Santa Barbara Massage Therapy Under Fire

Santa Barbara’s new massage therapy ordinance is sparking heated debate, demanding steeper fees, more inspections, mandatory fingerprinting, and a massive jump in training hours—from 250 to 500—to meet California Massage Therapy Council certification. Experienced therapists, especially those licensed in other states, fear they’ll be forced to retrain despite years of proven expertise. While police chief claims the goal is to stop massage parlors from being fronts for human trafficking, critics warn it could enable overreach and surveillance, especially amid rising anti-Asian violence. City council still debates exemptions for seasoned pros and home-based practitioners, with a January 2029 certification deadline looming. This pivotal decision could reshape the entire industry’s future in Santa Barbara. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/8d0cbd7aad2546a5