Development News for Wheat Ridge, Colorado

City to Align Massage Facility Regulations with New State Laws, Address Fingerprinting Requirements

The city council reviewed proposed changes to massage facility regulations in response to state statutes HB 241371 and SB 25146. The city's existing ordinance, adopted in 2020, created a licensing system that was considered successful in addressing concerns about massage parlors. The new state laws introduce statewide standards for licensing and revocation processes, with a restriction that local ordinances 'may be no more restrictive.' The city's current regulations regarding physical setup (e.g., no table showers) and operational standards are not directly addressed by these state bills. A key requirement is fingerprinting for all massage business owners and licensees, with a July 1st deadline. The police department detailed challenges with current fingerprinting procedures, which only allow for Colorado criminal history checks, and the need to investigate out-of-state records manually. The council discussed aligning city code with state statutes, potentially incorporating federal fingerprinting for future applicants, and maintaining existing successful regulatory elements. Enforcement options, including graduated fines, nuisance designations, and injunctive relief, were also discussed, with a consensus to draft an ordinance aligning with state statutes and including the recreation center in RV parking rules.