Politics & Government

Brick to Ease Regulations on Massage Businesses

Ordinance regulating massage parlors to be streamlined

Starting a massage business in Brick involves a lot of red tape that members of the township council feel should be removed.

The council unanimously introduced a revised ordinance regulating the businesses. The ordinance starts with the name – "massage parlors" will now be known as "massage establishments" in Brick, Council President Susan Lydecker said.

"What we really wanted to do was make business more cost effective, reduce the government, reduce the cost of business while maintaining our oversight for these establishments," said Lydecker.

Massage businesses typically have to apply for more permits than an average business due to their perceived association with illegal activities such as prostitution. The current ordinance on the books includes a lengthy list of reasons why such a business might have its license revoked which is not included in the revised version. Instead, the registration section of the new ordinance is streamlined to state that such businesses must comply with all state and local laws.

In addition the registration fee has been reduced from $500 to $200, bringing it in line with a state statute, Lydecker said, and also eliminates redundant background checks and individual operator's fees.

"What we are doing, in my eyes, is changing to ordinance to reflect the real needs to register these businesses in town," Lydecker said.

The proposal requires a public hearing and second vote before it is enacted into law.


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