Did you know about these 15 weird laws in California?
In addition to the well-known rules, the state’s legal system is home to a patchwork of strange and frequently amusing laws.
These strange laws of California provide an insight into the historical, cultural, and crazy aspects of the Golden State’s legislative past. Examples include prohibitions on wearing artificial whiskers and whistling to a lost canary, as well as the unusual rights given to peacocks in specific locations.
Have you ever heard about any of these? Or have you ever wondered where they are coming from? If you are curious about what these weird and outdated California laws are and how they might get you in trouble, continue reading.
Below, you can find 15 weird laws in California that are also considered to be some of the most hilarious ones.
1. Stop taking whales
This is a law from 1975 and is found in California Fish and Game Code Section 4500. Since then, it has been considered illegal to “take any marine mammals.” Are you wondering what that means? Well, the law describes “marine mammals” as dolphins, sea otters, sea lions, and seals.
What is funnier is that neither where we can obtain nor where we can transport any of these aquatic creatures is specified in the legislation. And now, the question is: Where would you go with a whale? To the cinema? To the restaurant? In addition, it says nothing about how one may take a whale. Is there a transportation company available for that?
2. Cars only
There is a law that specifies that only vehicles can be stored in garages. The law applies in Long Beach. It means that residents are prohibited from using their garages for purposes other than parking their cars.
Garages can be very useful. A lot of us use them for numerous reasons. One of them is storage. We’ll always have some things we don’t want to get rid of but that also can’t be kept inside our homes. Garages are a very effective way to store both useful and unuseful things.
3. You can’t walk an elephant down the street in San Francisco
BUT don’t be upset! You can walk the elephant if you have a leash.
Ha ha ha. We agree! It sounds hilarious. How would you even take an elephant for a walk? Is that even possible?
Market Street is a major thoroughfare in San Francisco, and it appears that the legislation addresses the specific situation of someone strolling an elephant on the street. The requirement of wearing a leash suggests that the elephant might be dangerous, representing a concern for the public’s safety.
Are you already laughing? We have some rules to share with you!
Even though these rules could seem silly, they have a historical background. Some of them may not apply today, but they can force us to have a different perspective throughout the world.
4. Whistling for a lost canary
In Berkeley, it is illegal to whistle for a lost canary before 7 a.m. So, we are sorry to let you know that if you are from Berkeley and you lose your canary during the night, you’ll probably never see it again. Be careful and don’t lose it! The fares for whistling are HUGE.
5. Having more than 2 dogs or cats
In San Jose, it is against the law to have more than 2 dogs or cats. This kind of rule might have been put in place to stop problems like noise complaints, dirty surroundings, or the development of illnesses linked to a lot of dogs.
If you are an animal lover, consider this before moving to San Jose.
6. Peacocks are considered town citizens
You read that right. This one is probably the most hilarious. In Arcadia, peacocks have the right of passage in various areas, including driveways and roadways. Can you imagine being in your car at an intersection and stopping to give the right of passage to a peacock? Yeah, we neither.
7. Everyone from San Diego must remove their Christmas lights by February 2
If the homeowners from San Diego don’t remove their Christmas decorations before February 2, they may be fined $250. Those who go extra with their Christmas decorations, should be very careful and take enough time for the removal process. Even, celebrating Christmas and receiving gifts all over the year would be so fun, we should avoid paying fines, especially useless ones like this one.
8. Flying a kite too high is prohibited
In Walnut, you can’t fly a kite higher than 10 feet above the ground. The rule was implemented to help keep a certain aesthetic in the community. How can a kite destroy a city’s aesthetic? But a better question is: How would you tell that to a kid? Well, all you can do is be creative!
9. Carrying food in open baskets
Hygiene was the main reason taken into consideration when this law was implemented. It can really be categorized as a normal law, considering the others that are almost unbelievable. The way we carry our food is important because it can have a significant effect on our health.
10. In San Francisco, if you are ugly, you can be removed from public spaces
In the 19th century, certain individuals considered ugly were restricted from appearing in public places and being seen.
Can you think about a similar law in 2024? Omg, it will become an international scandal. In contrast to the 19th century, today we are strongly protecting our rights and promoting diversity. Nobody can be considered ugly since this is a very subjective affirmation. We won’t agree with these kinds of rules.
11. Do you have permission to wash your neighbor’s car?
Have you ever thought about doing something good by helping your neighbor? You better stay away from doing such things in Los Angeles! In this city, it is illegal to wash your neighbor’s car without their permission.
Would you want to help? Make sure you have their permission first. Don’t forget that there is a fine you need to pay for each broken rule.
A Captivating Guide to the History of California
On Amazon, you can find a great history book about California. It is a captivating guide to the history of The Golden States, Starting from when Native Americans Dominated through European Exploration to the present (U.S. States). If you are passionate, you can find in the book a lot of details that might help you understand better where all these rules, that seem funny today, are coming from. California has been known for its diversity, lifestyle, and religion. It is, by far, one of the most diverse and multicultural states in the U.S.
Have you heard about these crazy laws before? What do you think about them? Write us, below, in the comment section. Also, if you know any other hilarious law that applies in California and deserves to be shared, let us know!
Before leaving, here is another useful and related article you can find on, Light on Politics, about other outdated laws that are still enforced in the United States. We suggest you have a look at it!
