§ 13-643. Massage therapy.

(a)

Purpose and intent. For reasons set forth in findings codified at section 13-110(11), the commission has determined that massage therapy as a permitted use or activity should be permitted only when operated in accordance with applicable licensing laws of the State of Florida.

(b)

Standards. Massage therapy shall be allowed as a land use, in accordance with Table 13-431A, provided that the following conditions are met:

(1)

Only a massage therapy studio or other establishment operated or staffed by one or more massage therapist(s) licensed by the board of massage therapy in accordance with the Florida Massage Practice Act, as codified at F.S. § 480.031 et seq. shall be permitted. The county shall not issue a permit for a massage parlor or similar establishment unless the applicant has been licensed by the board of massage therapy or the applicant provides the name(s) and or licensing information of one or more persons who are so licensed and who will provide massage therapy at the establishment. Any such massage establishment shall maintain posted on its premises copies of the license(s) of the licensed massage therapists who provide services at the establishment. There shall be a rebuttable presumption that any massage parlor or similar establishment operated by a person who is not a licensed massage therapist and that does not have posted on its premises one or more licenses of massage therapists who provide services there is operating in violation of this chapter and is subject to enforcement action and penalty under this chapter, in addition to any violation of the Massage Practice Act. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the operation of a massage school in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Massage Practices Act or the provision of clinical experience to students of a massage school in a setting consistent with the provisions of the Massage Practices Act.

(Ord. No. 2015-17, § 3(Exh. A), 9-22-15)