7 Weird Laws That Are (Apparently) Still on the Books

Every so often, a bizarre law goes viral online: “Wait, is it really illegal
to do that?” Sometimes the stories are exaggerated or flat-out wrong, but
there really are some strange, outdated, or oddly specific rules that
remain in effect around the world.

In Short

Some widely shared “wacky law” claims are myths, but plenty of genuinely odd rules still exist.
Many of these laws started as serious attempts to solve local problems.
They survive because repealing old, harmless laws is rarely a political priority.

1. No Chewing Gum on the Street (Singapore)

Singapore’s famous chewing gum restrictions date back to the early 1990s, when gum
stuck on train doors and sidewalks became a genuine nuisance. The country
banned the sale of chewing gum, with limited exceptions for therapeutic or
dental gum. Importing gum without a valid medical reason can still get you
into trouble, at least on paper.

2. You Cannot Own Just One Guinea Pig (Switzerland)

In Switzerland, animal-welfare rules recognize certain animals as social
creatures that should not be kept alone. Guinea pigs are one example.
Keeping a single guinea pig in isolation is considered cruelty, so owners
are expected to keep them in compatible pairs or groups. There is even a
niche business renting companion guinea pigs to owners who do not want to
adopt a second one permanently.

3. No Chewing Gum Is One Thing; No High Heels at Ruins Is Another (Greece)

Visitors to some ancient sites in Greece may be surprised to learn that
high heels are banned. The goal is simple: protect fragile
structures and ancient flooring from concentrated pressure and scuffing.
It is one of several site-specific rules that sound odd until you picture
thousands of tourists in stilettos stomping across 2,000-year-old stone.

4. You Cannot Walk Barefoot Without a Permit (Some US Cities)

In parts of the United States, particularly certain cities in Texas,
regulations have existed that require permits or compliance with health
rules to walk barefoot in public spaces or businesses. They are rarely
enforced on ordinary pedestrians, but they grew out of older health and
safety codes that tried to regulate everything from shoe shops to food
establishments.

5. Strange Noise and “Nuisance” Laws

Many regions have detailed regulations about noise, some of which sound
oddly specific. In parts of Australia, for example, local rules restrict
when you can vacuum or run loud power tools in residential neighborhoods.
The idea is to prevent neighbors from being jolted awake by 11 p.m.
vacuuming, even if the law’s wording makes it sound slightly overdramatic.

6. No Feeding Pigeons in Venice (Italy)

Venice cracked down on feeding pigeons in its famous squares after years of
damage to statues and buildings, not to mention the mess left behind. Fines
may be imposed for feeding the birds in certain areas. What sounds like an
attack on a tourist cliché is really an attempt to protect some very old
stonework.

7. Salmon “Under Suspicious Circumstances” (United Kingdom)

One of the more amusingly worded entries in British law makes it illegal
to handle salmon in “suspicious circumstances.” The intent was to tackle
illegal salmon poaching and black-market sales, but the phrase has become a
minor internet meme. In practice, you are unlikely to be hauled away just
for looking at a salmon the wrong way, but the wording is still on the books.

Why These Laws Stick Around

Old laws usually only get cleaned up when they cause a real problem. If a
rule is rarely enforced and not actively harming anyone, it often just
stays where it is, quietly confusing future generations who stumble across
it in a news article or social media thread.

Some of the “weird laws” you see online are misquoted or completely made
up, but others are real relics of earlier debates over cleanliness,
tourism, animal welfare, or public order. If nothing else, they are a
reminder that everyday habits we barely think about can be important enough
to inspire legislation.

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