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Board approves second reading of county ordinance to license massage businesses and deter illicit activity
Summary
Douglas County commissioners adopted an ordinance on second reading to require licensure of massage facilities, aligning local rules with recent state statutory changes to strengthen background checks and record-keeping and to help deter illicit massage operations and human trafficking.
Douglas County commissioners gave second and final reading to an ordinance creating local licensure requirements for massage establishments to deter illicit massage businesses and to prevent human trafficking.
Background and legal context: County Attorney Jeff Garcia explained the ordinance incorporates the county's initial licensing framework and reflects changes enacted by the Colorado legislature (referred to in the staff presentation as “House Bill 24 13 71”) that made certain licensing provisions mandatory and added state-level requirements. The updated county ordinance preserves the county's definitions, enforcement authority and prohibited-acts provisions while adding statutory elements now required by state law, including expanded background-check provisions and specified record-keeping responsibilities for licensees.
Why it matters: County staff said the ordinance aligns local licensing with new state statutes, clarifies licensing requirements for both compliance and enforcement, and provides mechanisms for county enforcement to address illicit massage activity and related criminal conduct.
Board action: A commissioner moved and seconded the second and final reading of the ordinance. The board voted by voice and the chair announced the motion carried (three ayes). Publication was scheduled for Feb. 6 per the staff presentation and the ordinance was stated to take effect in March (date in packet references March 2025 as the effective month). County staff noted this action follows a prior first reading and a public process to align local code with state law.
Follow-up: County departments will implement licensure processes consistent with the ordinance text and the state statutory changes; the county attorney's office and Community Development staff will administer permit applications, background checks and enforcement.
Provenance: The county attorney and county staff presented the ordinance on second reading during the Jan. 28, 2025 land use meeting (Item 3c); the board took final reading and voted to adopt the ordinance.
