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Santa Barbara committee hears police proposal to update massage ordinance; item continued after extensive public comment
Summary
Police and city attorneys proposed a rewrite of the city's massage ordinance to align with state CAMTC rules and add enforcement tools (employee rosters, live‑scan, inspections). Many massage practitioners and immigrant‑rights groups opposed parts of the draft; the committee continued the item to Jan. 13 to allow further review and revisions.
The Special Ordinance Committee on Dec. 16 heard a multi‑hour presentation and extensive public comment on a proposed update to the City of Santa Barbara's massage ordinance intended to align local code with the state Massage Therapy Act and to provide police and staff additional enforcement tools.
City Attorney Duimas and police staff framed the rewrite as an update to a 1976 ordinance that does not reflect current California law and that lacks effective administrative tools to address illicit activity in some establishments. Police presenters said the changes are intended to protect legitimate massage businesses while creating mechanisms—annual inspections and complaint‑driven unannounced inspections, employee rosters, live‑scan background checks for administrative staff, display requirements for permits and CAMTC certificates—to identify and address establishments that enable trafficking or prostitution.
Assistant City Attorney Heather Minter summarized state requirements under the CAMTC framework, including the 500‑hour minimum education standard for certification and the CAMTC role as the…
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