Forsyth County tightens laws for massage parlors

A Forsyth County deputy puts a closure notice up at one of two Forsyth County massage parlors shut down under the county ordinance that took effect early last year. CONTRIBUTED

A Forsyth County deputy puts a closure notice up at one of two Forsyth County massage parlors shut down under the county ordinance that took effect early last year. CONTRIBUTED

Forsyth County’s nearly two-year old ordinance aimed at cracking down on illegal activity at massage parlors and spas has now been tweaked and tightened.

The Board of Commissioners voted to approve a series of provisions putting more teeth in the 2015 law, which county attorney Doug Derrer said were based on experience that sheriff’s deputies had in the field enforcing the existing ordinance.

The prior version of the ordinance said that if you had a disqualifying event in your background in the past five years, that would trigger a rejection. Derrer said that’s now been changed to say if you ever has such a violation.

Another provision said that a license revocation would disqualify your premises from consideration for a license for 12 months. That’s been changed to three years. Disqualifying events refer to various kinds of crimes and a massage parlor or spa license being revoked.

The proposal also toughens fingerprint requirement and makes changes in work rules, including a ban on bras, bustiers or other light clothing being exposed. It also bans employees from assisting customers with showering.