Massage workers must reapply for permits

Massage therapists will have to be certified by a state council following a new law passed at the Council meeting Tuesday night.

The California Massage Therapy Council is now the ruling body in certifying massage practitioners. All massage therapists will need to be certified by the nonprofit group to keep practicing. And owners of massage establishments need to apply for new city permits.

A room where a client had just arrived for a massage in shut down Lake Forest Body Centre on May 19, a massage parlor accused of selling sex for pay and breaking city and state laws.

Under the state law, which went into effect in September, cities can no longer impose other certification or qualifications on those who want to practice massage therapy.

Tustin hasn't had any recent problems with massage businesses, but in 2007, three people were arrested for not having a business license or for prostitution, officials said. A year earlier, 10 people were arrested for the same reasons.

Massage workers and business owners have until January 21, 2011 to gain a certification from the state council and get new city permits, which are renewed yearly, documents state.

The previous regulations in Tustin required massage workers to provide the city with eight years of home addresses, a physical description and color photos, and a history of any other massage permits. While on the job, everyone had to be fully clothed from mid-thigh to three inches below the collarbone.

The Police Department also would fingerprint the workers, documents state, and the worker would have to pass a city test and show they had graduated from a state-certified massage school. All of the employees had to carry their permits with them at all times, documents state.

The city's new ordinance may be revised again if changes to the state law are approved. The proposed changes to Assembly Bill 1822 would give local law enforcement final approval of massage applications.

Aliso Viejo, Yorba Linda, Rancho Santa Margarita and Costa Mesa also have ordinances relating to massage businesses. Costa Mesa's City Council placed a moratorium on new massage businesses or permits while city employees review the permit process and city codes.

In May, a massage parlor on El Toro Road was shut down by the Orange County Sheriff's Department. The Lake Forest Chiropractic Center was closed due to alleged lewd conduct and solicitation of prostitution, police said.

A month earlier, in April, a massage and chiropractic business in near John Wayne Airport in Irvine was shut down on suspicion of illegal activities after a neighboring business owner complained to police.