A m e n d m e n t s t o E M C 6 . 4 0 ( O p e r a t i o n s P e r m i t :
M a s s a g e B u s i n e s s ) a n d E M C 6 . 4 1 ( O p e r a t i o n s P e r m i t : M a s s a g e Te c h n i c i a n )
Case No. PLCY-009254-2026
City Council
Item 12E
September 23, 2026
Project Team Introductions
City of Encinitas
Sara Cadona, Project Manager
Patty Anders, Department Manager
Scott Drapkin, Director of Development Services
2 Massage Therapy Act
• Business and Professions Code Section 4600 et seq. contains minimum standards and certification requirements for massage professionals in California. • Establishes California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) agency; responsible for enforcing professional standards, certifying individual massage technicians (CAMTC certificate), and ensuring businesses operate ethically. • Local jurisdictions can no longer set standards and requirements for how an individual receives a professional certification.
• Local jurisdictions only have control over massage business operations and land use; however, may require CAMTC certificate to operate within City.
Background
• County of San Diego removed all regulations for massage businesses and is relying on State law.
• County Health Department will no longer be conducting inspections or issuing permits.
• Existing EMC requires all massage businesses receive an inspection, and all massage technicians take examination with County Health Department, which is no longer consistent with County process. • County has requested City update EMC to remove any references to County Health Department, to be consistent with County processes.
Chapter 6.40 and 6.41 Amendments
1. Remove references to “Health Department” to be consistent with County processes.
2. Add provisions to these Chapters to require all massage businesses to hire massage technicians that have valid CAMTC certification. • Ensure that the City maintains professional oversight over massage businesses. • Ensure all technicians and businesses operate within CAMTC professional standards and guidelines.
• Establish a process and enforcement for existing massage businesses/technicians:
• One year to become compliant, takes ~90 days to obtain CAMTC certification. • If after one year not in compliance, business registration would be revoked.
If Approved, Next Steps
6 • To assist existing massage businesses and technicians into compliance, Staff would notify massage businesses with an active business registration of new ordinance, new County process, and CAMTC requirements.
• An initial notice would be sent out followed by quarterly notices, if still not compliant.
Staff Recommendation
Introduce City Council Ordinance No. 2026-20 titled “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Encinitas, California amending Chapter 6.40 (Operations Permit:
Massage Business) and Chapter 6.41 (Operations Permit:
Massage Technician) of Title 6 (Operations Permits) of the Encinitas Municipal Code”.
A m e n d m e n t s t o E M C 6 . 4 0 ( O p e r a t i o n s P e r m i t :
M a s s a g e B u s i n e s s ) a n d E M C 6 . 4 1 ( O p e r a t i o n s P e r m i t : M a s s a g e Te c h n i c i a n )
Case No. PLCY-009254-2026
City Council
Item 12E
September 23, 2026