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DATE: |
May 19, 2026 and June 9, 2026 |
05 |
SUBJECT
Title
SHERIFF - ADOPT AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 1, DIVISION 1, CHAPTER 1 AND TITLE 2, DIVISION 1, CHAPTER 11 OF THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY CODE OF REGULATORY ORDINANCES RELATING TO LICENSES REQUIRED FROM THE SHERIFF (05/19/2026 - first reading; 06/09/2026 - second reading unless ordinance is modified on second reading) (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
The San Diego County Sheriff's Office (Sheriff’s Office) seeks to update provisions of the County's Code of Regulatory Ordinances to remove outdated regulations and reflect current law and practices. Since the State of California now oversees the regulation of massage professionals and massage schools through the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC), the Sheriff's Office no longer issues local permits for massage establishments, massage technicians, or bathhouses. The Sheriff's Office is proposing to delete old license categories and remove unused sections of the Code, including provisions related to bathhouses, holistic health practitioners, massage technicians, and the distribution of merchandise coupons.
Today’s item requests that the San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) review and approve the introduction of an ordinance (first reading) relating to bathhouses, holistic health practitioners, massage technicians, and the merchandise coupon program. The ordinance will be introduced on May 19, 2026, and, if the Board takes action as recommended, the ordinance will be scheduled for adoption on June 9, 2026.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
SHERIFF
On May 19, 2026:
1. Approve the introduction of Ordinance (first reading):
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 1, DIVISION 1, CHAPTER 1 AND TITLE 2, DIVISION 1, CHAPTER 11 OF THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY CODE OF REGULATORY ORDINANCES RELATED TO LICENSES REQUIRED FROM THE SHERIFF
If, on May 19, 2026, the Board takes action as recommended, then, on June 9, 2026:
1. Consider and adopt (unless ordinance is modified on second reading):
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 1, DIVISION 1, CHAPTER 1 AND TITLE 2, DIVISION 1, CHAPTER 11 OF THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY CODE OF REGULATORY ORDINANCES RELATED TO LICENSES REQUIRED FROM THE SHERIFF
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
County departments are guided by County Regulatory Codes in how they serve the region and customers consistently and equitably. Outside of regular sunset reviews, departments will seek to amend County codes to keep documents up to date and provide clarifying language. This amendment updates the code provision to be in alignment with current County practices.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
This action to review County Regulatory Code aligns with the goal to promote opportunities for community engagement and supports the sustainability of governmental practices and services. The update proposed in today’s action are meant to ensure that practices outlined in County codes are up to date, reflect current processes, and are needed to sustain services and responsibilities to the region.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with the proposal to remove provisions within and to establish the sunset dates for the Regulatory Code. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
N/A
BACKGROUND
The purpose of Title 6 Health and Sanitation is to provide guidance regarding health and sanitation. This includes various aspects such as food safety, public swimming pools, and water management. This code is meant to align with the County’s Operational Plan to protect the health and safety of residents and preserve and enhance the natural and built environment by unifying the County’s efforts in land use, environmental protection and preservation, agriculture, recreation, and infrastructure development and maintenance.
On December 11, 2024, the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 6 OF THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY CODE OF REGULATORY ORDINANCES PERTAINING TO DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS. Among the amendments approved in the ordinance was repealing the following chapters from Title 6 of the County of San Diego (County) Regulatory Code:
1. Chapter 5: Massage Establishments and Massage Therapists
2. Chapter 6: Bathhouses
These two chapters were repealed to reflect the change to State of California laws in 2016 that affect the way the County regulates the massage industry. The California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC), created by the California Legislature in 2016, is a private nonprofit public benefit corporation made up of a volunteer Board of Directors appointed by California cities, counties, law enforcement, massage schools, the Department of Consumer Affairs, professional massage associations and other stakeholders as authorized by law in California Business and Professions Code sections 4600 et. seq.
The following is a summary of the amendments being requested within the County Regulatory Code, Title 2, Division 1 Business Regulations:
a. Chapter 1 Uniform License Procedure, Section 21.102 License Required from the Sheriff
Deletion of licenses no longer issued by the Sheriff's Office: c) Bathhouses, j) Holistic Health Practitioners, l) Massage Establishments, m) Massage Technicians, n) Massage Technician Trainees, p) Merchandise Coupons, and q) Off-Premises Massage.
b. Chapter 11 Distribution of Merchandise Coupons
Delete Chapter 11 in its entirety as it is no longer utilized, and merchandise coupons have not been issued by the Sheriff's Office since 2010.
Although Chapters 5 and 6 were repealed from the County Regulatory Code in 2024, Chapter 1, Section 21.102 (License Required from the Sheriff) still contains references to the former licenses. The proposed changes would remove reference to the licenses that the Sheriff’s Office no longer issues.
Today’s item requests that the San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) review and approve the introduction of an ordinance (first reading) relating to bathhouses, holistic health practitioners, massage technicians, and the merchandise coupon distribution. The ordinance will be introduced on May 19, 2026, and if the Board takes action as recommended, the ordinance will be scheduled for adoption on June 9, 2026.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed actions support the Sustainability, Equity, and Community Strategic Initiatives in the County of San Diego’s 2026-2031 Strategic Plan by ensuring processes and services are positioned to meet the needs and expectations of all communities in San Diego County, removing obsolete policies and Code provisions, and confirming that the remaining requirements reflect current legal standards and practices.
Respectfully submitted,
Kelly a. Martinez
Sheriff
ATTACHMENT(S)
Attachment A: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 1, DIVISION 1, CHAPTER 1 AND TITLE 2, DIVISION 1, CHAPTER 11 OF THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY CODE OF REGULATORY ORDINANCES RELATING TO LICENSES REQUIRED FROM THE SHERIFF (Clean Copy)
Attachment B: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 1, DIVISION 1, CHAPTER 1 AND TITLE 2, DIVISION 1, CHAPTER 11 OF THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY CODE OF REGULATORY ORDINANCES RELATING TO LICENSES REQUIRED FROM THE SHERIFF (Informational Copy)
Attachment C: Summary of Proposed Ordinance