Section 51034.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 51034.
in effect(a)
The Legislature in enacting this chapter recognizes the existing power of a city or county to regulate a lawful massage business pursuant to Section 37101, or pursuant to Section 16000 or 16100 of the Business and Professions Code, or under Section 7 of Article XI of the California Constitution.
(b)
Nothing contained in this chapter shall be a limitation on that existing power or on the existing authority of a city to license for revenue purposes. A city, county, or city and county shall not enact or enforce an ordinance that conflicts with the provisions of this section or Chapter 10.5 (commencing with Section 4600) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code.
(c)
Nothing contained in this chapter shall authorize a city, county, or city and county to do any of the following:
(1)
Prohibit a person of one sex from engaging in the massage of a person of the other sex.
(2)
Define a massage establishment as an adult entertainment business, or otherwise regulate a massage establishment as adult entertainment.
(3)
Require a massage establishment to have windows or walls that do not extend from the floor to ceiling, or have other internal physical structures, including windows, that interfere with a client’s reasonable expectation of privacy.
(4)
Require a massage
establishment to have a shower or bath.
(5)
Impose client draping requirements that extend beyond the covering of genitalia and female breasts, or otherwise mandate that the client wear special clothing.
(6)
Prohibit a massage establishment from locking its external doors if the massage establishment is a business entity owned by one individual with one or no employees or independent contractors.
(7)
Require a massage establishment to post any notice in an area that may be viewed by clients that contains explicit language describing sexual acts, mentions genitalia, or specific contraception devices.
(8)
Impose a requirement that a person certified pursuant to
Chapter 10.5 (commencing with Section 4600) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code take any test, medical examination, or background check, including a criminal background check or requiring submission of fingerprints for a federal or state criminal background check, or comply with education requirements beyond what is required by Chapter 10.5 (commencing with Section 4600) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code.
(9)
Impose a requirement that an individual holding a certificate issued in accordance with Chapter 10.5 (commencing with Section 4600) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, obtain any other license, permit, certificate, or other authorization to provide massage for compensation. However, this paragraph shall not be construed to prohibit a city, county, or city and county
from requiring by ordinance that a massage business or establishment obtain a license, permit, certificate, or other authorization in order to operate lawfully within the jurisdiction.
(10)
Impose a dress code requirement on a person certified pursuant to Chapter 10.5 (commencing with Section 4600) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code in excess of those already imposed pursuant to paragraph (10) of subdivision (a) of Section 4609 of the Business and Professions Code.
(11)
Prohibit a person certified pursuant to Chapter 10.5 (commencing with Section 4600) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code from performing massage for compensation on the gluteal muscles, prohibit specific massage techniques recognized by the California Massage Therapy Council as legitimate,
or impose any other specific restriction on professional practice beyond those set forth in subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 4609 of the Business and Professions Code, except as authorized by Section 460 of the Business and Professions Code.
References
referencesCal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 4600.
referencesCal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 4609.
referencesCal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 460.
referencesCal. Government Code - GOV § 37101.
referencesCal. Government Code - GOV § 16000.
referencesCal. Government Code - GOV § 7.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026