The City is reviewing its licensing rules for body rub parlours and holistic centres. Staff are planning to report to City Council in 2025 with recommendations to amend the City’s Licensing Bylaw and update the licensing application process and bylaw enforcement. The goal of this review is to support the safety, health, well-being and human rights of workers in these industries, while upholding the City’s role to protect consumers and reduce community impacts.
The City is collaborating with an independent facilitation team, Third Party Public, and an Advisory Table to hear from those most affected by the City’s rules for body rub parlours and holistic centres. This includes:
The Advisory Table consists of community-serving organizations and advocacy groups who support body rub parlour workers, holistic practitioners, survivors of gender-based violence, and survivors of human trafficking with lived experiences in Toronto’s body rub parlours or holistic centres.
The Advisory Table is not a decision-making body. Each member organization of the Advisory Table will plan, implement and report to the City on their respective engagement processes with body rub parlours workers, holistic practitioners, gender-based violence survivors, and/or human trafficking-survivors. The Advisory Table will also provide feedback to the City regarding the bylaw review, and will meet with the City and Third Party Public to share updates and ideas from their respective engagement processes.
Additionally, the City will engage:
To learn more, email brphc.review@toronto.ca
Body rub parlours are businesses that provide non-medical or non-therapeutic massages by someone who is not a registered massage therapist or a licensed and registered holistic practitioner. The City has been regulating body rub parlours since 1975. Owners and operators of body rub parlours in Toronto, and those who provide services in these establishments are required to obtain a City licence.
No more than 25 licensed body rub parlours are allowed in Toronto. They can only be in employment industrial zones, away from residential zones, schools or places of worship. Currently, there are 23 licensed body rub parlours in the city.
To receive a City licence to operate or work in a body rub parlour, applicants must meet various requirements and follow the rules in the Licensing Bylaw. Learn more about the application requirements for body rub parlour owners and operators and workers.
Holistic centres provide therapeutic and wellness services (for example, reiki, aromatherapy and shiatsu) but do not provide body rub services, registered massage therapy, traditional Chinese medicine or acupuncture services. In 1998, the City began regulating holistic centres and practitioners. Holistic centres are permitted in commercial-residential zones across the city. There are currently 300 licensed holistic centres in Toronto.
To obtain a City licence to run or work in a holistic centre, applicants must meet various requirements and follow the rules in the Licensing Bylaw. Learn more about the application requirements for holistic centre owners and operators and holistic practitioners.
In 2005, the City began relying on Professional Holistic Associations as governing and accrediting bodies to oversee their members of holistic practitioners and ensure that safe and proper services are provided. Membership to a Professional Holistic Association that is listed in Appendix L to the Licensing Bylaw is a requirement for obtaining a holistic centre owner/operator licence as well as a holistic practitioner licence.
The Licensing Bylaw does not regulate Professional Holistic Associations. There is no fee for applying to be listed in Appendix L to the Licensing Bylaw.
To be a Professional Holistic Association that is listed in Appendix L to the Licensing Bylaw, applicants must meet certain criteria, including but not limited to registering the association as a not-for-profit organization and having a board of directors elected by members. Associations also need to provide a copy of the governing bylaws and an outline of their disciplinary process for members. Professional Holistic Associations can charge membership fees.
There are 37 Professional Holistic Associations listed in Appendix L of the Licensing Bylaw. Since 2018, the City has had a moratorium (2018.LS24.2) on receiving applications for new holistic practitioner licences from members of five associations:
As directed by City Council in 2017 and 2018, staff conducted an initial review of the regulations for body rub parlours, holistic centres and professional holistic associations between November 2018 and May 2019.
In May 2019, City staff provided a report on research completed, public feedback received and considerations for the licensing rules for body rub parlours and holistic centres.
The Committee referred the report back and directed staff to conduct further consultations and report again to Committee on several ideas, including strengthening the oversight of professional holistic associations and developing regulations to revoke the membership of individuals or organizations providing unlicensed services. The report scheduled was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to divert resources to emergency efforts, and City staff requiring time to plan a meaningful engagement process.
Subscribe to stay informed on Body Rub Parlours and Holistic Centres: Bylaw Review. Please type (do not copy and paste) your email address:
You may unsubscribe at any time.
Municipal Licensing and Standards collects your personal email address under the legal authority of Toronto City Council Item 2018.LS24.2, as confirmed by the City of Toronto By-law 528-2018. The information will be used to confirm and administer a subscription to electronic notifications regarding Body Rub Parlours and Holistic Centres. Questions about this collection can be directed to Policy Development Officer, Policy and Strategic Support, Municipal Licensing and Standards, City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, 16th Floor West, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 2N2, or by telephone at 416-392-7273.