From:Laura Tappan
To:City Council
Subject:Public Comment Support Materials - Chapter 5.11 and CAMTC Practitioner Permits Date:Monday, May 18, 2026 10:11:53 PM
Attachments:Supporting document for City Council.pdf
External Email
Dear Mayor Waage and City Council Members,
I will be speaking during public comment at the upcoming City Council meeting regarding the requirement that CAMTC-certified massage practitioners obtain a practitioner permit and pay a permit fee before receiving a business license.
The attached document includes excerpts from Chapter 5.11 of the Pismo Beach Municipal Code, as well as Government Code section 51034(c)(9), in support of my comments.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Laura Tappan, CMT
Shell Beach
Dear Mayor Waage and City Council Members,
In support of my comments, I am providing the following excerpts from Chapter 5.11 of the Pismo Beach Municipal Code, which I believe demonstrate that the Code does not establish a permit or fee requirement for CAMTC-certified practitioners.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Laura Tappan, CMT
Shell Beach
5.11.020 Purpose and intent
B. … it is the council's purpose and intent to rely upon the uniform statewide regulations applicable to massage practitioners … and to restrict the commercial practice of massage in the city to those persons duly certified to practice by the California Massage Therapy Council or who have substantially similar qualifications or are actively pursuing such certification or substantially similar qualifications and are properly supervised…
5.11.030 Definitions
C. "Certified massage practitioner" means any individual certified by the California Massage Therapy Council as a certified massage therapist or as a certified massage practitioner…
G. "Established massage practitioner" means any person … who holds an established massage practitioner permit issued pursuant to Section 5.11.050 of this code and who is not a certified massage practitioner.
S. "Probationary massage practitioner" means any person … who holds a probationary massage practitioner permit issued pursuant to Section 5.11.060 and who is not a certified massage practitioner. Probationary massage practitioners may be either employees or students.
5.11.040 CAMTC certification and city permit required.
A. Individuals. …it shall be unlawful for any individual to practice massage therapy within the city of Pismo Beach unless that individual is (i) a certified massage practitioner by the California Massage Therapy Council, (ii) an established massage practitioner or (iii) a probationary massage practitioner…
5.11.050 Established massage practitioner permit.
B. Issuance. …Established massage practitioner permits may not be issued if the applicant:
4. Is a certified massage practitioner or a probationary massage practitioner.
5.11.060 Probationary massage practitioner permit.
B. Issuance. …Probationary massage practitioner permits may not be issued if the applicant:
4. Is a certified massage practitioner or an established massage practitioner.
5.11.080 Operating requirements …no person shall engage in, conduct, carry on, or permit any massage therapy and/or instruction within the city of Pismo Beach unless all of the following requirements are met:
A. All massage practitioners must register, in person, with the Pismo Beach Police Department and certified massage practitioners must present a valid CAMTC certificate.
Application for and issuance of an established massage practitioner permit or a probationary massage practitioner permit shall satisfy this in-person registration requirement.
C. A copy of the CAMTC certificate of each and every certified massage practitioner employed in the massage establishment shall be displayed in the reception area or similar open public place on the premises. A copy of the established massage practitioner permit or probationary massage practitioner permit of each and every established and probationary massage practitioner shall be present on site and available for immediate inspection during business hours…
GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 51034
(c) Nothing contained in this chapter shall authorize a city, county, or city and county to do any of the following:
(9) Impose a requirement that an individual holding a certificate issued in accordance with Chapter 10.5 (commencing with Section 4600) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, obtain any other license, permit, certificate, or other authorization to provide massage for compensation…