14 Strange (But True) Laws You’ll Only Hear About in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania: the Keystone State, where liberty was born, cheesesteaks are sacred, and the laws? Somewhere between Quaker sternness and Philly sass. While it’s home to Amish buggies, historic battlefields, and sports fans who throw snowballs at Santa, it’s also got legal quirks that could make Ben Franklin raise a bifocaled eyebrow. From outlawed singing in the bathtub to official witchcraft regulations, here’s a roundup of Pennsylvania’s strangest laws.

1. It’s Illegal to Sing in the Bathtub

Scrub-a-dub-don’t. In some towns, bursting into song while soaking in suds is technically prohibited. Sorry, shower sopranos.

2. You Can’t Sleep on a Refrigerator Outdoors

Chilling out on top of a discarded fridge in the yard? Illegal in certain municipalities. Pennsylvania likes its naps indoors—and appliance-free.

3. It’s a Crime to Catch a Fish With Your Bare Hands

No noodling allowed. If you want that trout, use a rod—not your personal tackle.

4. Fortune-Telling Without a License is Banned

If you’re reading palms, tarot cards, or crystal balls for profit, you better have a license. The state doesn’t mess around with unregistered psychic activity.

5. No Fireworks on Sundays (in Some Counties)

Want to light up the sky? Make sure it’s not the Sabbath. Certain counties have held onto old blue laws banning Sunday fireworks—freedom, but make it quiet.

6. You May Not Sweep Dirt Under a Rug in Public

In some townships, public cleaning has rules—including a specific ban on sweeping messes under rugs. Literal cover-ups are frowned upon.

7. It’s Illegal to Use Exploding Golf Balls

No joke—Pennsylvania law explicitly bans novelty golf balls that explode, smoke, or burst into flame. Keep your back nine prank-free.

8. No More Than 16 Women May Live Together Under One Roof

If 17 women cohabitate, the home can legally be labeled a brothel—yes, this is an actual zoning concern in some cities. Sorry, girlboss sororities.

9. You Must Not Hide Dirt in Your Pocket

Originally aimed at sanitation workers, this obscure rule bans stashing soil in your pants. Sounds weird—unless you’ve ever walked past a particularly shady gardener.

10. It’s Illegal to Sell Automobiles on Sundays

In keeping with old traditions, car dealerships in Pennsylvania are closed by law on Sundays. That test drive will have to wait.

11. You May Not Ride a Horse Drunk

Whether it’s a buggy, saddle, or scenic trail ride, operating a horse while intoxicated is a DUI-level offense. Ride sober or hitch a ride.

12. It’s a Misdemeanor to Offer Alcohol to Zoo Animals

Just because the bear looks bored doesn’t mean he wants your beer. Providing booze to wildlife is a no-go—party animals included.

13. No Ice Cream on Cherry Pie (in Some Towns)

It sounds like dessert treason, but a few boroughs had ordinances discouraging à la mode with cherry pie. Apple is fine—go figure.

14. It’s Illegal to Discharge a Gun at a Wedding

Celebratory gunfire might be a cultural tradition in some places, but Pennsylvania says, “Save it for the toast.” Love shouldn’t come with a ballistics report.

Pennsylvania may be rich in history and loaded with liberty, but its legal code comes with a side of colonial oddity and small-town sass. Whether you’re consulting a psychic, singing in the tub, or riding your horse home from happy hour, remember: freedom might ring here—but it still follows some weirdly specific rules.