Martial Arts School Laws by State: All 50 States and the District of Columbia
Martial arts school law in the United States is mostly state law. This directory profiles all 50 states and the District of Columbia: health-club and prepaid-membership statutes, cancellation and automatic-renewal rules, child-abuse reporting and background checks, licensing and insurance, and the athletic commissions that regulate MMA and other combat sports.
Coverage: 51 jurisdictions, each with its own profile page.
Legal status: Partially verified. Every profile lists its official sources, its research confidence and the points we have not yet verified. Attorney review is pending.
Sources last checked: October 2026 · Next scheduled review: April 2027
Choose your state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
How do the states compare?
The table summarizes the most-asked questions. Each cell is a short summary of the full profile, which gives the citation and the qualifications. Where a law’s reach over martial arts schools is unclear, the profile explains why. No statewide statute located means our research did not find one, not that none exists.
| State | Health-club law reaches martial arts? | Max term | Cooling-off | Auto-renewal law | Amateur MMA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Likely by definition (instruction or training in a program… | No cap on membership term located; financing period may… | 3 days, excluding weekends and holidays (§ 8-23-4(1)) | None located (2026 HB610 introduced only, enactment not found) | Regulated by state |
| Alaska | No statute located | No statutory cap located | No health-club-specific cooling-off period located | None located | Not verified |
| Arizona | Unclear (not named; covers establishments whose primary… | 3 years (A.R.S. § 44-1793(C)) | Before midnight of the 3rd operating day after receiving… | None located; 2026 HB2951 passed the House but was not found among… | Regulated by state (with commission-approved sanctioning… |
| Arkansas | Excluded (organizations primarily operated to teach a… | Covered spas: payments over no more than 25 months;… | Covered spas: 3 business days (§ 4-94-109(a)) | No general law located; narrow laws for home security contracts (§… | Sanctioning bodies (commission governs amateur events… |
| California | Likely by definition (instruction in physical culture,… | 3 years (Civ. Code § 1812.84(a)) | 5 business days (excluding Sundays and holidays); 20, 30… | Yes: Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 17600 to 17606, amended by AB 2863… | Regulated by state (commission may delegate to approved… |
| Colorado | Likely by definition (establishment providing services… | 24 months including renewal options; up to 36 months only… | 3 business days after receiving a copy of the contract (§… | Yes: C.R.S. § 6-1-732; online cancellation required for online… | Sanctioning bodies (unsanctioned amateur bouts are barred… |
| Connecticut | Expressly | 24 months; a 12-month option must also be offered if… | 3 business days | Yes: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 42-158ff, as amended by P.A. 25-44 effective… | Regulated by state, except matches held under a school… |
| Delaware | Excluded (organizations primarily teaching self-defense,… | 36 months for health spas (§ 4207); no cap located for… | 3 business days for health spa contracts (§ 4205) | Yes: 6 Del. C. §§ 2731 to 2737 (effective Jan. 1, 2022), for… | Regulated by state: Division permit plus sanction by a… |
| District of Columbia | Unclear (excludes locations whose primary activity is… | No statutory cap located; renewals require the buyer's… | 15 days after the contract is made | Yes: Automatic Renewal Protections Act of 2018, D.C. Code §§ 28A-201… | Regulated by the District Commission (amateur and… |
| Florida | Likely by definition, unless exempted by affidavit as a… | 36 months initial term; renewable only annually, with… | 3 days, excluding holidays and weekends | Yes: Fla. Stat. § 501.165, but it expressly excludes health studios… | Sanctioning bodies: amateur matches with head strikes must… |
| Georgia | Unclear: covers establishments with a primary purpose of… | 36 months; renewable at the end of each 36-month period… | 7 business days | Yes: O.C.G.A. §§ 13-12-1 to 13-12-5 (amended effective Jan. 1, 2021)… | Sanctioning bodies: all-amateur events governed by… |
| Hawaii | Excluded: § 486N-2(2) exempts a business operated… | 36 months aggregate per buyer, including renewals; no… | 5 business days (§ 486N-6) | Yes: Haw. Rev. Stat. § 481-9.5; health club contracts may not… | Regulated by state: DCCA director has jurisdiction over… |
| Idaho | No statute located | No statutory cap located | No membership-specific period located; 3 business days for… | Yes, for online subscriptions: Idaho Code § 48-603G (agreements… | Sanctioning bodies |
| Illinois | Expressly | Payments or financing no longer than 3 years; no lifetime… | 3 business days after the first business day after… | Yes: Automatic Contract Renewal Act, 815 ILCS 601 (amended by P.A.… | Sanctioning bodies |
| Indiana | Likely by definition | 36 months; no lifetime contracts (IC 24-5-7-3) | Until midnight of the 3rd full business day after signing… | No general automatic renewal statute located in IC 24-5 | Sanctioning bodies |
| Iowa | Expressly | 36 months; a 12-month contract must also be offered if… | 3 business days after the buyer receives a signed copy;… | Automatic renewal clauses are banned in covered contracts (§ 552.8);… | Regulated by state |
| Kansas | No statute located | No statutory cap located | No membership-specific period located; 3 business days for… | None located | Regulated by state |
| Kentucky | Likely by definition | 36 months; payments or financing no longer than 36 months;… | 3 business days, by written notice before midnight of the… | Yes: KRS 365.400-365.408, effective January 1, 2024 | Sanctioning bodies |
| Louisiana | Likely by definition | 36 months (La. R.S. 51:1578) | 3 business days, notice by hand delivery or registered… | Click-to-Cancel Act, La. R.S. 51:3301 to 51:3305 (Act 830 of 2026),… | Not verified: statute exempts amateur contests, but… |
| Maine | Likely by definition (for-profit establishments offering… | No statutory cap located | No health-club cooling-off period located; 3 business days… | Yes: 10 M.R.S. § 1210-C, amended by P.L. 2025, c. 376 (LD 1642) to… | Regulated by state |
| Maryland | Expressly ("self defense school") | No statutory cap located (lifetime contracts are prorated… | 3 business days after receiving a copy, written notice in… | Yes: Com. Law § 14-1329 (Chapters 204 and 205 of 2025), effective… | Regulated by state |
| Massachusetts | Expressly | 36 months; no lifetime terms; renewals up to 36 months may… | 3 business days, written notice in person or by certified… | No ARL statute; AG regulation 940 CMR 38.05 on negative options and… | Regulated by state (special licenses for events under… |
| Michigan | No statute located | No statutory cap located | None for health clubs located; 3 business days for home… | None located | Regulated by state |
| Minnesota | Likely by definition (for-profit businesses offering… | 18 months; may convert to a longer contract after 6 months… | 3 business days; refund within 10 days (§ 325G.24, subd. 1) | Yes: Minn. Stat. §§ 325G.56 to 325G.63, effective Jan. 1, 2025 for… | Regulated by state |
| Mississippi | Unclear | 36 months reported for health clubs (Not verified) | 5 days reported for health clubs (Not verified) | None located; bills introduced in 2025 (HB 875) and 2026 (HB 378, HB… | Not verified |
| Missouri | Excluded | 36 months for covered health spas (RSMo § 407.334); no cap… | 3 business days for covered health spas (RSMo § 407.330);… | None located (HB 3512 introduced in 2026; enactment not verified) | Regulated by state |
| Montana | No statute located | No statutory cap located | None located for martial arts or fitness contracts | None located | Not regulated |
| Nebraska | No statute located | No statutory cap located | None located for martial arts or fitness contracts | None located | Regulated by state |
| Nevada | Unclear | No statutory cap located; term may not be measured by the… | 3 business days, refund within 15 days (NRS 598.950) | No general ARL located; covered contracts may not contain an… | Regulated by state |
| New Hampshire | Expressly | 3 years; a 3-year term only after 1 year of enrollment… | 3 business days, full refund (RSA 358-S:3) | No general ARL located; RSA 358-S:5 requires written acceptance of… | Not verified |
| New Jersey | Excluded (N.J.A.C. 13:45A-25.1 lists martial arts schools… | 3 years (36 months) for covered health clubs | 3 operating days for covered health clubs | No general statute located; health-club-specific renewal and online… | Regulated by state |
| New Mexico | No statute located | No statutory cap located | None located for gym or school contracts | None located (not fully verified) | Regulated by state |
| New York | Expressly (GBL § 621 names martial arts, judo, karate,… | 36 months; payments capped at $3,600 per year; financing… | 3 business days after receiving the contract | Yes: GBL §§ 527, 527-a; strengthened effective Nov. 5, 2025… | Sanctioning bodies (authorized by the Commission) |
| North Carolina | Expressly (G.S. 66-118 lists martial arts training) | 3 years total across all contracts between the same… | Until midnight of the 3rd business day after signing | Yes: N.C.G.S. § 75-41 (notice 15-45 days before renewals over 60… | Regulated by state (directly or through… |
| North Dakota | No statute located | No statutory cap located; automatic renewal periods capped… | None located for gym or school contracts (home… | Yes: N.D.C.C. ch. 51-37 (disclosure, consent, simple cancellation,… | Not verified (statute covers admission-charged mixed… |
| Ohio | Expressly (R.C. 1345.41(A) lists martial arts training) | 3 years (R.C. 1345.42(B)(3)); overlapping contracts… | Until midnight of the 3rd business day after the first… | No general automatic renewal statute located in R.C. Chapter 1345 | Regulated by state |
| Oklahoma | Excluded | 36 months (59 O.S. § 2005(B)), for health spas that are… | 3 business days (59 O.S. § 2004(1)) | None located. HB 1851 (Oklahoma Fair Renewal Act) was pending; no… | Regulated by state |
| Oregon | Likely by definition | 3 years (ORS 646A.034(4)) | 3 business days; refund within 15 days (ORS 646A.034(7)) | Yes: ORS 646A.292 to 646A.295 (clear disclosure, affirmative… | Sanctioning bodies (amateur athletic organizations… |
| Pennsylvania | Unclear | 36 months (Sec. 4(a), 73 P.S. § 2164) | 3 business days after signing (Sec. 3(a), 73 P.S. § 2163) | No general ARL located (HB 45 of 2025 still in committee); Health… | Regulated by state |
| Rhode Island | Likely by definition | 24 months (R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-50-5) | 10 business days (§ 5-50-4) | No general ARL located in the General Laws; health club renewals… | Not verified |
| South Carolina | Likely by definition | 24 months; up to 36 months only with administrator… | 3 business days (§ 44-79-30(A)(5)(a)) | No general ARL located; fitness auto-renewal terms must be in bold… | Not verified |
| South Dakota | No statute located | No statutory cap located | None located for in-studio sales; 3-business-day right… | None located | Not regulated (unpaid bouts fall outside the 2026… |
| Tennessee | Excluded (organization primarily operated to teach a… | Not verified (statute text not reviewed) | 3 days from signing (per state agency guidance); applies… | Yes: Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-18-133 (section number per secondary… | Sanctioning bodies (commission-approved amateur… |
| Texas | Likely by definition (facilities include martial arts… | 3 years; financed contracts may not require payments… | Midnight of the 3rd business day after signing, by… | None located (2025 bills HB 860 and SB 838 died in committee) | Regulated by state through TDLR-approved amateur combative… |
| Utah | Excluded (primary operation teaching self-defense or a… | 36 months for covered fitness centers; lifetime… | Rescission before midnight of the 3rd business day after… | No general statute verified; fitness center act requires a renewal… | Regulated by state (commission licenses amateur… |
| Vermont | No statute located | No statutory cap located | None located for in-studio memberships | Yes: 9 V.S.A. § 2454a (contracts with initial term of 1 year or… | Regulated by state (26 V.S.A. § 6029) |
| Virginia | Excluded (organization primarily operated to teach a… | 36 months including renewals, unless monthly-billing… | 3 business days, full refund (Va. Code § 59.1-297) | Yes: Va. Code §§ 59.1-207.45 to 59.1-207.49 (affirmative consent,… | Sanctioning bodies (Director-approved sanctioning… |
| Washington | Expressly | Payments or financing may not run more than 36 months; no… | 3 business days (Sundays and legal holidays excluded);… | No general consumer automatic renewal statute located; SB 5207… | Regulated by state through DOL-licensed amateur… |
| West Virginia | Likely by definition | 2 years (142 CSR 13-4.2) | Until midnight of the 3rd business day after signing;… | None located | Regulated by state |
| Wisconsin | Unclear | 2 years (Wis. Stat. § 100.177(5)) | Until midnight of the 3rd operating day after signing;… | No general consumer automatic renewal statute located; Wis. Stat. §… | Regulated by state |
| Wyoming | No statute located | No statutory cap located | No health club cooling-off period located | None located in W.S. Title 40 as compiled May 2026; a 2026 draft… | Not regulated when the match is not for pecuniary profit… |
What every state profile covers
- Which martial arts businesses the state's consumer-contract laws reach, including express exclusions for martial arts or self-defense schools.
- Membership contract rules: written-contract requirements, maximum terms, prepaid limits, bonding, registration and escrow.
- Cancellation rights, refund deadlines and automatic-renewal requirements.
- Mandatory child-abuse reporting, background-check laws and youth concussion rules.
- Business registration, sales-tax treatment where verified, workers' compensation and insurance.
- The athletic commission or other regulator for MMA, kickboxing, Muay Thai and boxing, and how amateur events are handled.
- Enforcement agencies, a compliance checklist, FAQs, official sources and open research questions.
National topic guides
- Membership contracts and tuition agreements
- Cancellation rights and refunds
- Automatic renewals and recurring payments
- Child safeguarding and background checks
- Business licensing, employment and insurance
- MMA and combat-sports regulation
Legal disclaimer and corrections
This page provides general legal information for martial arts school owners. It is not legal advice and is not a substitute for advice from a lawyer licensed in the relevant jurisdiction. Laws change, and a statute can apply differently depending on the services a school sells, how it bills, and where it operates. To report an outdated statute, a broken official link or a factual error, contact the editors of Martial Arts Professional. Corrections are made promptly and noted on the page.