Minneapolis bathhouse ordinances advance to full council
The Minneapolis Business, Housing & Zoning Committee voted to send proposed ordinances regulating adult bathhouses to the full City Council without recommendation, setting up a possible council vote and a mayoral sign-or-veto.[1]
Councilmembers Rainville, Warren and Shaffer voted no, while Osman, Chowdhury, Chavez and Chughtai voted yes.[1] The ordinances would set zoning, health and sanitation rules and create offense provisions for sex-venue bathhouses but stop short of explicitly promoting them.[1] A Public Health, Safety & Equity Committee hearing with public testimony is scheduled before a potential full council vote on June 23, 2026.[1]
In 2023 the City Council amended its health code to remove stigmatizing language from the High-Risk Sexual Conduct ordinance. Councilmember Elliott Payne and advocates framed that change as the first step toward permitting regulated venues that had been banned since 1988. In March 2026 Payne and co-sponsors including Councilmembers Jason Chavez and Soren Stevenson introduced a package of four ordinances to create licensing, zoning and regulatory frameworks for adult bathhouses and sex venues. Those measures were referred to city staff for research after an April council meeting.
Minneapolis' 1988 ban closed the last commercial bathhouse during the AIDS crisis. Duluth operates one legal adult bathhouse under a standard business permit, and St. Paul licenses similar venues so long as no unlawful acts occur. The proposals have prompted sharp online debate, with critics denouncing the moves and advocates saying regulation can reduce stigma and improve public health.
The mainstream summary does not mention the historical context surrounding the 1988 ban on commercial sex venues, which was enacted during the AIDS crisis and led to the closure of the last bathhouse in Minneapolis that year. This context is crucial, as it highlights the long-standing stigma associated with such venues and the public health fears that shaped past policies. According to MPR News, the current efforts to repeal this ban are supported by advancements in HIV prevention, which advocates argue could facilitate safer sex outreach in regulated spaces rather than pushing activities underground. This perspective emphasizes that the proposed regulations aim not only to legalize bathhouses but also to address public health concerns in a more effective manner than prohibition has historically done.
Additionally, while the mainstream summary notes the existence of a legal bathhouse in Duluth and similar venues in St. Paul, it fails to elaborate on how these examples may serve as models for Minneapolis. The Star Tribune points out that these cities have successfully managed adult bathhouses under specific regulations, suggesting that Minneapolis could adopt a similar framework to ensure public safety while reducing stigma around sexual health initiatives.
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📊 Relevant Data
Minneapolis enacted its ban on commercial sex venues including bathhouses in 1988 during the AIDS crisis; the last such venue closed that year.
As Minneapolis reconsiders its adult bathhouse ban, here’s what to know about the history — MPR News
Duluth, Minnesota operates one legal adult bathhouse under a standard business permit, and St. Paul licenses similar venues provided no unlawful acts occur.
Minneapolis to consider legalizing bathhouses that allow 'consensual adult sexual activity' — Star Tribune
📌 Key Facts
- The Minneapolis Business, Housing & Zoning Committee voted to forward proposed bathhouse-related ordinances to the full council without recommendation.
- Council members Rainville, Warren and Shaffer voted no, while Osman, Chowdhury, Chavez and Chughtai voted yes.
- The ordinances would establish zoning, health/sanitation and offense provisions for sex-venue bathhouses but stop short of explicitly promoting them.
- A Public Health, Safety & Equity Committee hearing with public testimony is scheduled before a potential full council vote on June 23, 2026.
- Mayor Jacob Frey would have to sign or veto the ordinances if they pass the council.
📰 Source Timeline (1)
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