Holistic Health Practitioners

San Diego Municipal Code ch. 3, art. 3, div. 44

in effect

San Diego Municipal Code § 33.4401 Purpose and Intent

§33.4401 Purpose and Intent It is the purpose and intent of this Division to provide for the orderly regulation of the massage services provided by any holistic health practitioner in the City of San Diego, and to protect the public health and welfare of the residents of the City of San Diego, by establishing minimum requirements for entry into the profession, preventing unqualified individuals from entering the profession, and by preventing unscrupulous individuals from using the profession for goals unrelated to maintaining human health and wellness. Nothing in this Division is intended to preclude holistic health practitioners from engaging in other non-medical health services, such as nutritional assistance or counseling, as long as the services are otherwise permitted under state and federal law. Nothing in this Division is intended to limit or define the holistic health practitioner’s scope of practice. It is intended to regulate massage services provided as part of the practice. Therefore, any holistic health services that are not listed in the definition contained in section 33.4402, such as nutritional counseling, are not police-regulated. (“Purpose and Intent” added 11–20–2000 by O–18886 N.S.; effective 7-1-2001.) (Amended 11-25-2014 by O-20437 N.S.; effective 12-25-2014.)

San Diego Municipal Code § 33.4402 Definitions

§33.4402 Definitions For purposes of this Division, defined terms appear in italics. The following definitions apply in this Division: Holistic health practitioner means a non-medical health care therapist who uses any method of pressure on, or friction against, or stroking, kneading, rubbing, tapping, pounding, vibrating, or stimulating the external parts of the human body with the hands or other parts of the body, with or without the aid of any mechanical or electrical apparatus or appliances, rubbing alcohol, liniments, antiseptics, oils, powders, creams, lotions, ointments or other similar substances; and who claims exemption from police regulation as a massage therapist pursuant to this Division. Holistic health practitioner business means any business that is owned and operated by one or more holistic health practitioners and that hires or contracts with other holistic health practitioners or massage therapists for the purpose of offering non-medical health care. Massage means any method of pressure on, or friction against, or stroking, kneading, rubbing, tapping, pounding, vibrating, or stimulating the external parts of the human body with the hands or other parts of the body, with or without the aid of any mechanical or electrical apparatus or appliances, or with or without supplementary aids such as rubbing alcohol, liniments, antiseptics, oils, powder, creams, lotions, ointments or other similar preparations commonly used in this practice. Massage therapist means any person who gives or administers a massage to another person, for any form of consideration whatsoever. NCBTMB means the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. NCCAOM means the National Certification Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Off-premise massage therapist means any person who provides massage services by appointment at a location other than premises licensed as a massage establishment. It includes massage therapists who provide off-premise massage services and who are self-employed and/or who contract with or work for a business other than a massage establishment. State-approved school means any school or institution within the United States, which is approved by the state in which it resides, for the teaching of massage. (“Definitions” added 11–20–2000 by O–18886 N.S.; effective 7-1-2001.) (Amended 11-25-2014 by O-20437 N.S.; effective 12-25-2014.)

San Diego Municipal Code § 33.4403 Permit Required for Holistic Health Practitioner, Business

§33.4403 Permit Required for Holistic Health Practitioner, Business (a) It is unlawful for any person to operate as a holistic health practitioner without a police permit, unless the holistic health practitioner is exempt pursuant to section 33.4407. (b) It is unlawful for any person to own or operate a holistic health practitioner business without a police permit, unless the business is exempt under section 33.4407. (c) Any business or person providing massage services not having a permit under this Division must comply with Division 35 of this Article, unless the business or person is exempt under section 33.4407 or section 33.3511. (“Permit Required for Holistic Health Practitioner, Business” added 11–20–2000 by O–18886 N.S.; effective 7-1-2001.) (Amended 11-25-2014 by O-20437 N.S.; effective 12-25-2014.)

San Diego Municipal Code § 33.4404 Holistic Health Practitioner Permit, Holistic Health Practitioner Business Permit Application Contents

§33.4404 Holistic Health Practitioner Permit, Holistic Health Practitioner Business Permit Application Contents To obtain a holistic health practitioner permit or business permit, each applicant shall furnish the following information to the Chief of Police: (a) The full true name and any other names ever used by the applicant. (b) The current residential address and telephone number of the applicant. (c) The address of the proposed holistic health practitioner business, or the name and address of the business at which the holistic health practitioner expects to be employed. (d) Each residential address of the applicant for the five years immediately preceding the date of the application, and the inclusive dates of each such address. (e) Written proof that the applicant is at least eighteen years of age. (f) Applicant’s height, weight, color of eyes and hair. (g) Photographs as specified by the Chief of Police. (h) Proof of successful completion of a national certification exam administered by a national professional certification organization approved by the Chief of Police. The exams administered by the NCBTMB and NCCAOM are approved by the Chief of Police. (i) Proof of satisfactory completion of 1,000 hours of instruction in any state-approved school devoted to holistic health practices and body therapies. The applicant must provide the Chief of Police with proof that the school(s) attended by the applicant are state-approved school(s). (j) Proof of membership in a nationally chartered organization devoted to holistic health and massage which requires members to obtain liability insurance, or proof of comparable liability insurance. (k) Applicant’s business, occupation, and employment for five years immediately preceding the date of the application. (l) Whether the applicant has ever had the same or similar type of license or permit issued by any agency or board, or any city, county, state, or federal agency suspended or revoked within five years immediately preceding the date of application, and the reason for the suspension or revocation. (m) All criminal convictions, including those dismissed pursuant to California Penal Code section 1203.4, except traffic, and the dates and places of the convictions. (n) Fingerprints. (“Holistic Health Practitioner Permit, Holistic Health Practitioner Business Permit Application Contents” added 11–20–2000 by O–18886 N.S.; effective 7-1-2001.) (Amended 11-25-2014 by O-20437 N.S.; effective 12-25-2014.)

San Diego Municipal Code § 33.4405 Grounds for Denial of Holistic Health Practitioner Permit, Business Permit

§33.4405 Grounds for Denial of Holistic Health Practitioner Permit, Business Permit In addition to the grounds for denial stated in section 33.0305, an application for a holistic health practitioner permit or business permit shall be denied for any of the following reasons: (a) The applicant has within five years immediately preceding the date of the filing of the application, been convicted of any of the following offenses: (1) any offense described in California Penal Code sections 266h, 266i, 315, 316, 318, 653.22, or 647(a) or (b); (2) any offense described in California Penal Code, Part One, Title 9, Chapters 7.5 and 7.6; or, (b) The applicant has within five years immediately preceding the date of the filing of the application been convicted of: a charge of violating any lesser included or lesser related offense, including California Penal Code section 415, in satisfaction of, or as a substitute for, an original charge of any of the offenses listed in section 33.4405(a). (c) The applicant has been convicted of any offense which requires registration as a sex offender under California Penal Code section 290. (“Grounds for Denial of Holistic Health Practitioner Permit, Business Permit” added 11–20–2000 by O–18886 N.S.; effective 7-1-2001.) (Amended 11-25-2014 by O-20437 N.S.; effective 12-25-2014.)

San Diego Municipal Code § 33.4406 Renewal for Holistic Health Practitioner Permit, Business Permit

§33.4406 Renewal for Holistic Health Practitioner Permit, Business Permit (a) Renewal of a permit shall be annual in accordance with section 33.0308. At the time of annual renewal, the permittee must provide proof of the following: (1) Twelve hours of continuing education in health or massage therapy. The continuing education hours must be obtained from a facility or organization approved by the NCBTMB or the NCCAOM, or a state-approved school or any other certification organization recognized by the Chief of Police; and (2) membership in a nationally chartered organization, which requires members to obtain liability insurance, or comparable liability insurance. (b) Additionally, the permittee must show proof that the permittee’s national certification is current. Proof from NCBTMB, NCCAOM, or any other certification organization recognized by the Chief of Police, is sufficient. (“Renewal for Holistic Health Practitioner Permit, Business Permit” added 11-20-2000 by O–18886 N.S.; effective 7-1-2001.) (Amended 11-25-2014 by O-20437 N.S.; effective 12-25-2014.)

San Diego Municipal Code § 33.4407 Exemptions

§33.4407 Exemptions (a) This Division does not apply to the following classes of individuals while engaged in the performance of the duties of their respective professions within the scope of their California state licenses: acupuncturists, aestheticians, barbers, chiropractors, cosmetologists, exercise physiologists, manicurists, nurses, occupational therapists, osteopaths, physical therapists, physicians, or surgeons. (b) This Division does not apply to trainers of any semiprofessional or professional athlete or athletic team, or trainers hired by a local, state or federal government agency. (c) This Division does not apply to any educational institution licensed by the State of California, including any portion of the institution providing massage services, such as student clinics and work study programs, regulated under the state license. However, this exemption does not apply to any business owned or operated by such an institution that is not regulated under the state license. (“Exemptions” added 11–20–2000 by O–18886 N.S.; effective 7-1-2001.) (Amended 11-25-2014 by O-20437 N.S.; effective 12-25-2014.)

San Diego Municipal Code § 33.4408 Permit Posting, Name Tags, and Operating Requirements for Holistic Health Practitioners, Business

§33.4408 Permit Posting, Name Tags, and Operating Requirements for Holistic Health Practitioners, Business (a) Every holistic health practitioner’s business tax certificate and police permit shall be readily available for inspection by a peace officer. (b) If a holistic health practitioner owns a business at a fixed business location, a copy of every holistic health practitioner permit and the massage therapist permit of all employees shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the business premises. (c) Each holistic health practitioner and massage therapist must wear a name tag on their outermost garment when providing holistic health services to a patron. The name tag must contain the therapist’s name as it appears on the police permit. This subsection, subsection (c), is regulatory only. (d) The holistic health practitioner business permittee shall ensure that all massage therapists employed by the permittee comply with Division 35 of this Article. (e) The holistic health practitioner business permittee shall ensure that all off-premise massage therapists contracting with the holistic health practitioner comply with Division 35 of this Article. (f) It is unlawful for any holistic health practitioner business permittee to employ another holistic health practitioner or massage therapist unless the employee has a valid police permit. (“Permit Posting, Name Tags, and Operating Requirements for Holistic Health Practitioners, Business” added 11–20–2000 by O–18886 N.S.; effective 7-1-2001.)

San Diego Municipal Code § 33.4409 Holistic Health Practitioner, Business, Advertising Requirements

§33.4409 Holistic Health Practitioner, Business, Advertising Requirements (a) Each holistic health practitioner licensed under the provisions of this Division shall include the number of their police permit in any advertisement of services appearing in any newspaper, telephone directory, other printed advertising medium, or electronic media. The reference does not have to contain the words “police permit.” “City of San Diego permit number 1111,” or similar language, will suffice so long as the correct police permit number is included. (b) Advertising hours other than those allowed in this Division is grounds for regulatory action against the permittee. This subsection is regulatory only. (c) In addition to any criminal penalty, a violation of California Business and Professions Code section 17500 (false or misleading statements) is grounds for regulatory action against the permittee. (“Holistic Health Practitioner, Business, Advertising Requirements” added 11–20–2000 by O–18886 N.S.; effective 7-1-2001.) (Amended 11-25-2014 by O-20437 N.S.; effective 12-25-2014.)

Source: City of San Diego Office of the City Clerk, San Diego Municipal Code and City Charter (docs.sandiego.gov PDFs)URL: https://docs.sandiego.gov/municode/MuniCodeChapter03/Ch03Art03Division44.pdf#page=1Fetched: 10/28/2026