Minneapolis Officials Reevaluate 38-Year Ban on Adult Bathhouses to Promote Public Health Safety

Minneapolis leaders debate reversing a 38-year ban on bathhouses to improve LGBTQIA+ health access and regulate adult sex venues. Read the policy details here.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 8, 2026, 4:58 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Minnesota Star Tribune

Legislative Shift Toward Regulated Adult Environments

The Minneapolis City Council is scheduled to consider a pivotal shift in municipal policy regarding adult bathhouses and venues where consensual sexual activity occurs. On Tuesday, April 7, the council will vote on whether to direct city staff to research a series of ordinances that would effectively end a 38-year ban on these establishments. Proponents of the measure, including Council President Elliott Payne, argue that the current prohibition has not eliminated these activities but has instead driven them into "unsafe and inaccessible spaces" that lack proper oversight. The new proposal seeks to replace what advocates call "stigmatizing language" with modern definitions inclusive of businesses that facilitate adult sexual activity.

Historical Context of the 1988 Prohibition

The existing ban dates back to 1988, a period when the AIDS epidemic prompted intense public pressure and legal crackdowns on businesses identified as facilitating "high-risk sexual conduct." In Minneapolis, this led to the closure of iconic venues like the 315 Health Club after years of protests and police intervention. Even early LGBTQIA+ leaders, such as the late Council Member Brian Coyle, initially supported the restrictions due to the era's limited understanding of HIV transmission. The current legislative effort, led by the Safer Sex Spaces Coalition, represents a three-year lobbying campaign to dismantle the remnants of those 1980s-era regulations, which the coalition claims specifically targeted same-sex partnerships.

Public Health and Oversight as Central Pillars

Council President Payne has emphasized that legalizing and regulating these venues is a strategic move to improve community health. By bringing these businesses into the light, the city hopes to use them as primary access points for HIV and STI testing, as well as for the distribution of safer sex supplies. The proposed regulatory framework is expected to model San Francisco’s system, which mandates strict requirements for staff training, professional lighting, waste disposal, and wash-up facilities. This approach views bathhouses not merely as leisure spots but as critical infrastructure for reaching vulnerable populations that may currently be operating "in the shadows" of the law.