Minneapolis city leaders are considering a controversial proposal that could bring back adult bathhouses for the first time in nearly 40 years.
The Minneapolis City Council is reviewing a set of ordinances that would legalize and regulate bathhouses and other adult sex venues, reversing a ban that has been in place since 1988 during the height of the AIDS crisis. The proposal would allow consenting adults to engage in sexual activity inside licensed establishments under new health and safety guidelines.
If approved, the plan would create a formal licensing system, update zoning laws, and revise public indecency rules to allow exceptions for approved venues. Supporters say the move is about modernizing outdated laws and improving public health by bringing activity out of unregulated spaces and into monitored environments.
Advocates also argue the original ban unfairly targeted LGBTQ+ communities and contributed to stigma that still lingers today. By contrast, regulated venues could offer safer conditions, access to health resources, and clearer oversight.
But the proposal is already drawing criticism. Opponents question whether legalizing sex venues could create new public safety concerns or change the character of neighborhoods where they might operate.
For now, no final decision has been made. City officials have paused the proposal for additional research and community input before bringing it back for a vote.
If approved, Minneapolis would join a small number of U.S. cities that regulate adult bathhouses rather than banning them outright—marking a significant cultural and policy shift decades in the making.
