Resources

State of Rhode Island
The two sites listed below will link you to the laws governing massage therapy licensing and practice. Please read them through to understand how the States view and regulates our profession. If you have questions the American Massage Therapy Association Government Relations office or we here at you local chapter may be able to help you.

Massage Therapy Practice Act
http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/TITLE23/23-20.8/INDEX.HTM

Rules and Regulation for Licensing Massage Therapists
http://sos.ri.gov/documents/archives/regdocs/released/pdf/DOH/5399.pdf

Massage Therapy Examining Board
meetings dates
http://health.ri.gov/licenses/detail.php?id=229

Resources for small businesses

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) website – in both English and Spanish — is full of information and tools for the entrepreneur and small business owner.
The RI SBA District Office Resource Guide is available on-line.
The SBA Learning Center has 30-minute courses on a variety of topics related to planning, launching, managing, and growing your business – such as how to write a business plan, social media marketing, cybersecurity for small businesses, and strategic planning.
Lender Match is a free online referral tool that connects small businesses with SBA-approved lenders.
Click on the hyperlink for the IRS Taxpayer Identification Number, or to apply online for an IRS Employer Identification Number.
The RI Secretary of the State’s Business Portal and RI Division of Taxation websites have useful information for businesses.
CommerceRI is the State of Rhode Island’s economic development organization.
Sign up here to receive weekly email updates about SBA-sponsored small business seminars and trainings right here in RI.

Rhode Island Municipalities
This list is a work in progress.

Barrington:
http://ci.barrington.ri.us
Still seeking information for this city.

Bristol:
http://bristolri.us
The Bristol town website listed has two references to massage therapy practices in their zoning laws. You will have to contact the town clerk for the appropriate paper work and check with the zoning board. It also appears you may need to be approved by the planning board. Massage therapists are allowed to practice in zones L,G,D,W and M. (M has this restriction “Uses permitted only upon approval of the zoning board are denoted with an “S” for a special use permit.”) Further investigation will be needed to figure out where those allowed zones are.
https://www.municode.com/library/ri/bristol/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIVCO_CH28ZO_ARTIXLADEPRSPZO_DIV1GE_S28-284LADEPRRBRELADEPR
https://www.municode.com/library/ri/bristol/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIVCO_CH28ZO_ARTIIIPEUS_S28-82USRE

Burrilville:
http://www.burrillville.org
Still seeking information.

Central Falls:
http://www.centralfallsri.us
This ordinance is very extensive consisting of sections a-z. If you can jump through all the hooped required to get an establishment license in this city good luck. It would appear Central Falls does not want any type of massage establishment in their city.
https://www.municode.com/library/ri/central_falls/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH12BU_ARTIILI_S12-28PESELI

Charlestown:
http://www.charlestownri.org
Still seeking information.
Coventry:
http://coventryri.org
The Coventry website is very helpful the first link below provides information on what you need to do to apply for a business license. The second link provides the ordinance information for massage therapy establishments.
http://www.coventryri.org/starting-a-business-in-coventry
http://ecode360.com/30719601

Cranston:
http://www.cranstonri.com
The city of Cranston has an extensive ordinance for massage therapy establishments. This link will provide you with all the information you will need to establish a business. Bring your massage license, Cranston’s ordinance distinguishes between massage therapy businesses and body work businesses.
https://www.municode.com/library/ri/cranston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CO_TIT5BULIRE_CH5.25LIMATHES

Cumberland:
http://www.cumberlandri.org
Still seeking information.

East Greenwich:
http://www.eastgreenwichri.com
Still seeking information.

East Providence:
http://www.eastprovidenceri.net
Still seeking information.

Exeter:
http://www.town.exeter.ri.us
References found regarding massage on the Exeter town website refer to doing massage out of ones home. You would need to contact the town clerk and look into the zoning laws for Exeter. This link is to the one reference to massage in the zoning ordinance.
https://www.municode.com/library/search?stateId=39&clientId=8548&searchText=massage&contentTypeId=CODES

Foster:
http://www.townoffoster.com
Still seeking information.

Gloucester:
http://glocesterri.org
Still seeking information.

Hopkington:
http://www.hopkintonri.org
Hopkington still refers to massage businesses as massage parlors and regulations fall under adult entertainment. You will find references to massage in Section 36. – Adult entertainment use selections h&i.
https://www.municode.com/library/ri/hopkinton/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH5.4BULI_ARTIIADENBU_S5.4-27SAEF

Jamestown:
http://www.jamestownri.gov
Still seeking information.

Johnston:
http://www.townofjohnstonri.com
Still seeking information.

Lincoln:
http://www.lincolnri.org
Still seeking information.

Little Compton:
http://www.little-compton.com

Middletown:
http://middletownri.com
Still seeking information.

Narragansett:
http://www.narragansettri.gov
Still seeking information.

New Shoreham – Block Island
http://new-shoreham.com
Still seeking information.

Newport:
http://cityofnewport.com
Still seeking information.

North Kingstown:
http://www.northkingstown.org
Still seeking information.

North Providence:
http://northprovidenceri.gov
Still seeking information.

North Smithfield:
http://www.nsmithfieldri.org
Still seeking information.

Pawtucket:
http://www.pawtucketri.com
This link will guide you through the permitting process.
http://www.pawtucketri.com/business-pawtucket-english
This link will connect you to Chapter 130: Body Works Services
http://ecode360.com/30521172

Portsmouth:
http://www.portsmouthri.com
Still seeking information.

Providence:
http://www.providenceri.com
Providences reference to massage therapy establishments falls under their ordinance regulation for Body Works Services, in which it states that massage therapist are exempt from this particular ordinance. This link is for ARTICLE XII. – BODY WORKS SERVICES. It is best to familiarize yourself with this ordinance. Be sure to take your massage therapy license with you when applying for a business license.
https://www.municode.com/library/ri/providence/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH14LI_ARTXIIBOWOSE

Richmond:
http://www.richmondri.com
The link below also offers zoning information for massage practices.
http://clerkshq.com/default.ashx?clientsite=richmond-ri

Scituate:
http://scituateri.org
Still seeking information.

Smithfield:
http://smithfieldri.com
Still seeking information.

South Kingstown:
http://www.southkingstownri.com
Still seeking information.

Tiverton:
http://www.tiverton.ri.gov
Still seeking information.

Warren:
http://www.townofwarren-ri.gov
Still seeking information.

Warwick:
http://www.warwickri.gov
Warwick has long been a city that has made it difficult to establish a massage therapy business, although it can be done. Be prepared for some frustration.
http://www.warwickri.gov/sites/warwickri/files/uploads/business_license_form_-_ver06.13.16.pdf

West Greenwich:
http://www.wgtownri.org
Still seeking information.

West Warwick:
http://www.westwarwickri.org
Still seeking information.

Westerly:
http://westerlyri.gov
Still seeking information.

Woonsocket:
http://www.woonsocketri.org
Still seeking information.