GENERALLY

Huntsville Code of Ordinances ch. 8, art. II, div. 1

in effect

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 8-41 Definitions.

Sec. 8-41. - Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: Establishment means a place of business or operation of any kind. Massage parlor means: (1) Any establishment, building, room or place other than a regularly licensed hospital, medical clinic, nursing home or dispensary; or (2) The offices of a physician, a surgeon, an osteopath or a massage therapist where nonmedical, nonsurgical, nonosteopathic and nonchiropractic manipulative exercises, massages or procedures are practiced upon the human body for other than cosmetic or beautifying purposes, with or without the use of mechanical or other devices, by anyone not a physician, surgeon, chiropractor, osteopath, massage therapist or of a similarly registered status; and shall include any place where baths, exercises or similar services are offered. Massage therapist means a person who has graduated from a recognized massage therapy school or has successfully completed testing into the American Massage Therapy Association or other professional massage organization of equivalent professional membership standards. A recognized massage therapy school means any school or institution of learning which has for its purpose the teaching of the theory, method, profession or work of massage therapy. Such school shall show current membership in good standing in the American Massage Therapy Association or other professional massage organization of equivalent professional membership standards. Massage therapy means the manipulation of soft tissue for therapeutic purposes and may include, but is not limited to, effleurage, petrissage, tapotement, compression, vibration, friction, nerve strokes and other Swedish movements which may include the use of oils, salt glows and hot and cold packs. Massage therapy shall not include diagnosis or any service or procedure for which a license to practice medicine, chiropractic or podiatry is required by law; nor shall it apply to athletic trainers, technicians or physical therapists who act under the prescription or supervision of a person holding an unlimited license to practice medicine or surgery. Masseur (male) and masseuse (female) mean a person who practices any one or more of the arts of body massage, either by hand or mechanical apparatus, oil rubs, corrective gymnastics, mechanotherapy, including color therapy, dietetics, hot packs, cabinet, tub, shower, sitz, vapor, steam or any other special type of bath. (Code 1982, § 18-396; Ord. No. 90-169, § 2, 4-10-1990)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 8-42 Declaration of findings.

Sec. 8-42. - Declaration of findings. Businesses operating massage parlors are businesses affecting the public health, safety and general welfare. Such businesses have been used in the city and elsewhere as fronts for the conduct of prostitution, assignation and lewdness; and in order to protect the public interest, health, safety and general welfare, it is necessary that such businesses be regulated in order to prevent their use for unlawful and illegal activities, and in order to protect the public health and safety. (Code 1982, § 18-397)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 8-43 Health and sanitary requirements.

Sec. 8-43. - Health and sanitary requirements. Any massage parlor licensed by the city shall at all times comply with all health regulations, rules and requirements promulgated by the county department of health. Any premises used for the purposes of a massage parlor shall during all hours of operation be made open and available to inspection by the county department of health for the purpose of assuring compliance with health rules, regulations and requirements. Each massage parlor shall be equipped with toilet and lavatory facilities for patrons and separate readily available toilet and lavatory facilities for employees, and each operating area shall be equipped with a hand lavatory. (Code 1982, § 18-401)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 8-44 Cleanliness of equipment.

Sec. 8-44. - Cleanliness of equipment. (a) No towels, washcloths or other linen items shall come in contact with the body of any customer or patron at a massage parlor that has not been boiled and laundered since last used. (b) Every person applying or administering massages shall cleanse his hands thoroughly by washing them with soap and hot water before attending or massaging any person. (c) Any person while applying or administering massages shall be clothed from the shoulders to the knees by a robe, smock or other opaque apparel so that the patron or customer shall be protected from bodily contact with the person applying or administering the massage except for the hands and arms of the person applying or administering the massage. (d) Any massage parlor licensed pursuant to this article shall be equipped with running hot and cold water and with all appliances, furnishings and materials as may be necessary to enable persons employed in and about the massage parlor to comply with the provisions of this article. (Code 1982, § 18-402)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 8-45 Access to establishment.

Sec. 8-45. - Access to establishment. It shall be unlawful for any person to render any service to the public upon the premises of a massage parlor except during the time that the establishment is open with free access by the public, during which time all portions of such establishment shall be open to the inspection of any inspector of the county health department and to the chief of police and any officer of the police department. (Code 1982, § 18-403)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 8-46 Treatment.

Sec. 8-46. - Treatment. No masseur, masseuse or other employee or attendant in any massage parlor shall apply or administer any massage or other treatment to any person behind locked doors. (Code 1982, § 18-404)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 8-47 Use as dormitory.

Sec. 8-47. - Use as dormitory. No massage parlor shall be used as and for a dormitory or place of sleep, nor shall any license under this article permit any massage parlor to be so used. (Code 1982, § 18-405)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 8-48 Indecent activities generally.

Sec. 8-48. - Indecent activities generally. (a) No owner or manager of a massage parlor shall authorize or tolerate in his establishment any activity or behavior prohibited by the laws of the state or the ordinances of the city, including such laws proscribing acts of prostitution, sodomy, adultery, fornication, or any lewd or obscene act or performance. (b) Any conviction of the manager or any employee of a massage parlor of a violation of the laws and ordinances mentioned in subsection (a) of this section shall be grounds for revocation of the license of the establishment as provided in this article. (Code 1982, § 18-406)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 8-49 Prohibited conduct by employees.

Sec. 8-49. - Prohibited conduct by employees. It shall be unlawful for any masseur, masseuse, attendant or person employed in a massage parlor to massage or in any way touch the genital organs of another in connection with any massage or other service rendered by the establishment, or to advertise or offer any massage or physical touching of the genital organs of another in connection with such service. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall upon conviction be punished as provided in section 1-7; and in addition to such penalty, it shall be grounds for revocation of the license of the owner or manager of the establishment. (Code 1982, § 18-407)

Source: City of Huntsville, Alabama, publisher code (Municode) + enacted ordinances (City Council/Legistar)URL: https://library.municode.com/al/huntsville/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH8BU_ARTIIMAPA_DIV1GEFetched: 11/6/2026