H.B. delays limits on massage parlors

One of a local parlor features a woman in a pink lace top and described the parlor's therapists as "hot," "sweet" and "sexy girls," while another showed scantily dressed women playing with their hair.

The number of m

assage parlors has grown rapidly in Huntington Beach following a 2009 state law that loosened the grip local governments have on such establishments.

Before 2009, the city limited massage establishments to 10. But that number cap was deleted from city code when Huntington Beach amended its ordinance to reflect the changes of the 2009 legislation.

The number of parlors has since grown by 600% in the last three years, Small said.

A month ago, when city officials began discussing limiting the massage establishments, Huntington Beach had 53, the staff report said.

"We may have 63 today, and on Monday, we might have 65," McGrath said. "The number is very fluid."

During the May 5 inspection, the city found that almost all of the employees at the inspected parlors were immigrants from Asian countries, which led to concerns of human trafficking.

However, no arrests were made for human trafficking or prostitution during that inspection, which included members from city code enforcement, the building and safety departments, the Fire Department and the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force.

Small said it's often difficult to prove human trafficking because victims are not cooperative and fear retaliation.

mona.shadia@latimes.com

Twitter: @MonaShadia