c) 
All equipment used in the massage establishment shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition. Instruments utilized in performing massage techniques shall not be used on more than one (1) client unless they have been sterilized, using standard sterilization methods.
(d) 
No massage establishment shall have any alcohol for consumption or illegal controlled substance on the premises at any time except for those massage establishments who obtain authorization from the Chief of Police and any licenses from the State of California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control that may be necessary to provide alcohol to a client as a part of the establishment's services.
(e) 
No massage shall be given by any massage therapist who is consuming, or under the influence of, any alcoholic beverage or illegal controlled substance.
(f) 
No massage shall be given unless the client's genitalia and female breasts are, at all times, fully covered. Genitalia shall include the genitals, anus, and perineum of any person. No massage shall be provided to a client for sexual gratification by intentional contact, or occasional and repetitive contact with the client's genitalia or female breasts either covered or uncovered.
(g) 
No massage therapist or massage establishment shall place, publish or distribute or cause to be placed, published or distributed any advertising material that depicts any portion of the human body that would reasonably suggest to prospective clients that services prohibited by this chapter are available nor shall any massage therapist or massage establishment employ language in any advertising text or business name that would reasonably suggest to a prospective client that any service is available that is prohibited under this chapter.
(h) 
A massage therapist shall not violate the provisions of Cal. Penal Code § 647(a) (soliciting to engage in lewd or dissolute conduct in a public place) and Cal. Penal Code § 647(b) (soliciting to engage in or engaging in any act of prostitution), or any other state law involving a crime of moral turpitude, and such practices shall not be allowed or permitted by the massage business or at any massage establishment.
(Ord. 1334-CS, 11/13/2025)
All massage establishment owners, operators, employees, sole proprietors, independent contractors and any person performing massage within the City shall comply with all of the following operating requirements:
(a) 
CAMTC certification shall be worn by and on the massage therapist's person during working hours and at all times when the massage therapist is inside a massage establishment or providing outcall massage. No owner, operator or manager of a massage establishment shall allow or permit a person to administer massage for such establishment unless the practitioner possesses and wears a valid CAMTC certificate.
(b) 
Massage shall only be performed between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. No massage business shall be open and no massage shall be provided between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. A massage commenced prior to 10:00 p.m. shall terminate prior to 10:00 p.m. and all clients shall exit the massage establishment prior to 10:00 p.m.
(c) 
A list of services available and the cost of each service shall be posted in the reception area within the massage establishment, and shall be described in English if another language is also used to list the available services. Outcall service providers shall provide such a list to clients in advance of performing any service. No owner, manager, or operator shall permit, and no massage therapist shall offer to perform any service other than those posted or listed, as required herein, nor shall an owner, manager, or operator nor a massage therapist request or charge a fee for any service other than those on the list of available services posted in the reception area or provided to the client in advance of any outcall services.
(d) 
The massage establishment premises and facilities shall meet and be maintained in a condition to comply with all applicable code requirements of the City, including, but not limited to, those related to the safety of structures, adequacy of the plumbing, lighting, heating, ventilation, waterproofing of rooms in which showers, water or steam baths are used, and the health and cleanliness of the facility.
(e) 
Clients of the massage establishment shall be furnished with a private dressing room. Dressing rooms need not be separate from the room in which the massage is being performed.
(f) 
Toilet facilities shall be provided in convenient locations within the massage establishment and shall consist of at least one (1) unisex toilet with lavatories or wash basins provided with soap and both hot and cold running water either in the toilet room or vestibule.
(g) 
A minimum of one (1) wash basin for employees shall be provided at all times. The basin shall be located within or as close as practicable to the area devoted to performing of massage services. Soap and sanitary towels shall also be provided at each basin.
(h) 
The CAMTC certificate of each and every massage therapist performing massage shall be displayed in the reception area or in the area where massage is to be performed. CAMTC certificates of former employees, independent contractors, volunteers shall be removed as soon as those massage therapists are no longer performing massage at the location. All records of employees, independent contractors, volunteers who have performed massage for a massage business shall be retained for a period of two (2) years.
(i) 
Massage therapists shall be fully clothed at all times. Clothing shall be of a fully opaque, non-transparent material and said garments shall not expose their genitals, pubic areas, buttocks, or breasts.
(j) 
Every massage business shall keep a written or electronic record of the date and hour of each treatment administered, the name and address of each client, the name of the massage therapist administering treatment, and the type of treatment administered. Such written or electronic record shall be available for inspection by officials charged with the enforcement of this chapter. Such records shall be kept on the premises of a massage establishment for a period of two (2) years and shall be open to inspection by the City.
(k) 
Where the massage establishment has staff available to ensure security, the entry to the reception area of the massage business shall remain unlocked during business hours when the establishment is open for business or when clients are present.
(l) 
No massage establishment shall simultaneously operate as a school of massage, or share facilities with a school of massage.
(m) 
Minimum lighting consisting of at least one (1) artificial light of not less than forty (40) watts shall be provided and shall be operating in each room or enclosure where massage services are being performed on clients and in all areas where clients are present.
(n) 
No massage establishment shall allow any person to reside within the massage establishment or in any attached structures owned, leased or controlled by the massage establishment owners.
(o) 
All massage establishments must comply with all state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to disabled clients.
(p) 
All massage establishments must comply with the city's sign ordinance pursuant to Chapter 9-2 TMC.
(Ord. 1334-CS, 11/13/2025)
(a) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to perform or engage in the practice of massage for compensation within the City unless that person possesses a current, valid, unsuspended and unrevoked CAMTC certificate.
(b) 
It shall be unlawful for any massage business or massage establishment to provide massage for compensation within the City unless all persons employed by the massage business or massage establishment to perform massage, whether as an employee, independent contractor, volunteer, or sole-proprietorship, possess a current, valid, unsuspended and unrevoked CAMTC certificate.
(Ord. 1334-CS, 11/13/2025)
(a) 
Any individual holding a valid Business License and issued by the City to perform or engage in massage for compensation within the City prior to the effective date of this chapter may continue to provide such massage services under that license until that license expires, but shall otherwise comply with the requirements of this chapter. Upon expiration of said license issued by the City, any person who desires to continue to provide massage for compensation within the City shall first obtain a current, valid, unsuspended and unrevoked CAMTC certificate.
(b) 
Any massage business holding a valid Business License issued by the City to provide massage for compensation within the City may continue to operate as a massage business until the license expires provided that all of the massage business' employees providing massage services possess a CAMTC certificate or the equivalent state certificate for massage. Upon expiration of the massage business' City Business License, any massage business that desires to continue to provide massage for compensation within the City shall first ensure that all of the massage business' employees providing massage possess a current, valid, unsuspended and unrevoked CAMTC certificate.
(c) 
All persons, massage businesses or massage establishments, including its owners, operators, managers, and employees engaged in the practice of massage for compensation within the City, shall comply with all health and safety and operating requirements, set forth in TMC §§ 6-9-105 and 6-9-106, upon its effective date.
(Ord. 1334-CS, 11/13/2025)
(a) 
Any person or massage business shall obtain a valid City Business License pursuant to Chapter 3-1 TMC to conduct massage for compensation within the City. Applicant shall provide a copy of a current and valid CAMTC certificate for every person who will be performing or engaging in the practice of massage for the massage business. Such certificate[s] shall be provided to the Chief of Police or designee to confirm the validity of the certificate[s]. The Chief of Police or designee shall notify City staff whether or not the applicant has a valid CAMTC certificate and may proceed with the business license application process.
(b) 
Every massage business owner[s] or manager[s] who does not qualify as a massage therapist and is not CAMTC certified must obtain a Massage Business Permit and be subject to the requirements of TMC § 6-9-205 prior to the issuance of a City Business License. If any massage business owner[s] or manager[s] are denied a Massage Business Permit then a City Business License cannot be issued to the massage business until such time as the denied business owner[s] or manager[s] is removed from the application for the City Business License and replaced with a person who meets the requirements of this chapter.
(Ord. 1334-CS, 11/13/2025)
The City may, from time to time, request information from CAMTC pertaining to any person who possesses a CAMTC certificate and who is engaging in the practice of massage in the City. The requested information may include, but need not be limited to, the current status of a person's CAMTC certificate, any history of disciplinary action(s) taken against the person, the home and work addresses of the CAMTC certificate holder, and any other information that may be necessary to verify facts relevant to administering the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 1334-CS, 11/13/2025)
(a) 
Massage Business Permit. Every massage business owner[s] and manager[s] who do not possess a current and valid CAMTC certificate must obtain a Massage Business Permit from the Chief of Police, or his designee, prior to obtaining a business license, according to the procedures in this section. Notwithstanding this provision, business owner[s] and managers of a salon, spa, or day spa need not comply with this section if they are solely renting space to one or more certified massage therapist[s] as independent contractor[s] who meet all the provisions of this chapter and each such massage therapists shall be treated as an independent "massage business."
(1) 
The massage business owner[s] and manager[s] shall complete an application that requests information regarding topics including, but not limited to, the applicant's current business name and location, occupation, employment history for the five (5) years preceding the date of the application, and the name and address of any massage business or like establishment previously owned or managed by the applicant.
(2) 
All massage business owner[s] and manager[s] subject to this section shall personally appear at the City Police Department to be fingerprinted. The Chief of Police, or his designee, shall conduct or cause to be conducted on its behalf a background investigation of the applicant.
(3) 
At the time of the fingerprinting, the applicant shall pay the Police Department a fingerprinting fee and the cost of obtaining criminal history information and conducting a background investigation. Fees are set forth in the City's fee schedule in amounts established by resolution of the City Council as may be amended by the Council from time to time.
(4) 
The Chief of Police, or his designee, shall determine, based on the background investigation and the information submitted with the application, whether a Massage Business Permit shall be issued. If the Chief of Police, or his designee, determines that the applicant is not qualified, the Chief of Police, or his designee, shall inform the applicant in writing and specify the reasons for the denial. The City may deny a Massage Business Permit for the following reasons:
(i) 
The applicant has provided materially false information in applying for a Massage Business Permit;
(ii) 
Within five (5) years immediately preceding the date of the filing of the application the applicant has been convicted of, or pled guilty to, any of the following offenses: violation of Cal. Penal Code §§ 243.4, 261, 266a through 266j, inclusive, 267, 288, 314 to 316 inclusive, 318, 647(a), 647(b), 647(d), 647(i), 647(j), any offenses requiring registration under Cal. Penal Code § 290; any felony offense involving the possession for sale, sale, transportation, furnishing, or giving away of a controlled substance specified in Cal. Health & Safety Code §§ 11054 to 11058, inclusive, as amended; any offense in another state which, if committed in California, would have been punishable as one (1) or more of the offenses mentioned here, any offense involving the use of force or violence upon the person of another, or any offense involving theft, embezzlement, or moral turpitude;
(iii) 
Within five (5) years immediately preceding the date of the filing of the application the applicant has had a massage license suspended or revoked; unless the applicant can show mitigating circumstances exist since the revocation or suspension.
(5) 
Any person aggrieved by the decision of the Chief of Police, or his designee, may appeal that decision to the City Manager, or his designee, by filing a notice of appeal within ten (10) days of being notified of the decision.
(6) 
An appeal must be in writing, shall explain the reason(s) for the appeal and be mailed to the City Manager's Office, or his designee, with a filing fee in the amount established by resolution of City Council as may be amended by the Council from time to time within five (5) days of the date of the written notice. The City Manager, or his designee, shall schedule a hearing within thirty (30) days and provide written notice of the time, date and location of the hearing to the appellant.
(7) 
The hearing shall be conducted pursuant to Chapter 1-4 TMC. The City Manager, or his designee, shall render a decision within thirty (30) days of the conclusion of the hearing, unless the parties agree otherwise. The City Manager, or his designee, shall notify the appellant in writing of the decision. The decision of the City Manager, or his designee, may be appealed pursuant to Chapter 1-4 TMC.
(8) 
If a Massage Business Permit is granted by the Chief of Police, or his designee, it shall be valid until such time as the Permittee terminates the permit or the permit is suspended or revoked pursuant to TMC §§ 6-9-206 and 6-9-207. The permit shall be non-transferrable and cannot be sold.
(9) 
A massage business permittee shall notify the Chief of Police, or his designee, in writing at least thirty (30) days after the sale of the massage business or massage establishment for which he/she obtained the Massage Business Permit is completed.
(10) 
A Massage Business Permit shall be non-transferable and every new owner of a massage business or massage establishment who does not qualify as a massage therapist and is not CAMTC certified must obtain a Massage Business Permit before operating a massage business or massage establishment.
(11) 
The City may establish a nonrefundable fee by resolution adopted by the City Council, as amended from time to time, to recover costs associated with initial applications and renewals of a Massage Business Permit.
(b) 
Limited Exemption to CAMTC Certification for Massage Professionals. The City recognizes that some massage professionals currently practicing within the City may not meet the current requirements set forth by the CAMTC due to changes in educational or other requirements, particularly changes in requirements concerning hours of schooling, although the person has been in practice as a massage professional for a significant period. The city will therefore allow individuals who were working within the City as a massage professional prior to November 1, 2025, and who meet the requirements of this section to continue to practice massage as a massage professional under this exemption without certification from the CAMTC but with a Massage Business Permit under subsection (a).
(1) 
An individual seeking this exemption must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Police Chief or designee that the individual worked as a massage professional in the City, either pursuant to their own massage business or the massage business of another under the then applicable Turlock Municipal Code requirements for at least three years prior to November 1, 2025.
(2) 
An individual granted an exemption from the CAMTC certification requirement pursuant to this chapter shall be referred to as an "exempt therapist." An exempt therapist will be issued an exemption certificate in the form of a Massage Business Permit pursuant to subsection (a) above that includes a statement from the Police Chief or designee that the person met the requirements of this exemption. Any individual granted an exemption certificate is required to display, in the same manner this chapter requires the display of CAMTC certification, the exemption certificate showing that the person met the requirements of this exemption.
(3) 
An exemption from the CAMTC certification requirement pursuant to this section is valid for two years from the date of issuance of the exemption certificate and must be renewed every two years thereafter. Any exempt therapist who allows their exemption certificate to expire shall not be eligible to renew such exemption certificate or operate as a massage therapist under this exemption. Failure to obtain a renewal on or before the date an existing exemption certificate expires shall make the individual ineligible for a continued exemption.
(4) 
The City may establish a nonrefundable fee by resolution adopted by the Council, as amended from time to time, to recover costs associated with initial applications and renewals of an exemption certificate.
(5) 
An exempt therapist is subject to and shall comply with all the requirements of this chapter, except for the CAMTC certification requirements.
(6) 
Individuals who do not submit an initial application on or before March 31, 2026, for the exemption described in this section shall be ineligible to qualify for the exemption.
(Ord. 1334-CS, 11/13/2025)
The Chief of Police, or his designee, may suspend and/or revoke a Massage Business Permit issued under this chapter for one (1) or more of the following reasons:
(a) 
A Massage Business Permit was obtained with fraudulent or deceitful information.
(b) 
A massage business permittee violated a provision or provisions of this chapter or the massage therapy Act or some other state or federal law. Including a violation of Cal. Penal Code §§ 243.4, 261, 266a through 266j, inclusive, 267, 288, 314 to 316 inclusive, 318, 647(a), 647(b), 647(d), 647(i), 647(j), any offenses requiring registration under Cal. Penal Code § 290; any felony offense involving the possession for sale, sale, transportation, furnishing, or giving away of a controlled substance specified in Cal. Health & Safety Code §§ 11054 to 11058, inclusive, as amended, any offense in another state which, if committed in California, would have been punishable as one (1) or more of the offenses mentioned here, any offense involving the use of force or violence upon the person of another, or any offense involving theft, embezzlement, or moral turpitude.
(c) 
The massage business or massage establishment is not being maintained in compliance with the provisions of this chapter, the massage therapy Act (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 4600 through 4621), any other provision of the Turlock Municipal Code or any other local, state or federal law and the massage business permittee has failed to promptly remedy any deficiency for which they have received notice.
(d) 
The massage business or massage establishment has knowingly employed, allowed, or permitted a person who was not certified by CAMTC to perform massage services at the massage business or massage establishment.
(Ord. 1334-CS, 11/13/2025)
(a) 
The Chief of Police, or his designee, shall send written notice of the suspension or revocation shall be served on the business owner[s] or manager[s] by certified mail with the legal violation and supporting facts. The notice shall contain an advisement of the right to request an appeal.
(b) 
Suspension or revocation issued pursuant to subsection (a) shall be effective five (5) days from the date appearing on the notice, unless a timely appeal is filed in accordance with subsection (c).
(c) 
The decision of the Chief of Police, or his designee, may be appealed to the City Manager's Office, or his designee. An appeal must be in writing, shall explain the reason(s) for the appeal and be mailed to the City Manager's Office, or his designee, with a filing fee in an amount established by resolution of City Council as may be amended by the Council from time to time within five (5) days of the date of the written notice. The City Manager, or his designee, shall schedule a hearing within thirty (30) days and provide written notice of the time, date and location of the hearing to the appellant.
(d) 
The hearing shall be conducted pursuant to Chapter 1-4 TMC. The City Manager, or his designee, shall render a decision within thirty (30) days of the conclusion of the hearing, unless the parties agree otherwise. The City Manager, or his designee, shall notify the appellant in writing of the decision. The decision of the City Manager, or his designee, may be appealed pursuant to Chapter 1-4 TMC.
(Ord. 1334-CS, 11/13/2025)
The investigating and enforcing officials of the City, including but not limited to the Chief of Police, or his designees, Chief Building Official or his designees, the Chief of the Fire Department or his designee, shall have the right to enter the massage business or the massage establishment premises, from time to time, during regular business hours, for the purpose of making reasonable inspections to observe and enforce compliance with applicable laws, statutes and regulations, and with the provisions of this chapter. The Chief Building Official and/or the Chief of the Fire Department may charge a fee for any safety inspections, which shall be established by Council.
(Ord. 1334-CS, 11/13/2025)
Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to exempt any person from complying with the provisions of any other applicable ordinance, rule, or regulation, or to exempt a massage business, massage establishment, or massage therapist from the provisions of any zoning, licensing or other building ordinance, rule or regulation.
(Ord. 1334-CS, 11/13/2025)
(a) 
Any person or business licensee shall notify the City Finance Department of any amendments or changes necessary to the information provided to the City pursuant to TMC § 6-9-203.
(b) 
Any person or business licensee who holds a City Business License pursuant to TMC § 6-9-203 shall inform the City Finance Department and Chief of Police within five (5) days if any of following events occur:
(1) 
Arrest of any employee, owner, manager, or operator of the massage business or massage establishment.
(2) 
Any event involving an employee, owner, manager, operator or independent contractor, volunteer that may constitute a violation of this chapter or any state or federal law.
(c) 
This provision shall be complied with even if the licensee believes that the City has or will receive the information from another source.
(Ord. 1334-CS, 11/13/2025)
Any massage business or massage establishment operated, conducted, or maintained contrary to the provisions of this chapter shall be unlawful and a public nuisance, and the City Attorney may, in the exercise of discretion, 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 any manner provided by law, and shall take such other steps and shall apply to such court(s) as may have jurisdiction to grant such relief as will abate or remove such businesses and restrain and enjoin any person from operating, conducting, or maintaining a massage business or massage establishment contrary to the provisions of this chapter. All remedies provided for in this chapter are cumulative.
(Ord. 1334-CS, 11/13/2025)
Any massage establishment or business operated, conducted, or maintained contrary to the provisions of this chapter shall constitute an unlawful business practice pursuant to Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200 et seq., and the City Attorney and/or District Attorney may, in the exercise of its discretion, in addition to or in lieu of taking any other action permitted by this chapter, commence an action or actions, proceeding or proceedings in an appropriate court of jurisdiction, seeking an injunction prohibiting the unlawful business practice and/or any other remedy available at law, including but not limited to fines, attorney's fees and costs.
(Ord. 1334-CS, 11/13/2025)
A violation of any of the provisions or failing to comply with any of the mandatory requirements of this chapter shall constitute a misdemeanor and at the discretion of the City Attorney, a violation of any provision of this chapter may be prosecuted in a criminal court. Any violation of this chapter prosecuted as a misdemeanor shall be punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) per violation or by imprisonment in the County Jail for a period of not more than six (6) months, or by both fine and imprisonment. All remedies provided for in this chapter are cumulative.
(Ord. 1334-CS, 11/13/2025)
A violation of any of the provisions or failing to comply with any of the mandatory requirements of this chapter may result in the issuance of an administrative citation and the City may, at its discretion, seek an administrative fine of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).
(a) 
Each violation of any provision of this chapter shall constitute a separate and distinct violation for each and every day during which any violation of any provision of this chapter is committed, continued or permitted by such person.
(b) 
Notice of the assessed fine shall be served by certified mail with the legal violation and supporting facts. The notice shall contain an advisement of the right to file an appeal and the process for contesting the imposition of the fine with the City. The appeal process and timeline shall follow those procedures and timelines set forth in Chapter 1-4 TMC.
(c) 
If an appeal is not filed and the fine is not paid within thirty (30) days from either the date of the notice of fine or a notice of determination from the Hearing Officer, the fine may be referred to a collection agency within or external of the City.
(d) 
Any outstanding amounts owed to the City may be recovered through a lien against any real property owned by the offending party or a personal obligation lien against the offending party.
(Ord. 1334-CS, 11/13/2025)
Pursuant to the City Attorney's prosecutorial discretion, the City may enforce violations of this chapter as criminal, civil, and/or administrative violations utilizing administrative remedies. All remedies provided for in this chapter are cumulative.
(Ord. 1334-CS, 11/13/2025)