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Council adopts ordinance to license massage-therapy and body-work establishments, citing trafficking and enforcement gaps
Summary
Council adopted a city ordinance to license fixed-site massage and body-work establishments (effective April 1, 2026), setting sanitation, hours, recordkeeping and criminal-background rules; police and staff said the change responds to advertisements and enforcement limits that have hampered shutting down illicit operations.
Council adopted an ordinance Jan. 27 requiring licensing of fixed-location massage therapy and body-work service establishments beginning April 1, 2026, with a modest fee schedule and operational rules aimed at distinguishing legitimate providers from illicit operations.
City staff (presenter identified as Speaker 24) told council the Norman Police Department and staff have observed an "uptick" in businesses that advertise on illicit web sites and that, under prior law, the city lacked authority to license establishments (state law historically licensed individual therapists, not businesses). The presenter said the legislative change in Senate Bill 644 (state law referenced by staff) enabled municipalities to implement licensing. "So what this ordinance proposes is that beginning 04/01/2026, all massage therapy and body work services establishments would be required to be licensed," staff said.
Key requirements in the ordinance include a $50 initial fee and $25 annual renewal, posted prices, sanitary working environment standards, retention of appointment records for three years, employee registers, limits on operating hours (8 a.m.–10 p.m. unless otherwise permitted), no locked interior doors for service rooms, and prohibitions on sexualized conduct and exposure of private areas. License denial grounds include certain felony convictions or prior licensing suspensions in the past five years. Staff said enforcement will include administrative revocation, criminal charges up to $750 and/or 60 days in jail, and injunctive relief where necessary.
Local massage therapists participated in drafting and staff said the ordinance was adjusted after outreach. Council members and some public commenters expressed support; others raised questions about language and outreach to practitioners. Planning Commission reviewed zoning-related changes and recommended approval.
Council adopted the ordinance on final reading unanimously.
What happens next: staff will implement an education and licensing rollout for businesses and update related code sections referenced in the ordinance.
Representative quote: "When we go in and we do stings or arrest offenders, under current ordinances or state law, we cannot shut down the business," staff said to explain the enforcement gap the ordinance seeks to close.
