Massage Therapist

The city recognizes and accepts therapeutic massage as a scientific health care and/or maintenance technique or procedure for the human muscles, tendons, tissues and the like. The city finds that persons with specialized and standardized training who provide massage services provide a legitimate and necessary service to the general public. The city also finds that business establishments offering therapeutic massage services best serve the general public's interests when they operate in accordance with state laws and city ordinances. Accordingly, in order to protect the public's health, safety and welfare, including the protection of the city's legitimate massage therapists' profession and reputation, the city deems it necessary to regulate therapeutic massage establishments and massage therapists through the licensing process.

 

The City of Detroit Lakes requires Massage Therapists to be licensed.  Therapists must complete the application and adhere to the laws set forth in the City of Detroit Lakes Municipal Code. 

 

Licenses must be renewed every three years, with the license period running from January 1 through December 31 of the third year. New licenses also require an investigation fee of $100. Required fees must be paid at the time an application is submitted. License fees can be determined by calling the City Clerk at 218-846-7128.

 

If a Massage Therapy Business is wholly owned and operated by an individual who is licensed by the City of Detroit Lakes as a massage therapist under City Code 602 and has no employee or contractor other than the licensee/owner, the massage therapy business license fee shall not be required, only the massage therapist license fee.

 

Applications are considered for approval by City Council on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, once approved, applications will be processed and issued within 2-3 business days.