10 Weird laws in the USA that are so strange, You'll think they're made up (They're not!)

I once heard that someone tried to surprise their college roommate with a late-night pizza delivery in Louisiana. Little did I know, in the Bayou State, such generosity is a crime! Turns out, sending surprise pizza is illegal in Louisiana (along with other unexpected food deliveries). His well-intentioned gesture could have landed him in hot water with the law! This bizarre pizza law made me realize just how many strange laws in the USA. Buckle up, folks, because we're diving into 10 of the weirdest laws in the USA, where surprise pizzas are outlawed, but singing at the opera naked is perfectly legal (in some places).

1. No Fake Moustache in Church (Alabama)

This weird law in Alabama will definitely make laugh to you, as we were laughing when we first came to know about this when researching for the blog. This law is totally worth a spot on our list of the most weird laws in the USA. This law says that it is illegal to wear a fake mustache in a church in Alabama that causes laughter. You’ll be shocked to know that this law has been in place since the 1800s and is still enforced to this day. So if you’re thinking of attending Sunday service in Alabama, make sure to leave your fake mustache at home unless you want to do some jail time for causing a disturbance. 

2. No Releasing Helium Balloons! (New York) 

Yes, I know this one is also strange, as is the case with every single one on the list, but it’s on the list for all the right reasons. While releasing balloons may seem harmless to you, it can have serious consequences. Balloons can end up in bodies of water or on land, where they can be mistaken for food by many animals or entangled with them, causing physical injury or even death. 

This weird law in New York aims to reduce the amount of litter and pollution in the state and protect the well-being of animals. While some people may find this law to be overly strict, it highlights the importance of environmental protection and the impact that small actions can have on our planet. 

3. No Pumping Your Own Gas (New Jersey)

This law may have surprised you, but New Jersey doesn’t have self-service gas stations, mainly for safety reasons. There should be a gas station worker who will fuel your car, otherwise, you may get into some serious legal trouble! This New Jersey law was passed in 1949 and is known as the “Retail Gasoline Dispensing Safety Act.” Also, it’s worth mentioning that New Jersey is not the only state enforcing this law; Oregon got on board, too, in 1951!

4. Georgia: No Wearing Masks! (Georgia)

Yes, you heard it right, Georgia has this weird law prohibiting its residents from wearing face masks or hoods that hide their identity. It is known as the “Anti-Mask Act.” The law was passed in 1951 and its only exception was during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, when wearing medical masks was mandatory to prevent the infection from spreading. 

5. No Halloween on Sundays (Delaware)

I know it sounds lame, but rules are rules. The law says that you can’t go trick or treat on Sundays in Delaware if October 31st falls on a Sunday. Instead, you will have to celebrate it on October 30th. It was passed in 1971 because it was considered inappropriate to celebrate goblins and ghosts on the “Sabbath,” a day of religious observance for Christians and Jews that is mostly a Sunday.

6. No Donkeys Sleeping in Bathtubs (Arizona)

Yes, this is no joke to make you laugh. I know it sounds funny but if you have a donkey in Arizona, you’re not allowed to let it sleep in your bathtub. 

There is a story behind this law of course that goes like this: There was a town in Arizona, that was flooded by a local dam while a merchant let his donkey sleep in an old bathtub. While the donkey survived, it was carried about a mile down the valley by the floodwaters before finally landing in a basin. So, yeah, no donkeys in bathtubs in Arizona. Surprisingly, Arizona is not the only state who has this law but North Carolina and New York have similar laws as well. 

7. No tying a Giraffe to a Telephone Pole or Street Lamp (Georgia) 

I mean why even someone would tie a giraffe to a telephone pole or a street lamp, we also don’t have any clue why someone would walk down the street with a giraffe in the first place. The story behind this one of the weird laws in the USA is a bit unclear, but some speculate that it was passed in response to a circus that visited Georgia many years ago, while others suggest that it was simply a way to prevent people from causing traffic accidents. Well, we don’t know the exact reason but it's safe to say that if you happen to be traveling through Georgia with a giraffe in tow, you'll need to find another way to secure it while you stop for a break!

8. No Whistling for a Lost Canary Before 7 a.m. (California)

Isn't it strange? The state legislators believe that the wee hours of the morning are not meant for searching wayward birds. In case you happen to misplace your feathered friend and it's still dark outside, resist the urge to whistle and wait until the sun comes up. Seriously even when I’m writing about it, it seems just so weird. Anyway, if you’re in California then it’s better to follow this rule because breaking the law is never going to be fruitful for anyone. 

9. No Sending a Surprise Pizza (Louisiana)

You may be like we have already discussed this weird law in our intro why again? There are still some facts about this law that will leave you surprised. 

While we had no clue why it’s illegal to send a surprise pizza to a loved one, we did a little digging and found a story. The law was passed in 2016 and says that it is illegal to order and send any food or beverage to a person without their consent, with the intent to annoy or abuse them. 

The law came into force after a series of prank calls in which pizza deliveries were made to unsuspecting victims, often at midnight. The victims would be forced to pay for the pizzas or face legal action from the delivery companies even when they had no idea how the order was placed.  Also, if you send a surprise pizza to a friend, or else you’re up against a $500 fine!

10. No Painting a Horse (Vermont)

The last stop on our list of weird laws in the USA is Vermont. You may be asking yourself now, “Why would someone paint a horse?”, but don’t worry we’re here to explain as much as we’re here to arouse your curiosity. Yes, it might seem like a made-up law, but the truth is there is a reason behind this law. At the beginning of the 1900s, some circus performers would paint their horses to make them look like zebras, which was thought to be more exotic and attractive to audiences. But then some found this practice harmful to the horses and was ultimately banned. For good reasons, this law still stands today as a reminder to treat animals with care and respect.

While there is no doubt that these laws seem strange, they often have historical or cultural significance. And most of them were created to address specific issues at the time. Despite this fact, they serve as a reminder of the diverse and quirky nature of the United States, these weird laws in the US make for interesting and entertaining trivia! 

Let us know in the comments which one of these weird laws in the USA surprised you the most!

Frequently Asked Questions 

Q. What country has the weirdest laws?

It’s hard to tell which country has the weirdest laws as weird is subjective and what might seem strange to one person could be commonplace or have historical context for another. But, several countries are known for having surprising laws on the books including, Switzerland, Singapore, France, Italy, the USA, and Japan. 

Q. What are 3 funny laws in America?

When it comes to funny laws in America, you’ll find many in different states, here are three of them:  

• You can’t send a surprise Pizza!
• No Donkeys in Arizonian Bathtubs!
• No Sweets for Adults!

Q. Is it illegal to not drink milk in Utah?

While there are many rumors that it’s illegal to not drink milk in Utah, it’s completely false.  There’s no such law on the books in Utah or any other state in the US that says that it’s mandatory to consume milk. Many say that this myth likely originated from misinterpretations of Utah's dairy industry history or attempts to satirize the state's strong association with dairy farming.

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