Massage Therapy Permit Requirements in Des Moines, IA

Complete permit and license guide for starting a massage therapy in Des Moines, Polk 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

    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

    $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

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

City of Des Moines / Polk County

2 stops

  1. No Des Moines General Business License Required

    Des Moines has no general or blanket business license, and the Development Services Department does not issue one. The City Clerk's Office licenses only specific regulated activities - alcohol, tobacco, transient merchants, mobile food vendors, peddlers, pawnbrokers, theaters, coin-operated machines, solid waste haulers and similar categories. Most businesses need nothing from the Clerk. What a commercial tenant does need is a Certificate of Occupancy for the space, issued by the Permit and Development Center, and home-based businesses go through home occupation review with Zoning Enforcement.

    Official government source

    Nothing - there is no such license. A commercial Certificate of Occupancy is $51.50Not applicable

  2. Des Moines Certificate of Occupancy / Zoning Confirmation

    A Certificate of Occupancy is required for a new occupant or a change of use in commercial space used as a massage therapy practice. Certificates of Occupancy and the related building permits are handled by the Des Moines Permit and Development Center (515-283-4200, [email protected]); confirm separately with Neighborhood Services zoning that the address allows a personal-service use.

    Official government source

    Fees follow the Permit and Development Center's published permit fee schedule and depend on scope of work — confirm with the CenterVaries with the review and inspections required; contact the Permit and Development Center before signing a lease

Terminus

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

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