Council votes to require permits for new massage parlors in Glendale - Los Angeles Times

[massage]

New massage businesses in Glendale will now be required to get a permit before opening, following City Council direction on Tuesday.

The council's 5-0 vote came after some city officials said there was a proliferation of massage establishments in recent years, some of which harbor illegal activity.

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State law previously preempted municipalities from having authority over massage parlor openings, but that statute expired last year and control reverted back to cities.


Now, amendments to the city code mandate new massage parlor owners will have to obtain a conditional-use permit from the city, a process that entails a background check.

If they fail to get one, they will have to close, according to the upgraded language.

Massage parlors that opened before the code amendments were adopted will have one year to get a permit.

Glendale Police Deputy Chief Carl Povilaitis said undercover investigations at some local massage parlors have resulted in arrests for soliciting prostitution.


Councilman Zareh Sinanyan said there's no room for that in Glendale, adding that those kinds of illegal operations have a negative impact on the quality of local life.

"I'm sure that attracts other crime and most of these massage parlors are in areas that are very close to dense residential neighborhoods, and that's unacceptable," he said in a phone interview.

During the time the code revisions were being drafted, the council enacted a moratorium on new openings, spearheaded by Sinanyan.

Some city officials put the count of massage parlors in Glendale at more than 100, with many of them along Colorado Street, which Sinanyan said caught his attention.

The code amendments also require all massage establishments to have transparent and unobstructed storefront windows in order to operate.


Being able to see inside will be an important part of enforcement, Sinanyan said.

"Transparency is key," he said. "The transparency of a massage parlor is much more important than looking into the lobby of a law firm or an accounting firm."

Sinanyan has said in the past, however, that illegal activity is not occurring in all massage businesses and has cited Massage Envy on Brand Boulevard as one that's done well with having a completely unobstructed storefront window.

To ensure compliance, Povilaitis said there will be inspections and enforcement by way of the police department, possibly in cooperation with the city's code enforcement department.

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Arin Mikailian, [email protected]

Twitter: @ArinMikailian


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