# Subdivision 5. Enforcement

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 5. Enforcement

### Sec. 5-184.17. Penalties

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 5-184.17 (2026)

Any person violating the provisions of this Division shall be punished as provided in Section 1-123 of this Code.

### Sec. 5-184.18. Enforcement

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 5-184.18 (2026)

(a) Any massage establishment license or massage technician license or massage establishment operator or manager license granted under this Division shall be denied or revoked by the Director after notice and hearing if the licensee, or if the licensee is a partnership or association, any partner or member thereof, or if the licensee is a corporation, any officer, director, or shareholder owning ten percent (10%) or more of its capital stock:

  (1) Has been convicted of or with respect to whom a court has accepted a plea of nolo contendere to or has had the benefit of a disposition under Section 292 or Section 641, Article 27, Maryland Annotated Code or similar legislation in another jurisdiction or suffered a forfeiture, on a charge of violating any provision included in Sections 15, 286, 286A, 287, 287A, 290, 335, 225A, 416A through 416G, 418, 419A, 426 through 432, 461 through 465, 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) Has been convicted, or with respect to whom a court has accepted a plea of nolo contendere or has had the benefit of a disposition under Section 641, Article 27, Maryland Annotated Code or similar legislation in another jurisdiction, or suffered a forfeiture, on a charge of violating any provision of this Division relating to massage establishments, or on a charge of violating a similar law in any other jurisdiction; or

  (3) Made a false statement of the application; or

  (4) Has failed to report a change in any of the information required by Section 5-184.05(a) or Section 5-184.08(a) within fourteen (14) days of learning of said change; or

  (5) Has violated any provision of Section 5-184.16 relating to unlawful acts, as determined by the Director, upon the evidence adduced at a hearing before the Director or his designee to consider any proposed revocation of a massage establishment license under this Section.

Notice of the hearing before the Director or his designee for revocation of the license shall be given in writing, setting forth the grounds of the complaint and the time and place of hearing. Such notice shall be mailed by certified mail to the licensee's last known address at least ten (10) days prior to the date set for hearing.

(b) If the Director finds that the massage establishment for which the massage establishment license was issued or the massage technician or massage establishment operator or manager to whom the massage technician or massage establishment operator or manager license was issued does not conform to the standards set forth in Subdivision 3 of this Division, or that the licensee has refused the Director or other authorized person the right to enter the premises or to examine the person of the massage technician or massage establishment operator or manager to enforce the provisions of this Division, the Director may enter an order for the immediate suspension of the massage establishment license or the massage technician license or massage establishment operator or manager until such time as he finds that the reason for such suspension no longer exists. A copy of the order shall be sent to the licensee at his place of business by certified mail, which order shall set forth the reasons for said suspension. The licensee shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard by the Director or his designee within fourteen (14) days after the suspension. Notice of the hearing shall be mailed by certified mail to the licensee's business at least ten (10) days prior to the date set for hearing. No person shall operate a massage establishment or perform a massage when subject to an order of suspension.

(c) Any massage establishment license granted under this Division shall be suspended by the Director for six (6) months if more than two (2) incidents resulting in convictions of or pleas of nolo contendere to or dispositions under Section 292 or 641, Article 27, Maryland Annotated Code, for any violation of any provision of this Division or of any provision included in Sections 15, 286, 286A, 287, 287A, 290, 335, 335A, 416A through 416G, 418, 419A, 426 through 432, 461 through 465, 553, 554, 12, 36, 36B, 125, 237 through 246, 342, 384, 385, 386, 387, 407 through 411, 486 or 488, Article 27, Maryland Annotated Code (1976 Repl. Vol.), or any one or more of those provisions, as the same may be amended, by any person or persons whosoever, shall have occurred on the premises of the massage establishment within one twelve (12) month period. The licensee shall receive notices of such suspension and shall be entitled to a hearing before the Director. The notice shall be given in writing, shall set forth the grounds for the suspension, and shall state the time and place of the hearing. Such notice shall be mailed by certified mail to the licensee's last known address at least ten (10) days prior to the date set for the hearing.

(d) In addition to and not in lieu of the penalties prescribed in Section 5-184.17 and the enforcement measures provided in Subsections (a), (b), (c), (e), or (f) of this Section, the County, by the Office of Law may enforce this Division by actions for appropriate legal and equitable relief in the Circuit Court for Prince George's County, Maryland, including, but not limited to, actions for mandatory or prohibitory injunctions to require compliance with this Division.

(e) In addition to or in lieu of the enforcement measures prescribed in Subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) of this Section, the Director may assess and require the payment of civil penalties by permittees as follows:

  | SECTION VIOLATED | PENALTY |
  | --- | --- |
  | 5-184.13(a) | $200.00 |
  | 5-184.13(b) | $150.00 |
  | 5-184.13(c) | $125.00 |
  | 5-184.14(a) | $120.00 |
  | 5-184.14(b) | $120.00 |
  | 5-184.14(c) | $120.00 |
  | 5-184.15 | $500.00 |

(f) The Director or his designee, with the assistance of the Police Department, if necessary, is authorized and empowered to take any measures reasonably necessary to effect the closing or otherwise prevent the operation of any business or establishment which the Director finds to operate or conduct business in violation of this Division:

  (1) When the Director, after notice and opportunity for hearing, has made an order suspending or revoking a massage establishment license; or

  (2) When the Director determines that a business is a massage establishment required to be licensed, gives notice of that order or determination and directs the business to comply with this Division, and the business or its owners or principals fails to comply.

(g) The Director, without limitation, may take the following measures:

  (1) Lock or secure the premises of the establishment or business or otherwise deny entry thereto;

  (2) Seize the premises of the establishment and its furniture, equipment, books, and records;

  (3) Order the premises to be vacated and post therein and on the exterior thereof notices that the business is closed by order of the Director and that no person is to enter the premises without permission of the Director or the Chief of Police.

### Sec. 5-184.19. Inspections and audits; records to be kept

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 5-184.19 (2026)

(a) The Director or his designee shall at regular intervals inspect the premises of every massage establishment and other business offering or performing massages to determine that it is operated in compliance with this Division. If a properly identified inspector or officer is denied entry to any massage establishment or other business at any reasonable time, the Director shall immediately suspend the license of the massage establishment or the use and occupancy permit of the business, give notice of the suspension, take steps to effect the closing of the establishment or business, and forthwith hold a hearing before the Director or his designee to determine whether the license or use and occupancy permit should be reinstated, permanently revoked, or continue to be suspended, as the Director may determine to be appropriate.

(b) The Director or his designee may request the Director of Finance or his designee to inspect and audit the financial books and records of all massage establishments and of all businesses which perform massages, without regard to whether the business is required to be licensed pursuant to this Division, to determine the continuing compliance of all businesses offering or performing massages with the provisions of this Division. The Director or his designee shall give written notice of the Department's intent to inspect books and records to the massage establishment or other business. The notice shall state the date, time and place of the audit. The massage establishment or other business shall produce its books and records at that time and place. If the massage establishment or other business or its owners or principals unreasonably refuse or fail to produce the books and records after notice, the Director shall immediately suspend the license of the massage establishment or the use and occupancy permit of the business, give notice of the suspension, take steps to effect the closing of the establishment or business, and forthwith hold a hearing, upon due notice before the Director or his designee, to determine whether the license or use and occupancy permit should be reinstated, permanently revoked, or continue suspended, as the Director may determine to be appropriate.

(c) Every massage establishment licensee shall prepare and submit to the Director annually with his application for license renewal a certified financial statement, including a statement of income by sources and a statement of financial condition with respect to the licensed establishment for the year prior to the date upon which the licensee submits his application for license renewal.

(d) Every massage establishment and every establishment which offers to perform or performs massages as defined in Section 5-184.02, shall maintain complete and accurate books and records of the income of the establishment and the income of any persons who offer to render or render services within that establishment, setting out with simplicity the items of services or goods which generate the income of the establishment or the income of persons associated with the establishment.