Massage Businesses May Face New Criteria
With the city’s moratorium on new massage businesses expiring in June, the City Council tonight will consider a new ordinance that would levy a license fee and require thorough background checks of all massage therapists.
City officials say the new ordinance would strengthen previous measures, which were adopted from the county when Lake Forest was incorporated in 1991.
The new law would detail the steps required for licensing a massage business. In particular, the ordinance would establish criteria for operation standards, background investigations and qualifications of massage therapists.
All employees, regardless of position, would be required to register their names, addresses and fingerprints, and to submit personal photographs.
The ordinance also would maintain a dress standard that calls for white uniforms that do not expose any “specified anatomical areas.” Skirts could not be more than two inches above the knees.
The city is revamping all of its laws regulating adult businesses such as bookstores and cabarets.
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