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Board approves massage-establishment ordinance with grandfathering; businesses urge staff to revisit manager certification requirement
Summary
The board adopted an ordinance amending Title 4, Chapter 4.36 of the Sacramento County Code governing massage establishments. The ordinance requires CAMTC certification for new managers and providers but grandfathers existing licensees; business speakers requested staff reexamine the manager certification due to workforce concerns.
The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Jan. 7, 2025, to adopt an ordinance amending Title 4, Chapter 4.36 of the Sacramento County Code that updates requirements for massage establishments and providers.
Supervisor Rich Desmond introduced concerns raised by local operators about a provision that would require massage managers to hold a CAMTC (California Massage Therapy Council) certificate. County staff explained the ordinance would grandfather currently licensed managers but require CAMTC certification for new applicants, whether a manager or provider. Chad (county staff) told the board the grandfathering provision means the ordinance would not create an immediate interruption for existing businesses and staff would return with options if the board directed further review.
Members of the massage and business community urged the board to reconsider the manager-certification requirement before it becomes an operational burden for larger employers. BJ Pitts, a licensed massage therapist, said therapists “are not trained in our schooling for management or business,” and cautioned that requiring managers to obtain CAMTC certification could be onerous for establishments. Tony Psychotis, another therapist, asked that managers be made accountable in the same way owners are for disciplinary matters so that a manager disciplined for violations could not simply move to another location without repercussions.
Aaron Myers, who identified himself as the owner of three massage businesses in unincorporated areas, said CAMTC staff told him they do not believe the manager should be required to be certified, and he asked the board to consider alternatives that would address illicit commercial activity without imposing unnecessary burdens on compliant businesses.
Supervisor Desmond moved approval of the consent calendar including the ordinance; he said he supported adoption because of the grandfather clause and asked staff to return with options to address the workforce concern for managers in larger establishments. The motion passed unanimously.
Action requested: staff to consider additional options to address manager accountability and to return with recommendations to the board.
