A Massage Establishment is any place of business or facility wherein any massage techniques as defined are administered, practiced or used. 

Reflexology, chiropractors, physical therapists, registered nurses and more do NOT need a Massage Establishment license.  See Tempe City Code below. 

Code

Tempe City Code §16A-160 to §16A-174

Step One: Have the following documents ready or in process before applying

• A Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT or sales tax) License is required annually for the business if the business sells any products or accessories

Retail activity includes the sale of any tangible personal property, including items such as lotions, soaps, candles, eye pillows, oils, etc.

Apply, File & Pay Transaction Privilege Tax at AZTaxes.gov

Step Two: A Tempe Massage Establishment License is required annually for the business and must include an application for the following to be complete:  

• the massage business 

• each individual owner 

If you need a Tempe Regulatory License, you will need to renew before January 1 each year.

BUSINESS APPLICATION

OWNER APPLICATION

RENEW A LICENSE 

CLICK HERE FOR TRAINING VIDEOS ON USING THE ACA LICENSING PORTAL

Step Three: A Tempe Use Permit is required from the Planning Division.

APPLY FOR A USE PERMIT

Pursuant to Section 3-302, Permitted Uses in Office/Industrial Districts, and Section 3-202, Permitted Uses in Commercial and Mixed-Use Districts, of the City of Tempe Zoning and Development Code (ZDC), a Use Permit is required to operate a “secondhand dealer business” in the GID, General Industrial District. The Use Permit application process is identified in Section 6-308, Use Permits, of the ZDC.

Step Four: Fingerprints are required for all applicants so a background investigation can be completed by Tempe Police Dept.  

Click Here to download City of Tempe Fingerprint Packet

The City of Tempe Code requires that all applicants must submit fingerprints to Tempe Police.

Fingerprints may be obtained at any fingerprinting service company in the United States. Tempe Police Department offers fingerprint services to business license applicants free of charge. To check availability, please call Tempe PD Licensing Unit 480-350-5300. Please ensure you are following the proper procedure to submit the fingerprints. Refer to the City of Tempe Fingerprint Packet for further information.

Required items are as follows:

USDOJ FBI Fingerprint Card, FD258, blue and white in color.

$22 fingerprint fee (in the form of a cashier’s check or money order, made out to Arizona Dept of Public Safety) must be submitted with each person’s fingerprint card.

Licensing Fingerprint Form (this is on the first page of the fingerprint packet, and needs to be filled out by the fingerprint technician).

Enclose all items into a sealed envelope that can be mailed or dropped off to Tempe Police Department at the below address.

Mailed to:

Tempe Police Department

Attn: Licensing Unit

120 E. 5th St., Tempe, AZ 85281

Questions on fingerprinting? Please call 480-350-5300

Fees

$100 New license application fee per business  (non-refundable)

$100 Annual license fee per business (due by January 1 each year)

Total: $200 total for new license

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express by phone or in-person

We accept check by mail or in-person.  We do not accept cash.

Late Penalty Fee

$50 added to annual license fee per business after January 1

Application Processing Time

90 days (from time all documents received)

New license application is forwarded to:

Tempe Police Department

Tempe Planning Department

Step One: :  Confirm the following documents have no changes and, if there are changes, submit documentation to Tempe Tax & License for:

• A Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT or sales tax) License is required and must be renewed annually for the business before January 1 if the business sells any products or accessories

Renew, File & Pay Transaction Privilege Tax at AZTaxes.gov link below:

Step Two: A Tempe Massage License is required annually for the business and must include an application for any "new" owners to be complete.

If you need a Tempe Regulatory License, you will need to renew before January 1 each year.  Click the button below to reach Tempe Tax & License to renew:

Step Three: At Renewal, fingerprints and background checks are required for all "new" owners which are submitted to Tempe Police Dept.  Returning owners do not need to resubmit fingerprints and background checks each year.

Suggested Fingerprinting Locations:

AZ Livescan  602-246-3444

SecureOne   480-500-7309

Community Wellness and Safety of Arizona  480-892-4295

$22 fingerprint fee with each fingerprint card per person (by cashier’s check or money order to: Arizona Dept of Public Safety)

Mailed to:

Tempe Police Department

Attn: Licensing Unit

120 E. 5th St., Tempe, AZ 85281

Questions on fingerprinting? 480-350-5300

Renewal Fees

$100 Annual license fee per business (due by January 1 each year)

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express by phone or in-person

We accept check by mail or in-person.  We do not accept cash.

Late Penalty Fee

$50 added to annual license fee per business after January 1

Renewal Processing Time

Less than 30 days (from time all documents received or if there are no changes)

New owner applications are forwarded to:

Tempe Police Department

New License Fees

$100 New license application fee per business  (non-refundable)

$100 Annual license fee per business (due by January 1 each year)

Total: $200 for new license

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express by phone or in-person

We accept check by mail or in-person.  We do not accept cash.

Renewal License Fees

$100 Annual license fee per business (due by January 1 each year)

We do not accept cash.

Late Penalty Fee

$50 added to annual license fee per business after January 1

Application Processing Time for New Applications

90 days (from time all documents received)

New Applications, for new license or renewal, require fingerprints and background checks for all owners 

Suggested Fingerprinting Locations:

AZ Livescan  602-246-3444

SecureOne   480-500-7309

Community Wellness and Safety of Arizona  480-892-4295

$22 fingerprint fee with each fingerprint card per person (by cashier’s check or money order to: Arizona Dept of Public Safety)

Mailed to:

Tempe Police Department

Attn: Licensing Unit

120 E. 5th St., Tempe, AZ 85281

Questions on fingerprinting? 480-350-5300

Requirement to Renew Annually

Massage Establishment Licenses expire annually. It is unlawful to operate a massage business in Tempe with an expired license.  Renewal applications must be filed before a license expires.

CLICK HERE FOR TRAINING VIDEOS ON USING THE ACA LICENSING PORTAL

Requirement to Pay Taxes If Business Sells Products

Double check your Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT or sales tax) to stay on the tax payment schedule established with the Arizona Department of Revenue. You must submit your required filings on-time on the 20th of each month for the previous month's revenues.  You must also renew your Transaction Privilege Tax every year before January 1 . You can access your account online at AZTaxes.gov link here:

Requirement to Keep Contact Information Up to Date

If an owner's information changes, the licensee must contact Tempe Tax & License to make the updates.  If there is a new owner being added to the license, then a new application for that person is required as well as the fingerprint and background check process.  There is no charge for the application.  There will be a fee for submitting new fingerprinting to Tempe Police for the background check.  

"Our mission is to provide quality service to all Tempe taxpayers, and administer the tax code in a fair and equitable manner."