Beauty and Wellness Space in Laguna Hills

What to diligence before LOI

1. 01

   Parking is by chair, not floor area. Table 9-44.A requires 3 stalls per beautician chair for beauty and nail salons, 2 stalls per barber chair, 3 stalls per massage station, and 1 stall per 100 sq ft for gyms, spas and health clubs, against 1 per 200 sq ft for general retail. An 8-chair nail salon needs 24 stalls, while a 1,500 sq ft retail store needs about 8. Oakbrook Village states 5.03 spaces per 1,000 SF, so ask the landlord how many stalls are allocated to your suite before you plan the chair count.

2. 02

   Massage zoning: 'Massage establishment' is permitted with special requirements in CC (Table 9-28.020), FC (Table 9-26.020) and MXU (Table 9-30.020), each pointing to Chapter 4-28. It is not listed in the NMU table (9-29.020), and that section says unlisted uses are prohibited. Salons have no separate row; the code's 'retail services' definition includes personal service, so confirm with Planning that your concept is a 'Retail/service business'.

3. 03

   Massage operator's permit under Chapter 4-28 (Ordinance 2016-5): every establishment needs a city operator's permit and everyone providing massage must be CAMTC certified. The filing instructions list an Orange County Sheriff's Department fee of $389 for a new establishment ($234 renewal) plus a city fee, and the city acts within 60 days of a complete application (extendable 30 days). Permits are tied to a specific owner and fixed location, so a relocation or change of ownership needs a new permit.

4. 04

   Landlord exposure: if the operator does not own the property, the owner must sign a notarized Property Owner Acknowledgment. The form states that violations can lead the city to bar any massage establishment from operating on the premises for 12 months (LHMC 4-28.050(F) to (H) and 4-28.120). Owners should weigh that before approving a massage use in a multi-tenant center.

5. 05

   Massage buildout and hours from the city's Operational Requirements sheet: no curtains or blinds blocking the view into the reception area during business hours, all massage room doors unlocked during business hours, at least one toilet and a separate wash basin for patrons, a massage table at least 18 inches high in each room (no beds), at least a 40-watt light in each room, a manager on site whenever open, and no operation between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

6. 06

   State and city licensing: the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology establishment license is tied to the exact address including the suite number, costs $50 to apply ($40 renewal), and requires the owner to certify the shop meets the Barbering and Cosmetology Act and regulations before opening, including toilets, hot and cold running water, hand washing and potable drinking water. Laguna Hills does not issue a business license; instead every new tenant needs a Certificate of Use and Occupancy ($250.10 without construction), and the city asks tenants to confirm zoning with Planning before signing a lease. The zoning code has no tattoo or body art category, so a permanent makeup or microblading studio needs a written classification from the Community Development Director under 9-10.050.