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Council refers massage-establishment rules to Internal Affairs after noting state preemption
Summary
Councilmember Tandon asked Internal Affairs to review local rules for massage establishments to ensure state alignment and public safety; police and legal staff said the city can regulate facilities (hours, land use) but cannot add requirements for state-certified therapists, and the council voted unanimously to refer the matter to Internal Affairs.
Councilmember Tandon requested that the Internal Affairs Committee review local regulation of massage establishments to ensure compliance with state recommendations and to promote safety; she cited community concerns about unlicensed operations and potential human-trafficking issues. "Trying to make them all legal," she said, describing the goal as increasing safety and adherence to state standards.
Police staff said they had received complaints in the past and would await direction from the council. Legal staff explained state preemption limits: the city can regulate land use, hours and facility health and safety standards, but cannot impose additional credentialing requirements on individuals who already hold state-issued certification from the California Massage Therapy Council. A private-sector commenter who works in commercial real estate suggested background checks and licensing incentives for landlords to discourage bad actors.
The council voted 7-0 to refer the matter to the Internal Affairs Committee, with several members asking staff to seek DA office input and consider appropriate regulatory tools that comply with state law.
