New rules for massage and reflexology businesses advanced by Olympia City Council 

The Olympia City Council unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance designed to close regulatory gaps and strengthen oversight of massage and reflexology businesses, in order to curb illicit operations linked to human trafficking and other criminal activity.  

Interim Olympia Police Department Chief Shelby Parker presented the proposal at a city council meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 12. She said the city's current code makes it difficult to address unlicensed businesses offering services outside the scope of legitimate massage therapy.  

Parker said the police department has historically relied on joint investigations with the Washington State Department of Health, which can issue civil penalties but does not regulate unlicensed practitioners.

"These measures have proven insufficient in deterring ongoing illicit activity," Parker said.

Parker noted community members repeatedly voiced their concerns about businesses posing as legitimate massage providers, but offering inappropriate services, including sexually explicit acts, and raising allegations of human trafficking.  

Ordinance, code changes 

Parker proposed a set of changes to the city's code to address those issues: 

• Modernizing lewd conduct ordinances to align with state law. 

• Create a dedicated chapter that establishes expectations and oversight for massage and reflexology businesses. 

• Provide the city authority to deny or revoke business licenses based on criminal activity. 

• Update zoning definitions to better reflect the regulated nature of massage therapy. 

"These changes form a coherent, enforceable framework that prioritizes public safety, supports legitimate practitioners and disrupts the business model of those who engage in illicit or criminal activity," Parker said.  

The ordinance also: 

• Defines who is responsible for business operations, including owners, directors and managers.  

• Prohibits anyone under 18 from practicing, and requires all practitioners to be licensed or certified, with licenses clearly posted.  

• Authorizes city inspections of public areas during business hours.  

• Establishes hygiene, sanitation and record-keeping standards consistent with state rules.  

• Clarifies the scope of physical contact allowed under a massage license.  

For enforcement, the ordinance introduces escalating penalties for violations, from misdemeanors to gross misdemeanors for repeat offenses.  

The city would also be able to deny or revoke business licenses for convictions related to prostitution, fraud, or similar crimes, with a mandatory two-year waiting period before reapplying.

Applicants without a valid license would also have to provide their date of birth and home address, and undergo a background check focused on relevant offenses. Anyone denied a license has the right to appeal.  

Enforcement would be handled by the police department's community policing unit, including neighborhood officers and downtown patrols.

Complex cases would receive additional investigative resources as needed. Complaints would be investigated with a victim-centered, trauma-informed approach. 

The code would be updated to remove massage therapy from the "personal services" category, recognizing it as a licensed health care profession in Washington State.  

Community support  

Marybeth Berney, president of the Washington State Massage Therapy Association (WSMTA), expressed strong support for the proposed ordinance amending the municipal code on massage and reflexology businesses. She emphasized the ordinance's importance in protecting both public safety and legitimate practitioners.  

"Our association is in support of this municipal code change. It will give law enforcement and prosecutors better tools to deal with the issue without punishing licensed massage therapists," said Berney during the public comment segment of the meeting.  

Parker credited Detective Sgt. Al Weinnig, the city's legal team, WSMTA and the Innovations Human Trafficking Collective for helping craft the proposal.   

The ordinance's second reading is scheduled for Sept. 9, with an effective date of Oct. 1.