Months after bylaw changes, no applications received for body rub parlour licences

Whether they have neon lights in their residential windows or have commercial storefronts with discreet back entrances, body rub parlours in Regina are supposed to be regulated now.

But nearly eight months after bylaws were passed, not one of the businesses operating in the city has a licence.

In the past year, city council agreed to zone body rub parlours to industrial areas only and, in the fall, required them to be licensed. Those licences would also require education session and a certificate of approval from the Regina Police Service.

The zoning bylaw came into effect last fall but there was a six-month grace period given.

“That just gave any current establishments or any new ones that wanted to open up time to be able to make adjustments to meet both the bylaws” explained Dawn Schikowski, the city’s manager of licensing and parking services.

The grace period ended this spring.

“We’ve had numerous inquiries but nobody’s actually come in and applied at this point in time,” Schikowski said at the end of May.

The City of Regina suspects there are 19 body rub parlours operating in the city and Schikowski said many have been working toward relocating.

“We have had inquiries related to operating in the correct zone, so some of the businesses have been seeking out locations in the approved zones. They just haven’t moved yet at this point in time,” said Schikowski.

The city has started work on enforcement but it’s a long process. The procedures dictate communication has to be made a certain number of times with the person or business in violation before bylaw charges can be laid — and that’s the step the city is on with body rub parlours now.

“We’re in the process of connecting with those that appear to still be operating and confirming again with them what the requirements are and what their intent is to do and any of those that continue to operate, we will begin further enforcement on those,” said Schikowski.

Schikowski wasn’t willing to say how many letters need to be sent to the person or business, just that the city has consistent and defined practices for this type of thing.

“Once we’ve met all of our communication and voluntary compliance attempts with these individuals, then we’ll move forward into enforcement, which includes investigation and evidence-gathering and potential charges being laid,” she explained.

The city is already working with the police and gathering evidence, but Schikowski said it would be months before any bylaw charges would be laid. That could mean fines or injunctions.