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Massage Therapy Permit Requirements in Davenport, IA

Complete permit and license guide for starting a massage therapy in Davenport, Scott County, Iowa.

Verified 2026-09-03 5 stops $200–$700 est. 4–10 weeks to obtain all licenses
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Not legal advice. Requirements may change — always verify with your local government authority before applying. Key agencies and fees on this page were re-checked against official government sources on .

Federal — start here

1 stop

  1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

    Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC or corporation. Free from the IRS.

    Official government source for EIN (Employer Identification Number) (opens in a new tab)

    FreeImmediate (online application)

State of Iowa

2 stops

  1. Iowa Board of Massage Therapy — License

    Massage therapists in Iowa must be licensed by DIAL's massage therapy program. Requires a minimum of 600 hours of massage therapy education and passing the MBLEx or NCBTMB exam.

    Official government source for Iowa Board of Massage Therapy — License (opens in a new tab)

    $75 (initial)4–8 weeks

  2. Iowa Department of Revenue — Sales Tax Permit

    Required for businesses selling taxable goods or services in Iowa. The state rate is 6%, and local option sales tax of up to 1% may apply. Iowa taxes about 75 enumerated services, so check whether your service is taxable before assuming you need a permit. Register with the Iowa Department of Revenue online.

    Official government source for Iowa Department of Revenue — Sales Tax Permit (opens in a new tab)

    Free — no fee to register for a sales tax permitRegister online through GovConnectIowa, the state's tax portal

City of Davenport / Scott County

2 stops

  1. No General Business License Required in Davenport

    Davenport does not require a general, citywide business license. The Revenue Division licenses only specific categories, each with its own fee: alarm businesses ($50-$100), auctioneers ($150), billboards and signs, bicycles ($5), tobacco/nicotine ($25-$100 by term), closing-out sales, vehicle-related businesses, mobile food units ($55), live entertainment ($50), metal recyclers ($300), and pawnbrokers/secondhand/junk/antique dealers ($50-$500). Most professional and personal-service businesses — pest control, barbering, tutoring, insurance, cleaning, photography — are not licensed by the city at all. Check the category list, and call the Revenue Division at 563-326-7715 if unsure.

    Official government source for No General Business License Required in Davenport (opens in a new tab)

    $0 for most business types; listed categories carry their own published feesNot applicable unless your activity is one of the listed categories

  2. Zoning Approval and Certificate of Occupancy

    A commercial space used as a massage therapy practice in Davenport needs zoning confirmation and a Certificate of Occupancy through the city's Building and Land Development office, which is the one-stop resource covering development review, permits, inspections, and the certificate of occupancy. Ask them, not the Finance Department, whether your address is zoned for a personal service use. Davenport does not license massage therapists itself; the practitioner license comes from the State of Iowa.

    Official government source for Zoning Approval and Certificate of Occupancy (opens in a new tab)

    Charged from the city's building and land development permit fee schedule; there is no separate flat massage-practice feeAbout 1-4 weeks for a space that needs no construction; longer where a buildout permit and inspections are required

Terminus

Open for business — est. $200–$700 · 4–10 weeks to obtain all licenses

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