Fla. Stat. § 480.043 — Florida Code / Title XXXII / Chapter 480 / Section 480.043
480.043 Massage establishments; requisites; licensure; inspection; human trafficking awareness training and policies.
Status: in_force

(1) No massage establishment shall be allowed to operate without a license granted by the department in accordance with rules adopted by the board.

(2) An establishment owner shall comply with the background screening requirements under s. 456.0135. However, if a corporation submits proof of having more than $250,000 of business assets in this state, the department shall require the establishment owner, the designated establishment manager, and each individual directly involved in the management of the establishment to comply with the background screening requirements under s. 456.0135. The board may adopt rules regarding the type of proof that may be submitted by a corporation.

(3) The board shall adopt rules governing the operation of massage establishments and their facilities, employees, safety and sanitary requirements, financial responsibility, insurance coverage, and the license application and granting process.

(4) Any person, firm, or corporation desiring to operate a massage establishment in the state shall submit to the department an application, upon forms provided by the department, accompanied by any information requested by the department and an application fee.

(5) Upon receiving the application, the department may cause an investigation to be made of the proposed massage establishment.

(6) If, based upon the application and any necessary investigation, the department determines that the proposed establishment would fail to meet the standards adopted by the board under subsection (3), the department shall deny the application for license. Such denial shall be in writing and shall list the reasons for denial. Upon correction of any deficiencies, an applicant previously denied permission to operate a massage establishment may reapply for licensure.

(7) If, based upon the application and any necessary investigation, the department determines that the proposed massage establishment may reasonably be expected to meet the standards adopted by the department under subsection (3), the department shall grant the license under such restrictions as it shall deem proper as soon as the original licensing fee is paid.

(8) The department shall deny an application for a new or renewal license if an establishment owner or a designated establishment manager or, for a corporation that has more than $250,000 of business assets in this state, an establishment owner, a designated establishment manager, or any individual directly involved in the management of the establishment has been convicted of or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to any misdemeanor or felony crime, regardless of adjudication, related to prostitution or related acts as described in s. 796.07 or a felony offense under any of the following provisions of state law or a similar provision in another jurisdiction: (a) Section 787.01, relating to kidnapping. (b) Section 787.02, relating to false imprisonment. (c) Section 787.025, relating to luring or enticing a child. (d) Section 787.06, relating to human trafficking. (e) Section 787.07, relating to human smuggling. (f) Section 794.011, relating to sexual battery. (g) Section 794.08, relating to female genital mutilation. (h) Former s. 796.03, relating to procuring a person under the age of 18 for prostitution. (i) Former s. 796.035, relating to selling or buying of minors into prostitution. (j) Section 796.04, relating to forcing, compelling, or coercing another to become a prostitute. (k) Section 796.05, relating to deriving support from the proceeds of prostitution. (l) Section 800.04, relating to lewd or lascivious offenses committed upon or in the presence of persons less than 16 years of age. (m) Section 825.1025(2)(b), relating to lewd or lascivious offenses committed upon or in the presence of an elderly or disabled person. (n) Section 827.071, relating to sexual performance by a child. (o) Section 847.0133, relating to the protection of minors. (p) Section 847.0135, relating to computer pornography. (q) Section 847.0138, relating to the transmission of material harmful to minors to a minor by electronic device or equipment. (r) Section 847.0145, relating to the selling or buying of minors.

(9)(a) A massage establishment license issued to an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, or another entity may not be transferred from the licensee to another individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or another entity. (b) A license may be transferred from one location to another only after inspection and approval by the board and receipt of an application and inspection fee set by rule of the board, not to exceed $125. (c) A license may be transferred from one business name to another after approval by the board and receipt of an application fee set by rule of the board, not to exceed $25.

(10) Renewal of license registration for massage establishments shall be accomplished pursuant to rules adopted by the board. The board is further authorized to adopt rules governing delinquent renewal of licenses and may impose penalty fees for delinquent renewal.

(11) The board is authorized to adopt rules governing the periodic inspection of massage establishments licensed under this act.

(12) As a condition of licensure, a massage establishment must have a designated establishment manager. The designated establishment manager is responsible for complying with all requirements related to operating the establishment in this section and shall practice at the establishment for which he or she has been designated. Within 10 days after termination of a designated establishment manager, the establishment owner must notify the department of the identity of another designated establishment manager. Failure to have a designated establishment manager practicing at the location of the establishment shall result in summary suspension of the establishment license as described in s. 456.073(8) or s. 120.60(6). An establishment licensed before July 1, 2019, must identify a designated establishment manager by January 1, 2020.

(13) By January 1, 2025, a massage establishment shall implement a procedure for reporting suspected human trafficking to the Florida Human Trafficking Hotline, 1-855-FLA-SAFE, or to a local law enforcement agency and shall post in a conspicuous place in the establishment which is accessible to employees a sign with the relevant provisions of the reporting procedure.

(14) In order to provide the department and law enforcement agencies the means to more effectively identify persons engaging in human trafficking at massage establishments, the following apply: (a) Sexual activity in a massage establishment is prohibited. An establishment owner or employee may not engage in or allow any person to engage in sexual activity in the establishment or use the establishment to make arrangements to engage in sexual activity in another location. Used or unused condoms are prohibited in a massage establishment. (b) If there is an outside window or windows into the massage establishment’s reception area, the outside window or windows must allow for at least 35 percent light penetration and no more than 50 percent of the outside window or windows may be obstructed with signage, blinds, curtains, or other obstructions, allowing the public to see the establishment’s reception area. A sign must be posted on the front window of the establishment that includes the name and license number of the massage establishment and the telephone number that has been provided to the department as part of licensure of the establishment. This paragraph does not apply to: 1. A massage establishment within a public lodging establishment as defined in s. 509.013(4). 2. A massage establishment located within a county or municipality that has an ordinance that prescribes requirements related to business window light penetration or signage limitations if compliance with this paragraph would result in noncompliance with such ordinance. (c) All employees within the massage establishment must be fully clothed, and such clothing must be fully opaque and made of nontransparent material that does not expose the employee’s genitalia. This requirement does not apply to an employee, excluding a massage therapist, of a public lodging establishment, as defined in s. 509.013(4), that is licensed as a clothing-optional establishment and chartered with the American Association for Nude Recreation. (d) A massage establishment must maintain a complete set of legible records in English or Spanish, which must include each employee’s start date of employment, full legal name, date of birth, home address, telephone number, and employment position and a copy of the employee’s government identification required under s. 480.0535. All information required under this paragraph must be recorded before the employee may provide any service or treatment to a client or patient. (e) A massage establishment must conspicuously display a 2 inch by 2 inch photo for each employee, which, for massage therapists, must be attached to the massage therapist’s license. Such display must also include the employee’s full legal name and employment position. All information required under this paragraph must be displayed before the employee may provide any service or treatment to a client or patient. A massage establishment within a public lodging establishment as defined in s. 509.013(4) may satisfy this requirement by displaying the photos and required information in an employee break room or other room that is used by employees, but is not used by clients or patients. (f) A massage establishment must maintain a complete set of legible records in English or Spanish, which must include the date, time, and type of service or treatment provided; the full legal name of the employee who provided the service or treatment; and the full legal name, home address, and telephone number of the client or patient. Medical records may satisfy this requirement if the records include the specified information. A copy of the client’s or patient’s photo identification may be used to provide the full legal name and home address of the client or patient. Records required under this paragraph must be maintained for at least 1 year after a service or treatment is provided. All information required under this paragraph must be collected and recorded before any service or treatment is provided to a client or patient. The establishment must confirm the identification of the client or patient before any service or treatment is provided to the client or patient.

(15) Except for the requirements of subsection (13), this section does not apply to a practitioner licensed under chapter 457 or a physician licensed under chapter 458, chapter 459, or chapter 460 who employs a licensed massage therapist to perform massage therapy on the practitioner’s or physician’s patients at her or his place of practice. This subsection does not restrict investigations by the department for violations of chapter 456 or this chapter.

History: s. 12, ch. 78-436; ss. 13, 15, 25, 30, 34, 54, 62, ch. 80-406; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 6, 12, 13, ch. 85-280; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 156, ch. 97-264; s. 4, ch. 2014-139; s. 60, ch. 2015-2; s. 64, ch. 2016-10; s. 6, ch. 2016-24; s. 4, ch. 2019-152; s. 11, ch. 2021-143; s. 5, ch. 2024-148; s. 4, ch. 2024-184.