§ 6-129. Findings, purpose and intent

The county finds that businesses operating massage parlors—parlors, spas, or other synonymous names—with masseuses who are not licensed in massage therapy pursuant to a state-wide legislative act or code, have been associated with prostitution, assignation, lewdness, and other sexual conduct. Such criminal behavior damages the reputations of those who comply with the Georgia Massage Therapy Practice Act (O.C.G.A §§ 43-24A-1 et seq.) and who are lawfully licensed there under, and the reputations of the communities in which these businesses operate.

The county also finds that the operation of unlicensed massage parlors and practitioners directly and detrimentally affects the community's health, welfare, safety, and morals, and that it is necessary that such businesses be regulated to prevent their use for unlawful and illegal activities.

The county further finds that preservation of the county's businesses, neighborhoods, churches, schools, and parks will be achieved through the adoption of these regulations.

The purposes and intent of the governing authority of the county in enacting sections 6-129 through 6-142 are as follows, and to these ends the said regulations are hereby adopted:

(1) To advance the fundamental goal of protecting the health, safety, welfare and morals of the citizens of the county.

(2) To further legitimate government interests, including reduction of criminal activity, protection against devaluation and deterioration of property, and elimination of undesirable community conditions associated with massage parlors that employ unlicensed masseuses by prohibiting unlicensed massage practice, and by prohibiting the dispensation and consumption of alcoholic beverages and escort dating services in connection with massage parlors.

(3) To provide for local licensing and regulation of massage parlors pursuant to the authority of O.C.G.A. § 48-13-9(b)(17) and O.C.G.A. §§ 43-24A-1 et seq. as amended, while showing full deference to the right to engage in constitutionally protected speech under the Georgia and United States Constitutions within the county.

(4) A license issued pursuant to this division is a privilege and not a right.

(Ord. No. WW-10-6, § 1, 6-1-10)