Dear Washington Massage Therapists, Clinic Owners, Employees, Clients and Supporters,

On Tuesday June 16th, 2026 The Federal Way City Council meets and will soon decide, at this meeting or the next, whether to move forward with a massage business ordinance that includes three controversial regulations:

• Prohibiting locked entrance doors during business hours
• Prohibiting internal warning systems*
• Prohibiting cash transactions

* Note: WSMTA and other interested parties are only concerned about door chimes being prohibited.  In the June 9 Committee meeting, the city stated door chimes were not included in this prohibition, however this exclusion has yet to be included in writing in the ordinance's definition of "internal warning systems".

The Washington State Massage Therapy Association (WSMTA) supports strong and effective enforcement against illicit businesses operating under the guise of massage therapy. We appreciate that the Federal Way City Council voted to send this ordinance back to committee for further discussion and refinement.

However, WSMTA continues to strongly oppose these three regulations because they place lawful massage therapists into an impossible position of having to choose between:

• Violating city regulations in order to protect themselves and their clients,
• Complying with the ordinance and potentially compromise safety, privacy, business operations, and client well-being.
• Moving massage practices or clinics outside of city limits to avoid these regulations

During the June 9th Committee Meeting, law enforcement stated they would focus enforcement efforts on illicit businesses and not lawful massage therapists. While we appreciate that acknowledgment, licensed massage therapists would still remain legally responsible for complying with the ordinance.

It does not help a city to effectively tell lawful healthcare professionals that they may need to ignore city regulations in order to remain safe.

These 3 Regulations are not Standard in Washington Massage Ordinances.

To WSMTA’s knowledge, Renton is the only city in Washington with a prohibition on locked doors during business hours, and WSMTA could find no other Washington cities that prohibit warning systems or cash transactions in massage businesses.

After reviewing the municipal codes for 20 different cities who either previously enacted massage business ordinances or had language requiring a state issued massage license to practice massage in their city WSMTA has found no other instances of cities mentioning any of these three regulations. 

WSMTA’s Compromise Proposal

WSMTA has not simply objected to the ordinance. We have offered a compromise solution that would still provide law enforcement tools while minimizing harm to legitimate massage therapists.

WSMTA proposed:

• Exempting massage therapists in solo private practice with no employees from these three regulations, since illicit businesses with multiple workers are the primary concern.
• Allowing massage clinics to qualify for exemption if they submit to inspect and meet certain other criteria.
• Adding a one-year sunset clause requiring the City Council to revisit these three regulations and determine:

• Whether they were effective,
• Whether they harmed lawful massage businesses,
• Whether they should be revised, retained, or eliminated.

• Clarifying that standard door chimes are allowed, which would resolve concerns regarding the ordinance’s “internal warning system” language.

WSMTA is attempting to work collaboratively with the City to create an ordinance that targets illicit businesses without unnecessarily harming licensed massage therapists and their clients.

Ultimately, WSMTA would prefer these 3 regulations not be in the ordinance because cities have a tendency to copy from one another and we wouldn't want other cities to adopt these regulations.  However, if the city is intent on adopting them, exempting lawful massage therapy private practice and clinics would remove the impact of these city regulations.

Why Your Voice Matters

Massage therapists are healthcare professionals regulated by Washington State through extensive RCWs, WACs, licensing requirements, continuing education requirements, and professional standards.

When cities create massage ordinances based on existing state massage laws, there is usually little impact on lawful massage therapists.

The conflict begins when cities impose additional regulations aimed at controlling illicit businesses that directly interfere with how legitimate massage therapists safely operate their practices and care for clients.

Federal Way City Council members need to hear directly from massage therapists, clinic owners, employees, clients, and residents before making a final decision.

Where You Can Find the Federal Way Massage Business Ordinance

Click on FW Massage Business Ordinance.  Click on the "Agenda Packet" link it has 261 pages.  The ordinance starts on page 82 and ends on page 95.

What You Can Do

1. Attend the Federal Way City Council Meeting -- the section in the council meeting that discusses the massage business ordinance will be a public hearing where the council will hear specific comments about this ordinance.  Please give your public comments at this time.  There is a general public comment section more towards to the start of the council meeting, but public comment about the ordinance should be held to the public hearing section on the massage business ordinance if at all possible.

• Tuesday, June 16, 2026 at 6:30pm
• Please consider attending and providing public comment.
• Personal stories and real-world examples matter.

If you speak:

• Be respectful and professional
• Keep comments concise
• Explain how these regulations could affect safety, client care, privacy, or business operations

Emphasize that legitimate massage therapists also want illicit businesses shut down if you believe this.

2. Email the Federal Way City Council

Emails can be sent to: council@federalwaywa.gov

Politely ask the Council to:

• Continue refining the ordinance,
• Remove or revise the three controversial regulations,
• Adopt WSMTA’s compromise proposal if they will not remove or revise the three controversial regulations.

Even a short email can make a difference.

Thank you for helping protect both public safety and the massage therapy profession in Washington State.

Washington State Massage Therapy Association (WSMTA)
Government Relations Program