These weird US laws are real—and some are still around today
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The United States is known for its freedom and innovation—but buried deep in state and local law books are some seriously strange regulations that might make you do a double take.
While many are outdated or unenforced, they still offer a quirky peek into the country’s past—and raise questions about how these odd rules ever came to be.
From restrictions on oranges in the bathtub to bans on hoodies, these bizarre laws span coast to coast.
Whether rooted in public safety concerns or long-forgotten traditions, some of these rules are so strange, they sound like jokes.
But they’re real—and in a few rare cases, even enforceable.
So sit back, grab a coffee, and explore 33 of the weirdest laws that once (or still) shaped life in the land of the free.
1. You can’t wear a hoodie in public in Dublin, Georgia
Staying cozy in a hoodie could get you in trouble in Dublin, Georgia, where a local law bans the wearing of hoods in public spaces.
It’s intended as an anti-concealment measure, but still catches people off guard!
2. Singing the ABCs at night is banned in Topeka, Kansas
Feel a song coming on? Not if it’s after dark in Topeka, where singing the alphabet outdoors at night is considered unlawful.
3. Maryland once outlawed all oral sex
Yes, even consensual activity between adults.
The law grouped it with bestiality and other acts—though it’s now considered unenforceable and largely outdated.
4. You can’t give alcohol to a moose in Fairbanks, Alaska
Somewhere in Alaska’s history, a moose must have gotten tipsy—because the city of Fairbanks now has a law strictly prohibiting moose from being served alcohol.
5. Preachers in Oregon weren’t allowed to eat onions or garlic before sermons
A law in Marion County once banned clergy from eating pungent foods like garlic before preaching.
Apparently, the concern was about breath—not doctrine!
Also read: 3 weird tricks to keep your brain young—and one you can do in the shower
6. Tying a giraffe to a street lamp is illegal in Atlanta
It’s unclear how many giraffes have roamed downtown Atlanta, but you can’t tether one to a pole or streetlight.
The law is still on the books!
7. No camels on the highway in Las Vegas
Back when the US military experimented with camels, Las Vegas banned them from public highways.
That rule remains today, even though the camels are long gone.
8. Don’t make faces at dogs in Oklahoma or Ohio
In these states, making a silly face at a dog could technically get you in trouble.
Why? No one’s quite sure.
9. If your frog dies in a contest, you can’t eat it in California
Frog-jumping contests are fun and competitive—but if your frog dies during the event, California law says it must be “destroyed immediately,” not cooked or consumed.
10. Singing in a swimsuit is illegal in Florida
A 20th-century Florida law says singing in public while wearing a swimsuit is against the law.
It’s unclear if humming is allowed.
Also read: Talking to yourself isn’t weird—it might actually change your life
11. Donkeys can’t sleep in bathtubs after 7 p.m. in Arizona
Yes, really. This odd law was reportedly passed after a donkey in a tub was swept away by floodwaters.
To prevent future chaos, Arizona stepped in.
12. Eating oranges in the bath is illegal in California
There’s no clear reason why citrus and bathing don’t mix, but this curious law still exists in some old California statutes.
13. You can’t drive blindfolded in Alabama
Thankfully, this one makes sense—and we hope it never needed to be tested!
14. No honking outside diners after 9 p.m. in Arkansas
If you’re pulling up to a sandwich shop late at night, keep your horn quiet.
Honking after 9 p.m. near businesses that serve drinks or food is illegal.
15. No pawning artificial limbs in Delaware
Need cash? Don’t head to a pawnshop with a prosthetic limb or wheelchair—Delaware won’t allow it!
Also read: This weird name change trick could get you extra food at Chipotle—Here’s how fans are doing it!
16. Forks and knives are banned for fried chicken in Georgia
In Gainesville, Georgia, it’s considered a crime to eat fried chicken with anything but your hands. Seriously.
17. A woman can’t drive in Louisiana without her husband walking in front with a flag
This outdated and likely unenforced law was once a real rule—meant to protect women from the dangers of the road.
18. No biting your landlord in Maine
High rent or not, biting your landlord is strictly forbidden in Maine.
19. Don’t throw knives at men in striped suits in Kansas
If you’re a circus performer in pinstripes, beware: Kansas law frowns upon knife-throwing at those outfits.
Also read: Explore the surprising history of apple pie’s American fame!
20. You can’t buy cornflakes on Sunday in Ohio
If your favorite breakfast is cornflakes, plan ahead—Ohio once banned their sale on Sundays.
21. No hamburgers on Sundays in Minnesota
Hamburger fans may be disappointed to learn that Minnesota once outlawed eating them on Sundays. It’s hotdish or nothing.
22. Florida doesn’t allow cottage cheese on Sundays
Apparently, some dairy products got the weekend off in Florida.
23. Don’t tie your crocodile to a fire hydrant in Michigan
Not that you'd try, but Michigan law says it’s illegal to secure an alligator or crocodile to a hydrant.
24. Ice cream sales stop at 6 p.m. in parts of New Jersey
Evening snackers may be surprised to learn that some towns in New Jersey once had a law forbidding the sale of ice cream after 6 p.m.
Also read: A pinch of history and a dash of culture: The stories behind your favorite food idioms
25. No ice cream cones in your back pocket in Alabama, Kentucky, or Georgia
This law supposedly existed to prevent horse theft—people would lure horses with the scent of sweets.
26. You can’t push a moose out of an airplane in Alaska
We didn’t know this had to be clarified either, but apparently it happened once—and lawmakers were ready!
27. Farting in public after 6 p.m. in Florida is illegal
Yes, that’s a real (albeit now inactive) law.
Please plan accordingly.
Also read: Can you guess which presidents these baby photos belong to?
Where did these strange laws come from?
Most of these rules were passed in response to unique local incidents—some even humorous at the time.
Others were written with serious intent but aged into irrelevance.
Today, they mostly serve as curiosities, relics of earlier social norms and quirky civic decisions.
Also read: Why do presidents pardon turkeys every Thanksgiving? Discover the tradition’s surprising origin
Are any of them still enforced?
Most are considered “dead letter laws”—still technically in place but never enforced.
In rare cases, someone might dust one off to make a point or for a laugh in court.
So you probably won’t be arrested for eating chicken with a fork—but technically, it’s possible!
Read next: Presidential salaries revealed: How much money does the US President really earn?
Have you ever encountered a strange law in your town or while traveling? Share your favorites in the comments—we’re always looking for the next bizarre legal find!
While many are outdated or unenforced, they still offer a quirky peek into the country’s past—and raise questions about how these odd rules ever came to be.
From restrictions on oranges in the bathtub to bans on hoodies, these bizarre laws span coast to coast.
Whether rooted in public safety concerns or long-forgotten traditions, some of these rules are so strange, they sound like jokes.
But they’re real—and in a few rare cases, even enforceable.
So sit back, grab a coffee, and explore 33 of the weirdest laws that once (or still) shaped life in the land of the free.
Some outdated laws may seem silly today, but they’re still technically part of the books in many states. Image Source: Pexels / Sora Shimazaki.
1. You can’t wear a hoodie in public in Dublin, Georgia
Staying cozy in a hoodie could get you in trouble in Dublin, Georgia, where a local law bans the wearing of hoods in public spaces.
It’s intended as an anti-concealment measure, but still catches people off guard!
2. Singing the ABCs at night is banned in Topeka, Kansas
Feel a song coming on? Not if it’s after dark in Topeka, where singing the alphabet outdoors at night is considered unlawful.
3. Maryland once outlawed all oral sex
Yes, even consensual activity between adults.
The law grouped it with bestiality and other acts—though it’s now considered unenforceable and largely outdated.
4. You can’t give alcohol to a moose in Fairbanks, Alaska
Somewhere in Alaska’s history, a moose must have gotten tipsy—because the city of Fairbanks now has a law strictly prohibiting moose from being served alcohol.
5. Preachers in Oregon weren’t allowed to eat onions or garlic before sermons
A law in Marion County once banned clergy from eating pungent foods like garlic before preaching.
Apparently, the concern was about breath—not doctrine!
Also read: 3 weird tricks to keep your brain young—and one you can do in the shower
6. Tying a giraffe to a street lamp is illegal in Atlanta
It’s unclear how many giraffes have roamed downtown Atlanta, but you can’t tether one to a pole or streetlight.
The law is still on the books!
7. No camels on the highway in Las Vegas
Back when the US military experimented with camels, Las Vegas banned them from public highways.
That rule remains today, even though the camels are long gone.
8. Don’t make faces at dogs in Oklahoma or Ohio
In these states, making a silly face at a dog could technically get you in trouble.
Why? No one’s quite sure.
9. If your frog dies in a contest, you can’t eat it in California
Frog-jumping contests are fun and competitive—but if your frog dies during the event, California law says it must be “destroyed immediately,” not cooked or consumed.
10. Singing in a swimsuit is illegal in Florida
A 20th-century Florida law says singing in public while wearing a swimsuit is against the law.
It’s unclear if humming is allowed.
Also read: Talking to yourself isn’t weird—it might actually change your life
11. Donkeys can’t sleep in bathtubs after 7 p.m. in Arizona
Yes, really. This odd law was reportedly passed after a donkey in a tub was swept away by floodwaters.
To prevent future chaos, Arizona stepped in.
12. Eating oranges in the bath is illegal in California
There’s no clear reason why citrus and bathing don’t mix, but this curious law still exists in some old California statutes.
13. You can’t drive blindfolded in Alabama
Thankfully, this one makes sense—and we hope it never needed to be tested!
14. No honking outside diners after 9 p.m. in Arkansas
If you’re pulling up to a sandwich shop late at night, keep your horn quiet.
Honking after 9 p.m. near businesses that serve drinks or food is illegal.
15. No pawning artificial limbs in Delaware
Need cash? Don’t head to a pawnshop with a prosthetic limb or wheelchair—Delaware won’t allow it!
Also read: This weird name change trick could get you extra food at Chipotle—Here’s how fans are doing it!
16. Forks and knives are banned for fried chicken in Georgia
In Gainesville, Georgia, it’s considered a crime to eat fried chicken with anything but your hands. Seriously.
17. A woman can’t drive in Louisiana without her husband walking in front with a flag
This outdated and likely unenforced law was once a real rule—meant to protect women from the dangers of the road.
18. No biting your landlord in Maine
High rent or not, biting your landlord is strictly forbidden in Maine.
19. Don’t throw knives at men in striped suits in Kansas
If you’re a circus performer in pinstripes, beware: Kansas law frowns upon knife-throwing at those outfits.
In Georgia, eating fried chicken with anything but your hands is technically against the law. Image Source: Pexels / Tim Samuel.
Also read: Explore the surprising history of apple pie’s American fame!
20. You can’t buy cornflakes on Sunday in Ohio
If your favorite breakfast is cornflakes, plan ahead—Ohio once banned their sale on Sundays.
21. No hamburgers on Sundays in Minnesota
Hamburger fans may be disappointed to learn that Minnesota once outlawed eating them on Sundays. It’s hotdish or nothing.
22. Florida doesn’t allow cottage cheese on Sundays
Apparently, some dairy products got the weekend off in Florida.
23. Don’t tie your crocodile to a fire hydrant in Michigan
Not that you'd try, but Michigan law says it’s illegal to secure an alligator or crocodile to a hydrant.
24. Ice cream sales stop at 6 p.m. in parts of New Jersey
Evening snackers may be surprised to learn that some towns in New Jersey once had a law forbidding the sale of ice cream after 6 p.m.
Some states once banned buying or carrying ice cream at certain times—making late-night scoops a legal oddity. Image Source: Pexels / Serra Nur Çevikdal.
Also read: A pinch of history and a dash of culture: The stories behind your favorite food idioms
25. No ice cream cones in your back pocket in Alabama, Kentucky, or Georgia
This law supposedly existed to prevent horse theft—people would lure horses with the scent of sweets.
26. You can’t push a moose out of an airplane in Alaska
We didn’t know this had to be clarified either, but apparently it happened once—and lawmakers were ready!
27. Farting in public after 6 p.m. in Florida is illegal
Yes, that’s a real (albeit now inactive) law.
Please plan accordingly.
You might want to hold it—especially if you're in Florida after dinner. Image Source: YouTube / Jack Vale.
Also read: Can you guess which presidents these baby photos belong to?
Where did these strange laws come from?
Most of these rules were passed in response to unique local incidents—some even humorous at the time.
Others were written with serious intent but aged into irrelevance.
Today, they mostly serve as curiosities, relics of earlier social norms and quirky civic decisions.
Also read: Why do presidents pardon turkeys every Thanksgiving? Discover the tradition’s surprising origin
Are any of them still enforced?
Most are considered “dead letter laws”—still technically in place but never enforced.
In rare cases, someone might dust one off to make a point or for a laugh in court.
So you probably won’t be arrested for eating chicken with a fork—but technically, it’s possible!
Read next: Presidential salaries revealed: How much money does the US President really earn?
Have you ever encountered a strange law in your town or while traveling? Share your favorites in the comments—we’re always looking for the next bizarre legal find!
