City Starting To Receive Massage License Applications

BACKGROUNDIn an effort to eliminate the operation of illicit massage businesses, the Cedar Rapids City Council passed its long-discussed massage ordinance in November.The ordinance calls for local businesses that offer massage services to be licensed through the city in addition to the required state license. The ordinance also gives the city the right to placard, or place a notice on, any business engaging in illegal activity or operating without a license.The ordinance initially was met with concern from local massage therapists and victim advocacy groups that deal with human trafficking.Among concerns was the first draft’s lack of language addressing human trafficking, which sometimes is associated with illegal massage businesses, as well as its lack of cost analysis when it came to enforcement.