# Subdivision 2. Licenses Required

Codified through Bill No. CB-018-2026, adopted May 12, 2026, effective July 24, 2026. Source: Municode, Supplement 2026 Update 2. Editorial notes and legislative history omitted.

## Subdivision 2. Licenses Required

### Sec. 5-184.03. License required for operation of massage establishment

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 5-184.03 (2026)

(a) No person shall engage in, conduct, or carry on a massage establishment unless an application therefor has been approved and a license issued by the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement in compliance with this Division.

(b) Upon application, the Director of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement shall issue a temporary massage establishment license to any applicant who, upon the effective date of this Division, holds a valid, nonsuspended massage establishment license in Prince George's County. The temporary license shall remain in effect for a period of thirty (30) days or until issuance of the permanent license. If the application for the permanent license is denied, the temporary license shall immediately expire and be of no further force and effect.

(c) Each application for a massage establishment license shall be accompanied by an investigation fee of $250.00, no part of which shall be refundable. Said fee shall not be in lieu of, and shall be in addition to, any license fee required by this Division. Upon receipt of said application, the Director shall refer the application to the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement, Fire Department, Police Department, Health Department, and the Prince George's County Planning Board of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, each of whom, within a period of thirty (30) days from the date of application, shall review records and make an inspection of the premises proposed to be used as a massage establishment and shall make a written recommendation to the Director concerning compliance with the law.

### Sec. 5-184.04. Massage establishment license fee; term

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 5-184.04 (2026)

(a) Every person conducting or engaging in business as a massage establishment shall pay an annual license fee based on the number of licensed massage technicians employed by the massage establishment as follows:

  (1) A massage establishment with not more than three (3) licensed massage technicians - $1,500.00;

  (2) A massage establishment with four (4) or more licensed massage technicians - $3,000.00.

(b) The license must be renewed one (1) year from the date of issue. The fee shall not be in lieu of, and shall be in addition to, any business license tax required to be paid.

### Sec. 5-184.05. Massage establishment license application

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 5-184.05 (2026)

(a) Each application for a massage establishment license shall be upon a form provided by the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement. Each such form shall contain the following information:

  (1) A description of the facilities and services to be available on the premises of the proposed establishment.

  (2) The location and mailing address of each applicant.

  (3) The name, residence address, and home and business telephone numbers of each applicant. If the applicant is an association or a partnership, the names and residence addresses and home and business telephone numbers of each of the associates or partners. If the applicant is a corporation, it shall state the names, home and business telephone numbers and residence address of each of the officers and directors of said corporation and of each stockholder, and provide a copy of the documents establishing the corporation. If one or more of the stockholders is itself a corporation, the names and residence addresses of each of the officers and directors of that corporation and of each stockholder of that corporation holding ten percent or more of the stock of that corporation.

  (4) If the applicant is an individual, all other residences of the applicant for the three (3) year period immediately prior to the application. If the applicant is an association or a partnership, the names and residence of each associate or partner for the three (3) year period immediately prior to the application. If the applicant is a corporation, all the residences for a three (3) year period of each of the officers and directors of said corporation, and of each stockholder owning more than ten percent (10%) of the stock of the corporation.

  (5) If the applicant is an individual, written proof that the applicant is eighteen (18) years of age or older. If the applicant is a corporation, written proof that each of the officers and directors of said corporation and of each stockholder owning more than ten percent (10%) of the stock of the corporation is eighteen (18) years of age or older. It shall be a prerequisite to the issuance of any license that the applicant or any affiliated person be eighteen years of age.

  (6) If the applicant is an individual, a complete set of the applicant's fingerprints. If the applicant is an association or partnership, a complete set of each associate's or partner's fingerprints. If the applicant is a corporation, a complete set of fingerprints of each of the officers and directors of the corporation and of each stockholder owning more than ten percent (10%) of the stock of the corporation. If one or more of the stockholders owning more than ten percent (10%) of the applicant corporation is itself a corporation, and owns thirty-three percent (33%) of the stock of the applicant corporation, a complete set of fingerprints of each of the officers and directors of said corporation and of each stockholder owning more than ten percent (10%) of the stock of the corporation. The fingerprints shall be taken by the Chief of Police, or his designee.

  (7) If the applicant is an individual, the business, occupation, or employment of the applicant for the three (3) year period immediately preceding the date of the application. If the applicant is an association or partnership, the business occupation or employment of each associate or partner for the three (3) year period immediately prior to the date of the application. If the applicant is a corporation, the business, occupation or employment of each officer and director of the corporation and of each stockholder owning more than ten percent (10%) of the stock of the corporation for the three (3) year period immediately preceding the date of the application.

  (8) The history of the applicant in the operation of massage establishments or any similar business or occupation, including, but not limited to, whether or not such person, in previously operating in this or another city or state under permit or license, has had such permit or license revoked or suspended and the reason therefor, and the business activity or occupation of the applicant subsequent to such action of suspension or revocation.

  (9) The criminal record, if any, other than misdemeanor traffic violations, of the applicant. If the applicant is an association or partnership, the criminal record of each associate or partner. If the applicant is a corporation, the criminal record of each officer or director of the corporation and each of the stockholders owning more than ten percent (10%) of the stock of the corporation. If one or more of the stockholders owning more than ten percent (10%) of the applicant corporation is itself a corporation and owns thirty-three percent (33%) of the stock of the applicant corporation, the criminal record of each of the officers and directors of said corporation and of each stockholder owning more than ten percent (10%) of the stock of the corporation.

  (10) The name of the operator or manager of the massage establishment. If the operator or manager of the massage establishment is not an applicant, then the operator or manager must provide the information required in paragraphs (1) through (9) of this Section and will be considered as an applicant for the purpose of Section 5-184.08 and as a license for the purposes of Section 5-184.18.

(b) Every applicant for a massage establishment license shall submit with their license application a copy of or verification of a license or registration issued by the State Board of Chiropractic and Massage Therapy Examiners, pursuant to Subtitle 5A of Title 3 of the Health Occupation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, for a massage technician employed by the massage establishment.

(c) Every applicant for a massage establishment license and every licensee shall be subject to a continuing duty to supply to the Director current information with respect to the items set forth in subsection (a) of this Section, such report to be made within fourteen (14) days of learning of any change. Failure to report a change in that information after learning of it shall be grounds for revocation of the license.

### Sec. 5-184.06. License required for massage technician and for operator or manager of massage establishment

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 5-184.06 (2026)

(a) No massage technician shall administer a massage in a massage establishment nor shall any person engage in the operation or management of a massage establishment without a valid, nonsuspended license issued pursuant to this Division.

(b) Upon application, the Director shall issue a temporary massage technician license to any applicant who, upon the effective date of this Division, holds a valid, unexpired masseur's or masseuse's identification card in Prince George's County. The temporary license shall remain in effect for a period of thirty (30) days or until issuance of the permanent license. If the permanent license is denied, the temporary license shall immediately expire and shall be of no further force and effect.

### Sec. 5-184.07. Operator or manager of massage establishment and massage technician license fee; term; health certificate required

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 5-184.07 (2026)

Every person conducting or engaging in the administration of massage in a massage establishment or operating or managing a massage establishment shall pay an annual license fee of Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00). The license shall be renewed one year from date of issue. The fee shall not be in lieu of, and shall be in addition to, any business license tax required to be paid. The licensee must submit a certificate of a licensed physician licensed in the State of Maryland annually upon renewal of the license certifying that the licensee is free of communicable disease. Health certificates shall be valid for twelve (12) months. Any and all costs for such examination and certification shall be borne by the applicant.

### Sec. 5-184.08. Operator or manager of massage establishment and massage technician license application

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 5-184.08 (2026)

(a) Each application for an operator's or manager's massage establishment license or a massage technician license shall be upon a form provided by the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement. Each such form shall contain the following information:

  (1) The applicant's full name, residence address, and residence telephone number;

  (2) The name and address of the massage establishment where the applicant is to be employed and the name of the owner of same;

  (3) The names and addresses of any and all previous massage establishments where applicant has been employed as a massage technician;

  (4) The criminal record, if any, other than misdemeanor traffic violations, of the applicant;

  (5) Whether any license to perform as a massage technician has previously been denied the applicant or revoked and, if so, the circumstances of such denial or revocation;

  (6) A complete set of the applicant's fingerprints which shall be taken by the Chief of Police or his designee;

  (7) Written proof that the applicant is eighteen (18) years of age or older;

  (8) Three (3) color photographs of the applicant, not greater than two inches square as determined by the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement. One photograph shall be sealed on the license issued to a successful applicant. One photograph shall be retained in the files of the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement and the other photograph shall be forwarded to the Police Department, which shall also maintain files for operator or manager license and applicants and licensees.

(b) Every applicant or holder of a massage technician's license shall submit with their license application a copy of or verification of a license or registration issued by the State Board of Chiropractic and Massage Therapy Examiners, pursuant to Subtitle 5A of Title 3 of the Health Occupation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

(c) Every applicant or holder of a massage technician's license or massage establishment operator or manager's license shall be subject to a continuing duty to supply to the Director current information with respect to the items set forth in Subsection (a) of this Section, such report to be made within fourteen (14) days of learning of any change. Failure to report a change in that information after learning of it shall be grounds for revocation of the license.

### Sec. 5-184.09. Investigation of applicant for massage establishment license, operator or manager's license, or massage technician license; grounds for denial of application; continuing investigations

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 5-184.09 (2026)

(a) Upon receipt of the application and fee as provided for in the preceding Sections, the Director or his designee shall make or cause to be made a thorough investigation of the applicant and corporate officers, directors, and shareholders owning more than ten percent (10%) of the capital stock, and general partners, of the applicant. The Director shall forward a copy of every application for a license under this Division to the Chief of Police, who shall make or accuse to be made a complete criminal history and personal background investigation of every applicant and all associated persons identified in the application. The Chief of Police shall report the findings of the investigation to the Director with the recommendations of the Police Department as to licensure of the applicants.

(b) The Director shall deny any application for a massage establishment license or a massage technician license under this Division if the Director finds:

  (1) That the applicant, or if the applicant is a partnership or association, any partner or members thereof, or if the applicant is a corporation, any officers, directors, or shareholders owning ten percent (10%) or more of the capital stock or if one or more of the stockholders owning more than ten percent (10%) of the applicant corporation is itself a corporation and owns thirty-three percent (33%) or more stock of the applicant corporation, any officer or director of that corporation or shareholder owning ten percent (10%) or more of the capital stock of that corporation within the preceding ten (10) years have been convicted of or with respect to whom a court has accepted a plea of nolo contendere to or suffered a forfeiture or who has had the benefit of a disposition under Section 292 or Section 641, Article 27, Maryland Annotated Code, on a charge of violating any provision included in Sections 12, 15, 36, 36B, 125, 237 through 246, 286, 286A, 287, 287A, 290, 335, 335A, 342, 384, 385, 386, 387, 407 through 411, 416A through 416G, 418, 419A, 426 through 432, 461 through 465, 486, 488, 553, or 554, Article 27, Maryland Annotated Code (1976 Repl. Vol.), or any one or more of those provisions, as the same may be amended, or on a charge of violation of a similar law in any other jurisdiction, or any felony; or

  (2) That the applicant, or if the applicant is a partnership or association, any partners or members thereof, or if the applicant is a corporation, any officers, directors, or shareholders owning ten percent (10%) or more of the capital stock, or if one or more of the stockholders owning more than ten percent (10%) of the applicant corporation, is itself a corporation and owns thirty-three percent (33%) or more of the stock of the applicant corporation, any officer or director of that corporation or any shareholder owning ten percent (10%) or more of the capital stock of that corporation has been convicted, or with respect to whom a court has accepted a plea of nolo contendere, or suffered a forfeiture or has had the benefit of a disposition under Section 292 or Section 641, Article 27, Maryland Annotated Code on a charge of violating any Section of this Division relating to massage establishment, or on a charge of violation of a similar law in any other jurisdiction; or

  (3) That the applicant, or if the applicant is an association or partnership, any associate or partner thereof, or if the applicant is a corporation, any officer, director, or shareholder owning ten percent (10%) or more of the capital stock is under the age of eighteen (18) years; or

  (4) That the applicant, or if the applicant is a partnership or association, any partner or associate thereof, or if the applicant is a corporation, any officers, directors, or shareholders owning ten percent (10%) or more of the capital stock or if one or more of the stockholders owning more than ten percent (10%) of the applicant corporation is itself a corporation and owns thirty-three percent (33%) or more of the stock of the applicant corporation, any officer or director of that corporation, or shareholder owning ten percent (10%) or more of the capital stock of that corporation made a false statement on the application.

  (5) That the granting of the license is not necessary for the accommodation of the public in the community proposed as the location of the massage establishment.

  (6) That the premises for which a massage establishment license is sought have not the minimum facilities required by this Division, or do not meet the minimum hygiene standards of this Division or do not comply with the Building Code, Electrical Code, Plumbing Code, Zoning Ordinance or any other law, ordinance or regulation of the United States, the State of Maryland, Prince George's County or any municipality applicable to the premises.

  (7) That the person making application for a massage technician's license is unqualified by reason of lack of suitable training or experience to perform massages. Minimum qualifications for a licensed masseur or masseuse are established as follows: No person shall be employed as a masseur or masseuse or practice massage in a massage establishment unless he or she shall have received at least five hundred (500) hours training in a professional program, institution, or school accredited or approved by the American Massage and Therapy Association, a Delaware Corporation, as specified in the certificate of incorporation filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on the thirteenth day of September, 1960 at 9 o'clock A.M., or by the State of Maryland.

  (8) That the person making application for a massage establishment license or a massage technician's license fails to provide with their license application a copy of or verification of a license or registration issued by the State Board of Chiropractic and Massage Therapy Examiners, pursuant to Subtitle 5A of Title 3 of the Health Occupation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

(c)

  (1) Before the Director shall act upon the application, the Director shall schedule and give notice of the time and place of a public hearing to consider the application. The hearing shall be conducted by a hearing examiner, who may be an attorney on the staff of the Office of Law. The Director shall notify the applicant in writing of the time and place of the hearing, not less than 14 days prior to the scheduled date. The Director shall cause a notice of the hearing to be published in two newspapers of record at least two times in two successive weeks, the last publication of which shall be not less than seven (7) nor more than thirty (30) days prior to the scheduled date of the hearing. The published notice shall specify the name of all applicants, the kind of license for which application is made, the location of the place for the massage establishment proposed to be licensed, and the time and place fixed by the Director for the hearing. The applicant shall bear the expense of publication of the notice and shall deposit with the application, either in cash or by a certified, treasurer's or cashier's check or money order made payable to Prince George's County, Maryland, the sum of $500.00 to cover publication and hearing costs.

  (2) At the public hearing, the hearing examiner shall first hear the applicant in support of the application. The hearing examiner shall then hear any other person supporting the application. The hearing examiner shall then hear any person opposing the application. After the close of all evidence, the hearing examiner shall make a written report to the Director of his findings of fact and recommend action with respect to the application.

(d) The Director shall act upon the application within one hundred twenty (120) days after the public hearing. The Director shall give notice of his decision to the applicant in writing.

### Sec. 5-184.10. Transfer of licenses

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 5-184.10 (2026)

No license issued under this Division shall be transferable from one person or establishment to another.

### Sec. 5-184.11. Change of location

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 5-184.11 (2026)

A change of location of a licensed massage establishment may be approved by the Director; provided however, that all applicable provisions of the Code, including this Division are complied with and a change of location fee of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) has been paid. A public hearing pursuant to Section 5-184.09(c) shall be required before the change of location may be approved or disapproved.