Press Release

February 28, 2006
Eileen Shields, Public Information Officer, 415/554-2507

Public Hearing on Changes to Massage Parlor Rules and Regulations
Owners and Practitioners Urged to Attend

San Francisco, CA -- The San Francisco Department of Public Health will hold a Public Hearing on Thursday, March 23, 9:30 a.m., 101 Grove St., Room 300, on the proposed modifications and additions to the rules and regulations for massage establishments and practitioners.

The public hearing is mandated by Section 1926 of Article 29 of the San Francisco Health Code. All licensed practitioners, facilities owners and outcall service providers are encouraged to attend.

The hearing will provide the opportunity for DPH staff to review the new proposed rules and regulations with owners and practitioners and answer questions.

Some of the new regulations include:

  • Facilities must be equipped with massage tables. No beds permitted.
  • Outside doors may be locked for security purposes. Inside doors cannot be locked.
  • A massage trainee practitioner’s permit will be issued for 90 days. One 90-day renewal will be allowed.
  • Chair massage therapists, previously not mentioned in the original ordinance, will come under the new regulations.

The Department of Public Health has been regulating massage facilities and therapists since July, 2004. This is the first set of changes to the original regulations. The ordinance recognizes that massage is a healing art and that regulation and enforcement of health and safety standards for massage is most appropriately conducted by the Department of Public Health

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