Update on Massage Ordinance Compliance
and Enforcement Strategies
Public Safety Sub-Committee
April 21, 2026
Police Department &
Planning and Economic Development Chief John Cregan & Director Gabe Osburn Ordinance Background
• March of 2025, ordinance adopted modernizing massage establishment regulations and requiring massage certificates.
• Massage businesses were required to apply for certificate by October 18, 2025 • Applications submitted: 83
• Approved/complete: 40
• Denied: 6
• Pending review: 37 (waiting for applicant response)
• Returned incomplete/withdrawn: 4
• Inspections completed: 36
2 Enforcement Overview
Across the country, illicit massage enforcement looks very different:
• Some jurisdictions are still targeting the women working at the illicit massage businesses and arresting them for misdemeanor prostitution charges.
• Some jurisdictions are investigating the owner/operators, and bringing charges of pimping, pandering, and financial crimes.
• Some jurisdictions simply ignore the problem altogether. 3 Enforcement Overview
Santa Rosa Police, in coordination with Code Enforcement, are employing a three-prong approach:
Updated City Ordinance to make it more difficult for criminal enterprises to operate • Joint Code Enforcement/SRPD inspections of Illicit Massage Businesses (IMB) • Communication between Code Enforcement and SRPD on specific locations and owners • Aggressive enforcement for operation without license
• Revocation of massage certificates
Criminal Enforcement of owners/operators
• Felony arrests for pimping, pandering, wage theft, money laundering, and conspiracy Landlord Engagement
• Work with non-profit and municipalities in drafting Landlord Engagement Letters • Seek voluntary compliance by the landlords to remove the IMBs from their properties. 4 Enforcement Operation
• The Santa Rosa Police Department, with the support of the FBI and Code Enforcement officials, conducted a large-scale operation to address a segment of a multi-jurisdictional illicit massage businesses.
• The operation involved the search of three residences, the search of three IMBs, and the arrest of three suspects for charges related to pimping, pandering, wage theft, money laundering, and tax evasion.
• Six victims of pimping and pandering were identified during the operation. • A total of five IMBs have been shut down pursuant to this criminal investigation, and they have not reopened.
5 Ongoing Enforcement Efforts
• The Santa Rosa Police Department and Code Enforcement conducted a joint enforcement operation in April of 2026.
• Continued consultation with the California Massage Therapy Council. • Code Enforcement team is following up on community complaints and taking proactive enforcement action.
• Complaints can be submitted online using Code Investigation Request Form or email a PDF of the form to [email protected].
6 Questions?
7