For AI agents: read the machine-readable documentation index at /llms.txt or the single-file full reference at /llms-full.txt.
Form a Business

MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS AND INDEPENDENT MASSAGE THERAPISTS

Las Vegas Municipal Code tit. 6, ch. 6.52
in effect

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 6.52.010 License types and applicability.

6.52.010 - License types and applicability. (A) The City Council hereby finds that massage establishments seriously affect the economic, social and moral well-being of the City and its residents, that such businesses must be regulated strictly for the welfare of the public, and that such businesses must therefore comply with LVMC Chapter 6.06, as well as the provisions of this Chapter. Although the Nevada Legislature has removed the ability of the City to regulate massage therapists as to their qualifications and practices, the City retains its authority to: (1) Require massage therapists and massage establishments to obtain a City business license; and (2) Regulate the manner in which massage establishments themselves may operate. (B) Except as otherwise provided in this Subsection (B) and LVMC 6.52.180, the issuance and governance of individual massage therapist licenses, including those for independent massage therapists, shall be in accordance with LVMC Chapter 6.02. The issuance and governance of licenses for massage establishment licensee practitioners shall be in accordance with LVMC Chapter 6.06 and this Chapter. (Ord. No. 6761, § 1, 12-16-20; Ord. 5998 § 96, 2008: Ord. 5491 § 1, 2002: Ord. 4024 § 3, 1996)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 6.52.020 Definitions.

6.52.020 - Definitions. Unless the context otherwise requires, the following words, as they appear in this Chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this Section: "Ancillary medical massage therapy" means the provision of massage therapy by a massage therapist which is licensed by the City and State, limited to one room dedicated to massage therapy no larger than one hundred fifty square feet, which is incidental to the primary medical services provided by a licensed medical professional at such professional's licensed place of business. "Chair massage therapy" means massage therapy administered by a massage therapist to the neck, shoulders, back, arms, hands and feet of a fully clothed client utilizing a massage chair. "Employee" means any massage therapist who is a bona fide employee of a massage establishment. "Independent massage therapist" means a massage therapist who is not an employee of a massage establishment, is a sole practitioner, and hires no employees. "Licensed medical professional" means a person licensed pursuant to NRS Chapters 630, 630A, 631, 632, 633, 634, 634A, 635, 640, 640A or 640B. "Massage establishment" means any premises occupied and used for the purpose of performing massage therapy, excluding a premises offering no massage therapy other than medical massage therapy or ancillary medical massage therapy. "Massage establishment licensee practitioner" means the licensee of a massage establishment who performs massage therapy. "Massage therapist" means any person who, for consideration, performs any massage therapy as defined in this Section and has been licensed by the State to perform such services. "Massage therapy" has the same meaning as set forth at NRS 640C.060. "Medical massage therapy" means the physical application of massage therapy by a licensed medical professional at such professional's licensed place of business. "Outcall massage therapy" means any massage therapy given or provided off the premises of a licensed massage establishment by a massage therapist licensed by the City and State. "Sexual activity" means any activity characterized as such by NRS 640C.700 or the regulations adopted by the Nevada Board of Massage Therapists under NRS Chapter 640C. "Specified anatomical area" means: (1) Genitals; (2) Pubic region; (3) Buttocks; or (4) Female breast. (Ord. No. 6761, § 2, 12-16-20; Ord. No. 6213, § 27, 9-5-12; Ord. No. 6170, § 27, 12-7-11; Ord. 5998 § 97, 2008: Ord. 5640 § 1, 2003: Ord. 5491 § 2, 2002: Ord. 5197 § 1, 2000: Ord. 5168 § 1, 1999: Ord. 4024 § 4, 1996)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 6.52.040 License required.

6.52.040 - License required. No person shall engage in, conduct or carry on, or permit to be engaged in, conducted or carried on, in or upon any premises, the operation of a massage establishment, or the performance of massage therapy as a massage therapist or a massage establishment licensee practitioner, without first obtaining and thereafter maintaining a valid unexpired license for that activity pursuant to this Title. A licensed medical professional providing medical massage therapy or an area for ancillary medical massage therapy at the medical professional's licensed place of business is not required to obtain a license for operation of a massage establishment. (Ord. No. 6213, § 28, 9-5-12; Ord. 5998 § 99, 2008: Ord. 5491 § 4, 2002: Ord. 5168 § 2, 1999: Ord. 4024 § 6, 1996)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 6.52.050 License fee.

6.52.050 - License fee. (A) Each massage establishment must pay in advance an annual license fee of four hundred dollars, together with the additional license fees for professional employees described in LVMC 6.04.060. As an alternative to paying the license fees for professional employees, an establishment may elect to require those employees to pay a license fee as if they were independent massage therapists under Subsection (B), in which case each such employee must do so. A massage establishment with separate facilities for men and women shall be considered a single massage establishment and shall be charged a single license fee every year. (B) Each independent massage therapist and massage establishment licensee practitioner must pay in advance an annual license fee of two hundred dollars. (Ord. No. 6761, § 3, 12-16-20; Ord. No. 6327, § 8, 6-18-14; Ord. No. 6213, § 29, 9-5-12; Ord. 5998 § 100, 2008: Ord. 5491 § 5, 2002: Ord. 4024 § 7, 1996)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 6.52.060 Independent massage therapist license.

6.52.060 - Independent massage therapist license. (A) An independent massage therapist license authorizes the licensee to: (1) Administer massage therapy to a client in a licensed massage establishment; (2) Administer massage therapy to a client at the client's temporary or permanent residence, transient lodging or at the client's place of business; and (3) Advertise as an independent massage therapist. (B) An independent massage therapist licensee must comply with all applicable provisions of the City zoning regulations. (Ord. 5998 § 101, 2008: Ord. 4024 § 8, 1996)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 6.52.070 Advertisements.

6.52.070 - Advertisements. No massage establishment granted a license under the provisions of this Chapter, or principal, employee or agent thereof, shall place, publish or distribute or cause to be placed, published or distributed any advertisement, picture, or statement which is known or through the exercise of reasonable care should be known to be false, deceptive or misleading in order to induce any person to purchase or utilize any professional massage therapy services. The prohibition in the preceding sentence includes a prohibition of any false, deceptive or misleading advertising regarding the services available within a massage establishment, including, without limitation, false, deceptive or misleading advertising regarding the training that a massage establishment licensee, principal or employee has received. All advertisements placed, published, distributed, disseminated or broadcast by a licensee shall contain the business license number. (Ord. No. 6170, § 2, 12-7-11; Ord. 5998 § 102, 2008: Ord. 5491 § 6, 2002: Ord. 4024 § 9, 1996)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 6.52.080 Register of employees.

6.52.080 - Register of employees. The licensee or principal of a massage establishment shall maintain a register of all persons who at any time are employed or contracted to perform any function or service within the establishment, whether or not related to the provision of massage therapy. The register must show each such person's full legal name, as well as each alias or nickname used by that person; the person's date of birth; the person's title or function; and each applicable State and City license and registration held by that person. The register must be updated to include any such person before the person is allowed on the premises. At all times the establishment is open for business, the register shall be made available upon request to representatives of the Department, Metro, and any other regulatory agency having jurisdiction. In addition, each massage establishment is responsible for ensuring that any person entering the establishment in any capacity is in possession of valid identification issued by a government entity to and regarding that person. (Ord. No. 6761, § 4, 12-16-20; Ord. 5998 § 103, 2008: Ord. 5491 § 7, 2002: Ord. 5168 § 3, 1999: Ord. 4024 § 10, 1996)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 6.52.090 Requirements and limitations.

6.52.090 - Requirements and limitations. Each massage establishment shall comply with the following requirements: (A) At least one qualified person shall be on the premises of a massage establishment at all times the establishment is in operation. For purposes of the preceding sentence, a "qualified person" means a principal who has been approved for suitability pursuant to LVMC 6.06.060 or a manager who has been approved for suitability pursuant to that Section as in the case of a principal. (B) Rates for all services shall be prominently posted: (1) In the reception area in a location and manner readily visible to prospective and actual clients, for establishments in which all massage therapists charge the same rates; or (2) In each room in which massage is performed, for establishments in which not all massage therapists charge the same rates. (C) The licensee shall display the establishment's license in an open and conspicuous place on the premises of the massage establishment. (D) The City and State license of any person licensed under this Chapter to perform massage therapy, whenever performing massage therapy at the massage establishment, must be: (1) Carried on the licensee's person; or (2) Displayed in an open and conspicuous place on the premises of the massage establishment. (E) Each massage establishment licensee and massage therapist employed therein shall ensure that the specified anatomical areas of a client are covered during the performance of a massage; provided, however, that the covering requirement shall not apply to a specified anatomical area: (1) The massage of which is permitted under NRS Chapter 640C and the regulations adopted thereunder; and (2) For the duration of the massage of that area. (F) Except as otherwise specifically permitted in connection with a special use permit issued to a massage establishment or by other action of the City Council, no person shall operate a massage establishment outside of the hours of 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Ord. No. 6170, § 3, 12-7-11; Ord. 5998 § 104, 2008: Ord. 5640 § 2, 2003: Ord. 5491 § 8, 2002: Ord. 5168 § 4, 1999: Ord. 4024 § 11, 1996)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 6.52.100 Age of employees.

6.52.100 - Age of employees. It is unlawful for any massage establishment licensee or principal to employ any person who is not at least eighteen years of age. (Ord. 5998 § 105, 2008: Ord. 4024 § 12, 1996)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 6.52.110 License required for performance of massage therapy.

6.52.110 - License required for performance of massage therapy. It is unlawful for any massage establishment licensee to perform massage therapy without first obtaining and thereafter maintaining a valid unexpired massage establishment licensee practitioner license under this Chapter. (Ord. 5998 § 106, 2008: Ord. 5491 § 9, 2002: Ord. 5168 § 5, 1999: Ord. 4024 § 13, 1996)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 6.52.120 Prohibited activities.

6.52.120 - Prohibited activities. It is unlawful for a massage establishment licensee, or a principal or employee thereof, to do any of the following within a massage establishment: (A) Engage in or solicit sexual activity during the course of performing massage therapy on a person, with or without the consent of the person; (B) Allow a massage therapist to engage in or solicit sexual activity in violation of Subsection (A) of this Section; (C) Utilize any audio or video recording device for any purpose in a room where massage therapy is being performed; (D) Equip with tinted glass or two-way mirrors any room that a client may occupy; (E) Perform massage therapy within any cubicle, room, booth or other area of the establishment which is fitted with a door that is capable of being locked, unless: (1) That door is an exterior door; or (2) With respect to a room that is leased or otherwise made available to a massage therapist who is an independent contractor, the door is locked only from the outside thereof by means of an exterior lock employed solely for security purposes while the room is not being occupied. (F) Utilize any electronic locking device on any interior door. (Ord. No. 6170, § 4, 12-7-11; Ord. 5998 § 107, 2008: Ord. 5491 § 10, 2002: Ord. 5168 § 6, 1999: Ord. 4024 § 14, 1996)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 6.52.130 Outcall massage.

6.52.130 - Outcall massage. Any licensed massage establishment may dispatch a licensed massage therapist to administer massage therapy to a client, but only if the therapy is to take place at the client's transient lodging, temporary or permanent residence or at the client's place of business. (Ord. 5998 § 108, 2008: Ord. 5491 § 11, 2002: Ord. 4024 § 15, 1996)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 6.52.160 License—Additional documentation required.

6.52.160 - License—Additional documentation required. An applicant for a license under this Chapter shall provide to the Department proof of temporary or permanent licensure by the Nevada State Board of Massage Therapy. (Ord. No. 6761, § 5, 12-16-20; Ord. No. 6170, § 5, 12-7-11; Ord. 5998 § 109, 2008: Ord. 5640 § 3, 2003: Ord. 5491 § 12, 2002: Ord. 5197 § 3, 2000: Ord. 5168 § 10 (part), 1999)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 6.52.170 License—Investigation—Council action.

6.52.170 - License—Investigation—Council action. (A) The Director shall refer applications for a massage establishment license to Metro for investigation. Upon completion of the investigation, the Director shall refer an application for a massage establishment license to the City Council for approval, denial or such other action as the Council considers appropriate. (B) The City Council may deny, revoke or suspend a massage establishment license for good cause, which includes but is not limited to the grounds set forth in LVMC 6.02.090 and 6.02.330 to 6.02.360, inclusive. (Ord. No. 6170, § 6, 12-7-11; Ord. 5491 § 13, 2002: Ord. 5168 § 10 (part), 1999)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 6.52.180 License—Issuance.

6.52.180 - License—Issuance. (A) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, the Director shall issue a license to perform massage therapy to an applicant upon the acceptance of a completed application, payment of appropriate license fees, proof of a valid unexpired massage therapist license issued by the Nevada Board of Massage Therapy. (B) The Director may deny, refuse to renew, or revoke an application for a license to perform massage therapy for the following reasons: (1) The applicant or licensee fails to possess or maintain a valid unexpired massage therapist license issued by the Nevada State Board of Massage Therapy. (2) The applicant or licensee has been convicted of a charge of solicitation of prostitution during the three-year period immediately preceding the Director's action. (Ord. No. 6761, § 6, 12-16-20; Ord. 5998 § 113, 2008)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 6.52.200 Massage therapist license—Nontransferable.

6.52.200 - Massage therapist license—Nontransferable. Licenses issued under this Chapter are not transferable to any other person. (Ord. 5998 § 114, 2008: Ord. 5491 § 16, 2002)
Source: City of Las Vegas, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/nv/las_vegas/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT6BUTALIRE_CH6.52MAESINMATHFetched: 10/28/2026

Starting a business in Nevada? Nevada LLC guide: costs and requirements