A. It is the purpose and intent of this chapter to provide for the orderly regulation of massage therapists and massage establishments, as defined in this chapter, in the interest of public health, safety and welfare, by providing certain minimum qualifications for the operators of massage establishments and massage therapists. It also is the purpose of this chapter to recognize the voluntary statewide certification of massage therapists and massage practitioners by the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC). This chapter is adopted based on the following findings:
1. That the City has recognized the field of massage therapy as a viable professional field;
2. That the City wants to recognize and respect professional massage therapy organizations and qualified professionals that operate consistent with the provisions of Chapter 10.5 (commencing with Section 4600) of Division 2 of the California Business and Professions Code;
3. The City also finds that the rules and regulations as developed in this chapter strive for equality of all massage organizations and therapists, while attempting to prevent serious objectionable characteristics that massage parlor establishments may have created in the past.
B. It is intended that massage therapy is a profession of the healing arts and subject to all zoning ordinances and regulations as may be required for professional uses, consistent with and not preempted by the requirements of Chapter 10.5 (commencing with Section 4600) of Division 2 of the California Business and Professions Code.
C. It is also intended that massage uses not regulated or exempted by this chapter are considered massage parlors, thus regulated by the provisions in Chapter 19.104 regulating adult-oriented commercial activities. (Ord. 2095, (part), 2012; Ord. 2046, (part), 2009)