Chesapeake, Va. - Chesapeake City Council voted 8-1 to change the rules for governing massage therapy businesses. Councilman Craig was the only person to oppose the measure.
The review comes after several advertisements listing massage businesses with Chesapeake addresses and scantily-clad women were popping up on “Backpage.com.”
Revisions to the existing city code includes regulating hours of the establishments, prohibit certain acts, and update the definitions of “massage therapist” and “massage therapy.”
The revisions also include increased enforcement by the Health Department and law enforcement officers, as well as change violations from a Class 2 to a Class 1 misdemeanor – which is punishable by a fine up to $2,500 and/or one year in prison.
