SLO County beach city might start regulating massage businesses. What to know
Bright, neon signs advertising massage services cast a green glow on the streets of Morro Bay. On Tuesday night, the Morro Bay City Council considered new ways to regulate those businesses.
The Morro Bay Police Department found no evidence of illicit activity occurring at massage businesses this year, despite rumors running rampant throughout the city. So city staff set out to create a policy that protects legitimate massage businesses, while preventing establishments from using massage services as a cover for prostitution and sex trafficking.
On Tuesday, the Morro Bay City Council voted unanimously to ask staff to draft an ordinance that creates a local permitting and background check process for massage business and practitioners. Staff will present the ordinance to the Council on Dec. 9.
“Once these are in place, it’s going to discourage the bad actors,” Mayor Carla Wixom said.
The city currently has about 12 massage businesses, Morro Bay Police Department Chief Amy Watkins said.
Police conducted two regulatory checks at massage businesses in 2025, but neither revealed illicit activity, she said.
Police will respond to complaints about illicit activity, but unless a crime is actively being committed when police arrive, there’s nothing the Police Department can do to further investigate the business, Watkins said.
That’s why she recommended a local permitting process — so businesses and their employees are properly vetted before they start operating, and the Police Department can regularly check businesses to make sure they are operating safely for their employees and the public, she said.
City may create new permitting process for massage businesses
If approved, the ordinance would require all massage businesses to secure a local license to operate, which includes a background check conducted by the police chief, Watkins said.
The license could be denied if the applicant had “prior offenses related to the operation of a massage establishment whether as an owner or technician,” the staff report said.
To keep the license, the establishment would be required to maintain a valid business tax certificate and share proof with the Police Department by Aug. 30 each year. Additionally, a business must notify the police chief about a change in ownership, so police could conduct a new background check.
The ordinance would also require massage businesses to be clean, in compliance with building and zoning codes, provide a list of all services and prices, follow lighting requirements, limit operating hours from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and they may not have “exposing or touching areas,” which is also prohibited by California Massage Therapy Council, the staff report said.
The Police Department would conduct regular site inspections to ensure compliance. Police would first issue a notice of violation, then impose fines or suspend or revoke the license for repeat offenders.
Right now, the city doesn’t require people to have any technical certification to work as a massage therapist.
The new ordinance would change that, requiring local massage practitioners to have a certificate from the state-created California Massage Therapy Council or a license from the city to operate.
Practitioners applying for a local license would need to pass a background check conducted by the police chief.
Grover Beach, Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles have all passed similar ordinances, Watkins said.
Watkins advised the city to allow massage practitioners to apply for a license exemption if they had been working for the city for five years before the ordinance is passed.
Councilmember Jeff Eckles said he supports the ordinance, but he asked staff to consider limiting the number of massage establishments allowed in the city, as well as limiting their proximity to each other.
Morro Bay resident Susan Stewart said she supports the ordinance — as long as massage practitioners are properly consulted while it’s being drafted.
She advised the city to reach out to massage businesses in multiple languages for feedback about the ordinance, because some of those business owners speak limited English. She said it’s important for everyone impacted by the proposed ordinance to have the chance to comment.
“I think something like this can help validate these legitimate practitioners and give them maybe even more of a step up in their profession,” she said during public comment. “I hope you do go through with some sort of ordinance on this that’s fair and reasonable.”
City staff will present a draft ordinance to the City Council on Dec. 9.
This story was originally published November 14, 2025 at 10:10 AM.
