Upon receiving the application for a massage establishment and/or masseur’ s permit, the chief of police shall conduct an investigation into the applicant’ s moral character and personal and criminal history. The chief of police, in his discretion, may require a personal interview of the application, and such further information, identification and physical examination of the person as shall bear on the investigation.

    In the case of applications for massage establishment permits, the chief of police may cause to be conducted an inspection and investigation of the proposed massage establishment premises, by the city’ s building inspector, electrical inspector, plumbing inspector and health officer, for the purposes of assuring that such premises comply with all the sanitation requirements as set forth in the code and ordinances of the city which regulate public health, safety and welfare. No massage establishment shall be issued a permit, nor be operated, established or maintained in the city unless an inspection by the city building inspector, (and if required by the chief of police or building inspector, then by the electrical inspector, plumbing inspector and health officer) reveals that the establishment complies with each of the following minimum requirements:

    A.    Construction of rooms used for toilets, tubs, steam baths and showers shall be made waterproof with approved waterproof materials and shall be installed in accordance with the building code of the city of Columbia.

    B.    All therapeutic massage tables, bathtubs, shower stalls, steam or bath areas and floors shall have surfaces which may be readily disinfected.

    C.    Adequate bathing, dressing and locker facilities shall be provided for the patrons to be served at any given time. In the event male and female patrons are to be served simultaneously, separate bathing, dressing, locker and therapeutic massage room facilities shall be provided for male and female patrons.

    D.    The premises shall have adequate equipment for disinfecting and sterilizing nondisposable instruments and materials used in administering therapeutic massages. Such nondisposable instruments and materials shall be disinfected after use on each patron.

    E.    Closed cabinets shall be provided and used for the storage of clean linens, towels and other materials used in connection with administering therapeutic massages. All soiled linens, towels and other materials shall be kept in properly covered containers or cabinets, which containers or cabinet shall be kept separate from the clean storage areas.

    F.    Toilet facilities shall be provided in convenient locations. When employees and patrons of different sexes are on the premises at the same time separate toilet facilities shall be provided for each sex. A single water closet per sex shall be provided for each twenty (20) or more employees or patrons of that sex on the premises at any one time. Urinals may be substituted for water closets after one water closet has been provided. Toilets shall be designated as to the sex accommodated therein.

    G.    Lavatories or washbasins provided with both hot and cold running water shall be installed in either the toilet room or a vestibule. Lavatories or washbasins shall be provided with soap and a dispenser and with sanitary towels.

    H.    The premises shall be equipped with a service sink for custodial services. (Ord. 1414 § 1 (part), 1996: prior code § 7-6-5)