A new ordinance introduced in the Chicago City Council would change the rules for licensed massage establishments in the city. It's still early in the process—introduced and referred to committee, not yet law—but because it touches licensing, supervision, and even the definition of "massage," it's worth understanding. Here's a plain-English rundown of what it proposes and the questions it has raised. (This is general information, not legal advice.)
First, Two Different Kinds of "License"
It helps to keep two things separate. Individual massage therapists are licensed by the State of Illinois (IDFPR) under the Massage Therapy Practice Act. Separately, the businesses where massage is offered—massage establishments—are licensed by the City of Chicago under Municipal Code Section 4-6-320. This ordinance amends the city establishment rules. It does not change state therapist licensure.
What the Ordinance Proposes
The ordinance, introduced by Alderperson Nicole Lee (11th Ward) on June 17, 2026 and referred to the Council's licensing committee, would make several changes to Section 4-6-320:
- Redefine "massage." It removes the definition's cross-reference to the state Massage Therapy Practice Act, and removes the existing carve-out stating that "massage" does not include a foot or chair massage performed while the recipient is fully clothed.
- Create a new category: "masseuse or masseur." This is defined as a person who practices massage for compensation but is not licensed or regulated by the state under the Massage Therapy Practice Act.
- Allow certain establishments to employ unlicensed workers. Businesses that exclusively offer massage limited to the feet, hands, and ears—or work otherwise exempt from the state Act—could employ these "masseuses or masseurs," provided the business does not present them as licensed massage therapists and they do not claim to be.
- Remove an existing supervision provision. The ordinance deletes current language that prohibits unlicensed persons or students from being in a massage room with a client unless a licensed massage therapist is present at all times.
- Conforming updates. It updates the state Act's name, adjusts age-requirement language, and adds the new "masseuse or masseur" category to the code's existing trafficking-victim protections.
What It Appears Intended to Address
Cities regulate a range of touch-based businesses, and some services—such as reflexology or seated foot massage—fall outside the scope of Illinois massage-therapist licensure. A measure like this can be read as an attempt to give those exempt businesses a defined, lawful place in the city's licensing scheme rather than leaving their status ambiguous.
Questions the Ordinance Has Raised
Because the changes touch public protection and professional standards, the proposal has prompted discussion among massage therapists, educators, and others. Points that have been raised include:
- Supervision. Removing the "licensed therapist present at all times" provision eliminates an existing safeguard, and the new allowance for unlicensed workers does not replace it with a comparable supervision requirement.
- Enforcement. Some worry that a category permitting unlicensed workers—keyed to a business's own claim about what services it "exclusively" offers—could be difficult to police, given Chicago's history of illicit operations using massage as a front.
- Terminology. The profession has spent decades moving from "masseuse/masseur" toward "massage therapist." Formalizing the older terms in the city code, as a category of unlicensed practitioner, may create public confusion about who is a credentialed therapist.
- City and state consistency. Decoupling the city's definition of "massage" from the state Act could allow the two to diverge over time on what even counts as massage.
Where It Stands and How to Follow It
As of this writing, the ordinance has been introduced and referred to committee—an early stage. It has not been enacted, and its language could change as it moves through the process. Residents and professionals who want to follow it can track it through the Chicago City Clerk's legislative site and share their views with their alderperson.
About New School for Massage Bodywork & Healing
New School for Massage Bodywork & Healing is a state-approved massage therapy school located in Chicago, Illinois. We provide massage therapy education, continuing education, and clinical training designed to prepare students for successful careers in the massage therapy profession. Learn more by visiting our Admissions page or contacting our admissions team.