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Council advances first reading to tighten licensing, enforcement for massage and bodywork businesses
Summary
Council introduced Ordinance 2026-11 to strengthen licensing, inspections and penalties for massage, bodywork and somatic therapy establishments, citing gaps that limited police enforcement after searches. The measure sets application and renewal requirements, fingerprinting, sanitation standards, operating hours and fines up to $2,000; it passed first reading and will return for further consideration.
Washington Borough Council on May 19 introduced on first reading Ordinance 2026-11, a comprehensive amendment to Chapter 54 of the borough code that tightens licensing, inspection and enforcement rules for massage, bodywork and somatic therapy businesses.
Borough Manager Brian Bond told council "the borough has an extremely weak ordinance," and said the proposed changes would give municipal officials clearer authority to require licensing, conduct inspections and, when warranted, suspend or close establishments. Police leadership argued the change was necessary to fill enforcement gaps. "As a result of a search conducted by police, they cannot shut down a business with the current ordinance," Chief Jones said, urging the update to allow temporary closure and other remedies until an establishment is brought into compliance.
The ordinance text specifies definitions for "massage, bodywork and somatic therapy" and related terms; requires municipal licenses for establishments and municipal certificates for non-therapist employees; mandates fingerprinting and electronic criminal-history checks; and imposes application and renewal procedures. Operating and sanitation standards include posted prices, client recordkeeping, laundering rules for linens, and a requirement that establishments be closed between 9:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. The measure also sets penalties — fines up to $2,000, potential imprisonment up to 90 days, and staged suspension periods (30, 60, 90 days) culminating in revocation for repeat violations.
Council voted to introduce the measure on first reading (roll call recorded in the minutes); the ordinance's text indicates further administrative steps before final adoption, including inspections by Construction, Health, Police and Zoning officials and the usual second-reading procedures.
