§ 9-336. Operating requirements—Facilities

All owners and managers shall comply with the following operating requirement for facilities and any other conditions specified by the chief of police.

(a) Structure. Massage establishments shall be carried on in a structure, which is located in a zoning district, which permits such use. When a massage establishment is newly constructed, three sets of plans shall be submitted to the city and the county health care agency for approval and shall be accompanied by the appropriate plan check fee.

(b) Signs. Any signs shall be in conformance with the current sign ordinances of the city. Each owner and/or manager shall post and maintain, adjacent to the main entrance and the front of the business, a readable sign identifying the premises as a massage establishment. The sign, and the front of the business, shall not be illuminated by strobe or flashing lights. Any internally or externally illuminated signs, including neon signs, that face residential properties must be turned off no later than 8:00 p.m.

(c) Services list. Each owner and/or manager shall post and maintain a list of services available and the cost of such services in the lobby of the massage establishment in a conspicuous public place and in any other location on the premises as the owner and/or manager deems appropriate. The services shall be described in English and may also be described in such other languages as may be convenient. No massage establishment owner shall permit, and no person employed or retained by the massage establishment shall offer to perform, any services or fees other than those posted.

(d) Lighting. The interior of the business shall maintain adequate illumination to make the conduct of patrons and employees within the premises readily discernable. The lighting in each massage room shall be at least one (1) sixty (60) watt white light bulb and shall be activated at all times while the patron is in a massage room. No strobe, flashing lights or dimmer switches shall be used. No colored lights shall be used nor shall any coverings be used which change the color of the primary light source.

(e) Ventilation. In each massage room, the owner and/or manager shall provide minimum ventilation in accordance with the applicable building and fire codes.

(f) Toilet facilities. A minimum of one (1) toilet and one (1) separate wash basin shall be provided for patrons in each massage establishment, which basin shall provide soap or detergent and hot and cold running water at all times and shall be located within close proximity to the massage rooms. A permanently installed soap dispenser, filled with soap, and a single service towel dispenser shall be provided at the restroom washbasin. Bar soaps shall not be used. A trash receptacle shall be provided in each toilet room.

(g) Bathing, dressing and locker facilities. If showers are provided, then there shall be a minimum of one (1) shower and one (1) dressing room containing a separate locker capable of being locked shall be provided for patrons to be served at the massage establishment. The shower facility shall be equipped with soap or detergent and hot and cold running water at all times and shall be located within close proximity to the massage rooms. Bar soaps shall not be used. Massage tables are not allowed to be in a shower and only one patron may utilize a shower at a time. At no time will an employee, a massage practitioner or therapist or independent contractor be allowed to occupy the shower being utilized by the patron.

(h) Separate rooms. If male and female patrons are to be treated simultaneously at the same massage establishment separate massage rooms, dressing, bathing and toilet facilities shall be provided for male and female patrons. Each separate facility or room shall be clearly marked as such. The requirements of this subsection will be met and "couples massages" are allowed in a single room if the massage establishment is operated as an accessory use within, and as part of, spa services offered in an approved day spa facility, health club, athletic club, or gym. Couples massages are permitted within a single room subject to all the requirements of this article, including, but not limited to the provision of a separate massage table and massage therapist or practitioner for each patron. The separate massage tables used during the couples massage must remain separated as to allow free passage and movements of the massage therapists or practitioners during the course of the treatment. Any room used for couples massage shall be large enough to comply with any applicable building and fire codes and to permit free passage and movements of the massage therapists or practitioners. For the purpose of this subsection, accessory use shall mean a use which is not more than twenty-five (25) percent of the floor area of the related health or athletic activities of the primary use.

(i) Window coverings. Any windows into the lobby shall not be covered. The lobby must be clearly visible from the exterior of the business at all times.

(j) Maintenance. Wet and dry heat rooms, steam or vapor rooms or cabinets, toilet rooms, shower and bath rooms, tanning booths, whirlpool baths and pools shall be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected with a disinfectant approved by the county health department, as needed, but at least once each day the premises are open. All facilities for the massage establishment must be in good repair and shall be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized at least on a daily basis when the business is in operation. All walls, floors and ceilings of each restroom and shower area shall be constructed with materials that are smooth and easily cleanable. No carpeting shall be installed in any of these specified areas.

(k) Massage tables. All massages shall be conducted on a massage table. No massages are allowed to take place on the floor or mats on the floor. A massage table shall be provided in each massage room and all massages shall be performed on the massage table. No more than one patron may occupy a massage table at the same time. The tables should have a minimum height of eighteen (18) inches. Two-inch thick foam pads with a maximum width of four (4) feet may be used on a massage table and must be covered with durable, washable plastic or other waterproof material acceptable to the county health department. Beds, floor mattresses and waterbeds shall not be permitted on the premises.

(l) Front door. One front door that enters into the lobby and/or other waiting room shall be provided for customer use. All customers and any other persons other than employees shall be required to enter and exit through the front door of the establishment.

(m) Reflexology. No reflexology treatments shall be provided on carpeted flooring. The floor in the area of the establishment where reflexology treatments are provided must be constructed with materials that are smooth and easily cleanable.

((Ord. No. 11-7, § 1, 7-19-11 )