§ 5.52.020 — Definitions

5.52.020 - Definitions.

For the purposes of this chapter, the following words, items and phrases shall have the meaning given herein: Accredited Recognized School means an "approved school" or "approved massage school" as defined in California Business and Professions Code Section 4600(a). California Massage Therapy Council means the organization that provides voluntary statewide certification of Massage Therapists pursuant to California Business and Professions Code Section 4601(c), and to Massage Practitioners pursuant California Business and Professions Code Sections 4601(b), 4604(a), and 4604(c). Compensation means the payment, loan, advance, donation, contribution, deposit, exchange or gift or money, or anything of value. Crime means a crime or public offense as defined under Penal Code Section 15 and 16 or offense under a local ordinance. Effective date means 30 after the second reading of this chapter by City Council. Employee means any person who renders any service, including offers to, soliciting, or performing any type of massage, with or without compensation, to a massage establishment relating to the day-to-day operation of the massage establishment. This shall include independent contractors and unpaid volunteers. Massage means any method of treating the external parts of the body for remedial, hygienic, relaxation or any other reason or purpose, whether by means of pressure or friction against, or stroking, kneading, tapping, pounding, vibrating, rubbing or other manner of touching external parts of the body with the hands, with or without the aid of any mechanical or electrical apparatus or appliance or with or without supplementary aids such as rubbing alcohol, liniment, antiseptic, oil, powder, cream, ointment or other similar preparations commonly used in this practice. Massage does not include massaging the part of the body from the knee down to the toes or from the elbow down to the fingertips. Massage establishment means any establishment having a fixed place of business where any person engages in, conducts, or carries on, or permits to be engaged in, conducted or carried on, massage. Massage technician is a person who offers to or solicits to perform a massage for compensation, holds himself or herself out to be a person who performs massage, or who actually performs a massage for compensation. A massage technician includes a Massage Practitioner as defined in Business and Professions Code section 4604.2. Owner means any person or entity having an ownership interest in the massage establishment. Property means the entire parcel of property on which the massage establishment is located not just a separate unit or suite. Service of Notice is governed by Chapter 1.17 of this Code. Sex offenses means an offense involving unlawful sexual conduct, such as prostitution, indecent exposure, pimping, sexual assault, sexual battery, and other similar offenses. State certificate means a massage therapist certificate or massage practitioner certificate issued by the California Massage Therapy Council ("CMTC"). Surrender also means revocation.

(Ord. 7757, § 104, 2026; Ord. 7482 § 1, 2019; Ord. 7372 § 2, 2017; Ord. 7326 § 3, 2016; Ord. 7121 § 1, 2011; Ord. 4109 § 1 (part), 1974)