(A) Except as provided in subsections (B) and (C) of this section, it is unlawful for any person to keep, maintain or operate a massage establishment, or to perform massage for a fee, profit or other compensation, in the city, in violation of this chapter or without having first obtained a massage establishment permit, from the city of Taft. Except as otherwise provided in this section, each massage therapist must hold a valid massage permit. No more than one massage establishment permit shall be required for any establishment in a single location.
An independent contractor conducting massage, must obtain a Taft city business license regardless of the exceptions in subsections (B) and (C) of this section.
(B) Subsection (A) of this section shall not apply to the following persons and establishments wherein the only persons performing massage are the following:
1. Physicians, nurses, physical therapists, chiropractors, osteopaths or cosmetologists licensed in their respective professions by the state of California pursuant to the code of Business and Professions.
2. Massage therapists holding valid diplomas or certificates of graduation from a school or other institution licensed by the state of California (wherein the method, profession or work of massage is taught, showing completion of at least 100 classroom hours and 100 hours of internship, both on the subject of massage) performing under the direction of, and in the presence of, a physician, nurse, physical therapist, chiropractor, or osteopath licensed by the state of California pursuant to the code of Business and Professions.
(C) Health facilities licensed as such by the state of California pursuant to the Health and Safety Code, shall not be required to obtain a permit as a massage establishment. Persons holding a massage therapist permit, or who are otherwise authorized to perform massage pursuant to this section, may perform massage on residents in such health facilities without having obtained a permit. (Ord. 714-04, 7-6-2004; amd. Ord. 835-20, 5-5-2020)