Licenses generally; identification card; inspections; violations.

Biloxi Code of Ordinances § 12-2-2

in effect

Sec. 12-2-2. - Licenses generally; identification card; inspections; violations. (a) Term of licenses; posting; assignment. Licenses issued pursuant to this article shall be valid, except as otherwise provided in this article, from the date of issuance through December 31 of the year in which the license is issued. Any license obtained as required by this article shall be posted and kept in a conspicuous place in the massage parlor or establishment. A license issued pursuant to this article shall not be assignable to any other person. (b) License fees. The fees or charges for the licenses required pursuant to this article shall be $500.00 per year per massage parlor or massage establishment and $25.00 per year per massagist, until the further resolution of the mayor and council of the city. The fee or charge is assessed and levied against each such massage parlor or massage establishment or massagist to create revenues sufficient to administer the provisions of this article, and such revenues shall be paid into the general fund of the city when collected. The tax collector of the city shall receive all applications for licenses upon such forms as prescribed and he shall collect all fees or charges connected therewith. (c) Inspections. The city shall be authorized to make or cause to be made inspections to determine compliance with the provisions of this article in any massage parlor or establishment in order to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of the public. The city shall also have authority to direct that the health department of the county shall be authorized to make or cause to be made inspections to determine the sanitary conditions of any massage establishment in order to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of the public. Such inspections may be made at any time during which a massage parlor or massage establishment is open for business pursuant to the provisions of this article. (d) Compliance with zoning regulations. The provisions of this article shall in no way affect or limit the provisions and requirements of any zoning ordinances of the city. (e) Violations; penalties. The operation of any business, administration of any massage or use of any license issued pursuant to this article contrary to any provision of this article, or the failure to comply with any provision of this article, shall: (1) Constitute a violation of this article which shall be punishable by a fine of $1.00 to $500.00 or imprisonment of one day to 90 days for each offense, or both. Each day the offense continues shall be a new and separate offense subject to the same penalty. (2) If continued, be deemed and considered a nuisance and be subject to abatement in the county court in the same manner as in a chancery court proceeding. (3) Subject the violator to any other provision for suspension, revocation or denial of the license as provided in this article and any other civil or criminal action or penalty or proceeding provided by law. (f) Exceptions. The provisions of this article shall not apply to gymnasia or other premises wherein persons engage in bona fide athletic or conditioning activities, or any duly licensed barbershop, beauty parlor, chiropractic clinic or other premises of a person practicing a vocation or profession regulated and licensed by the state. (g) Administration of massage without license prohibited. Other than as specifically excepted in subsection (f) of this section, no massage shall be administered by a person who does not have a current valid massagist license. (h) Identification card required; issuance. It shall be required that, upon the issuance of a massage establishment license or a massagist license under this article, every person issued such a license shall obtain and carry in his possession an identification card, to be obtained from the police department of the city upon application. At the time of application for such identification card, the applicant shall be fingerprinted and the applicant shall be required to list all previous convictions or charges against him in any jurisdiction within the United States, list the places of residence for the past five years of the person, and provide a birth certificate or a positive identification of the applicant, as well as the name, social security number, height, weight and color of hair and eyes of the person, and any other information deemed necessary by the police officials. An identification card shall be issued on the day the application is filed with the police officials. If it is later determined that true, complete and accurate information has not been furnished to the police officials, the identification card shall be withdrawn from the applicant. The identification card shall name each establishment wherein the person is the owner or employee, and shall state whether the person is the owner or employee at the establishment, and shall contain thereon the picture, fingerprints, name, date of birth, place of birth, social security number, height, weight and color of hair and eyes of the person, along with any other information deemed necessary by the police officials. (i) Persons ineligible for identification card. It is further provided that: (1) No identification card referred to in subsection (h) of this section shall be issued to any person convicted of prostitution or soliciting for prostitution within the past five years; (2) No identification card shall be issued to any person convicted of a felony or narcotics misdemeanor or of violation of state laws prohibiting gambling within the past ten years; and (3) No identification card shall be issued to any person who has two or more convictions for a felony or narcotics misdemeanor or for violation of the state laws prohibiting gambling within the past 20 years. (Code 1959, § 11A-22)

Source: City of Biloxi, Mississippi, Code of Ordinances and Land Development Ordinance (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ms/biloxi/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH12LIBURE_ARTIIMAPAMAESMA_S12-2-2LIGEIDCAINVIFetched: 11/1/2026