Minneapolis Council Committee Backs Ordinance Requiring Bars and Restaurants to Post Dress Codes

The Minneapolis City Council’s Business, Housing & Zoning Committee advanced a new ordinance Tuesday that would compel alcohol-licensed establishments throughout the city to display their dress code requirements at entrances. The measure aims to address what officials call “velvet rope discrimination”—the practice of selectively denying entry based on race, gender, sexual orientation or other protected characteristics. The committee approved the ordinance unanimously and the full council is scheduled to debate it Aug. 27.

If approved, the ordinance would take effect Jan. 1, 2027, and would not apply to standard health and safety policies like “no shirts, no shoes, no service” rules that fall under state regulation. Proponents argue that transparency in dress code enforcement helps prevent discriminatory application of arbitrary standards against specific groups or individuals.

Councilmember Jason Chavez cited a documented incident in which a white patron wearing a Minnesota Twins shirt gained entry to a downtown Minneapolis bar while a Black patron in identical attire was refused. Chavez, who identifies as LGBTQ, disclosed that he personally experienced similar discrimination before his election when denied bar entry while carrying a rainbow pouch, while someone wearing comparable clothing with a black pouch was admitted.

Fellow council members Pearll Warren and Jamal Osman expressed support for the measure as a discrimination prevention tool. Osman stated that appearance-based discrimination should not be acceptable in modern times, while Warren emphasized that posted dress codes would provide clarity and prevent selective enforcement against specific patrons.

Council Member Michael Rainville told Fox News Digital he supports the ordinance, noting he trusts the judgment of council members of color who have experienced such discrimination firsthand and believes the transparency requirement could address community concerns without imposing undue burdens on businesses.