CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Conduct the first reading of the ordinance amending Title 3 of the Naperville Municipal Code to add Chapter 20 (Massage Establishments) requiring the permitting of massage establishments
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DEPARTMENT: Police Department
SUBMITTED BY: Jason R. Arres, Chief of Police
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
While most of the massage establishments that operate in Naperville provide reputable and professional services, the Naperville Police Department has received complaints alleging that inappropriate activity is occurring. At this time, neither establishments nor massage therapists are required to register or be permitted by the City.
DISCUSSION:
Because no registration or permitting is required, staff does not have a precise number of establishments, but estimates more than 100 are currently operating in Naperville.
Under State of Illinois law, all persons operating as massage therapists, masseurs or masseuses are required to be licensed under the Illinois Massage Act (225 ILCS 57/1).
While the State licenses individual massage therapists it does not set up permitting or licensing for massage establishments. Therefore, when enforcement action is taken against an individual massage therapist, local massage establishments lack sufficient accountability related to non-compliant massage therapists in their employ.
These issues, combined with the State’s licensing prioritization, can make monitoring and enforcement of local massage establishments difficult.
To best ensure the health and safety of the public and of the individual massage therapists, staff recommends requiring permits for massage establishments within Naperville’s corporate limits.
This ordinance shall be in full force and effect on August 1, 2025.
FISCAL IMPACT:
One-time initial fee per establishment based on the number of massage therapists.