SERVICE
Apply to operate a massage establishment
Get a General Establishment or Sole Practitioner permit to own and operate a massage business in a fixed location.
What to know
Cost
You’ll need to pay:
- An application fee
- A background check fee (if necessary)
- And an annual license fee
Check the fee schedule for the application and license fees. See below for more information on the background check.
Other permits you might need
All massage practitioners need a Massage Therapist License from the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) to work in San Francisco. If you are practicing massage at locations determined by your client, you need an Outcall Practitioner Permit.
What to know
Cost
You’ll need to pay:
- An application fee
- A background check fee (if necessary)
- And an annual license fee
Check the fee schedule for the application and license fees. See below for more information on the background check.
Other permits you might need
All massage practitioners need a Massage Therapist License from the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) to work in San Francisco. If you are practicing massage at locations determined by your client, you need an Outcall Practitioner Permit.
What to do
1. Check that your location is zoned for massage
Contact the Planning Department. If your location is not zoned for massage, you will need to find a new location. If you will be constructing a building or remodeling, you need a permit from the Department of Building Inspection.
2. Register your massage business
Contact the Treasurer and Tax Collector to open a Business Registration account.
If you are changing the owner of an existing massage establishment, you'll need to follow a different process.
3. Complete the permit application
If your establishment has 2 or more practitioners, you need apply for a General Establishment permit. If you are the only practitioner, you need the Sole Practitioner permit. 2 people with their own Sole Practitioner permits can share a single space.
4. Submit a background check form and fee
If you have a Massage Therapist License from the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) you do not need to complete this background check.
You are required to undergo a background check and submit fingerprint information to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation via the Live Scan Process if you are a massage business owner without a CAMTC License.
Previously processed fingerprint cards or photocopies of fingerprint impressions are not acceptable. Applicants who have been fingerprinted via Live Scan by other agencies or for other purposes must be Live Scan fingerprinted again in order to supply the agency specific information required by SFDPH.
Live Scan fingerprints must be taken in the State of California.
Fingerprint Fees
The DOJ and FBI fingerprint processing fees are established by the DOJ and FBI respectively and are subject to change by those agencies without notice. A processing fee is also charged by the Live Scan Vendor. The local Live Scan Vendor will inform you of accepted methods of payment.
The Live Scan Fingerprint Process
All required applicants must complete and submit the pre-populated “SFDPH Massage Live Scan Application Form" which you will need to print and bring with you to the Live Scan Vendor. Your SFDPH Live Scan Request form has been pre-populated with the SFDPH identifying information required by the DOJ. The only section you need to complete is the “Applicant Information” section of the form.
Please take care to note the following as you complete the “Applicant Information” section of your Live Scan Request form:
- Your name on the Live Scan Request form must be identical to the name you provided on your application to SFDPH.
- To facilitate prompt and accurate processing, please PRINT LEGIBLY or TYPE as you fill in the “Applicant Information” section of the Live Scan Request Form.
1) Complete the pre-populated "SFDPH Massage Live Scan Application Form"
2) Choose a local Live Scan Vendor from the DOJ list
3) Take your completed Live Scan Request form to the Live Scan Vendor of your choice.
4) Bring your Driver's License and/or other form of photo identification with you (passport, military ID, etc.).
5) Provide the Live Scan Fee to the Live Scan Operator.
6) Once your fingerprints have been scanned, the Live Scan operator will complete the last section of your Live Scan Request form. Ask for a copy of the completed form for your records. Send a scanned copy of your completed form to the Massage Program at EHmassage@sfdph.org
When will SFDPH receive my Live Scan Results from DOJ/FBI?
Fingerprints are rejected on occasion due to the applicant's fingerprints having characteristics that are difficult to capture in the Live Scan process. If your fingerprints are rejected by DOJ/FBI, SFDPH will notify you via mail with instructions on how to be re-printed.
Please note that SFDPH expressly cannot guarantee that you will be approved for your permit on a specific date or within a specific time period, due to elements of the application process that are beyond the control of SFDPH. Such elements include, but are not limited to receipt of required documentation or supplementary information and fingerprint results from the DOJ and FBI.
Once we receive the above elements, as well as a completed and signed application with payment, the SFDPH massage application process can continue. If you have feedback or questions, email at ehmassage@sfdph.org or call us at 415-252-3800.
5. Pay the license fee
Check the fee schedule for the exact amount. Permits are valid for 1 year. You must pay your license fee each year to keep your permit valid.
If you need to change your mailing address, fill out the Change of Address Form and send it to EHmassage@sfdph.org.
Special cases
If you have a professional license
You do not need a permit if you are licensed in California in one of these professions:
- Physician
- Surgeon
- Chiropractor
- Osteopath
- Nurse
- Physical therapist
Switching between permit types
If you already have a General Establishment permit and you want to start practicing massage in locations determined by your client, you need an Outcall Permit.
If you already have a Sole Practitioner permit and you want to start practicing massage in locations determined by your client, you do not need to reapply. Call 415-252-3800 to let us know.