Delaware is the state where size doesn’t matter but charm does and this place has a lot of it. It’s a small state in square footage but that doesn’t mean there’s not a lot to see (and just wait until you heard about the weird Delaware laws). From stunning beaches (like Rehoboth Beach) that’ll have you reaching for your sunscreen in no time to historical gems (like Winterthur Museum and Gardens or Hagley Museum and Library) that’ll make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time, Delaware has something for everyone.
And besides all that there are also those funny and downright weird Delaware laws that you should know about before visiting. Knowing them could either give you a good laugh or save you in a pinch or both.
1. Animals must not publicly mate
It seems that if you’re an animal you must take certain “precautions” before matting. You should never be closer than 1500 feet of a school, tavern or even a place of worship. Hmm, we wonder
2. Ugly men must not enter the city during daytime
Only after darkness are they allowed to do so.
3. Sand is for the beach
If you take sand from Rehoboth Beach then you are in for a world of trouble. Whenever exiting the beach you are obligated to remove all sand from your clothes, shoes and… other places. Don’t wait for a body search by the police! Leave that sand where it belongs!
4. Ugly women must call out something before entering a building
If men might be in the building, these women must call out “Hideous Hag Coming”. Yep, this was once a thing in Delaware, believe it or not. Hopefully it doesn’t happen anymore.
5. In Rehoboth Beach you shouldn’t whisper in church
Yes, it seems that even whispering is not allowed in houses of worship in Delaware. You shouldn’t talk or disrupt in any way such events. And this also goes for up to 300 feet of the place of worship so beware.
6. House coats and women don’t mix well with driving
Another perfect example of weird Delaware laws. In Delaware you must NOT drive while in your house coat if you’re a woman. There’s no mention of men here so they might be ok with doing so.
7. Always have a poop bag with you while out with your dog
In South Bethany, this is law. You risk a $100 fine if you don’t pick up your dog’s excrements. So, always have plenty of bags with you when out with your furry buddy.
8. Public restrooms are not to be used for changing from or into a bathing suit
You are not allowed to do this there. Who knows who might see a side boob or who knows what else? Stay classy, folks.
9. Trick-or-treat must be done between 6-8PM
Now this is a bit of a bummer. It’s not cool that kids can’t trick-or-treat for longer. 2 hours go by in a flash so this seems like a very antiquated law. Maybe 4 hours would have been better.
10. It’s illegal to sell human corpses for monetary compensation without having a license for it
Talk about weird Delaware laws. Now that’s a license to have, right?
11. No horse racing on Easter Sunday or Good Friday
Such a bummer. Those seem like great days for a good, old, horse race.
12. No “R” rated movies in drive-in theaters
What’s left, then? Those are the good movies for sure.
13. Ever got married on a dare, in Delaware?
Well then this is as good of a reason for an annulment as any.
14. No flying over bodies of water UNLESS…
Unless you have decent supplies of water and food. Not a bad idea actually.
15. You can’t get alcohol after 8PM, on a Sunday
Things were much worse up until recently as liquor stores were closed on Sundays so take the win, we guess?! It’s before 8PM or none at all.
16. Weird Delaware laws: No pawning or paying with a fake leg
That goes for trying to pay with your wheelchair as well. That’s a no-no in Delaware.
17. Sundays are not for hunting!
Unless you’re hunting foxes with dogs. Why? Who knows? It seems foxes are not very loved in Delaware.
18. Girls older than 5 are not allowed to run topless at Rehoboth Beach
We’ve found places where they say the age is 6 but it seems the age limit is actually 5 for this rule.
“198-13. No female over the age of five years shall wear a topless bathing suit or otherwise fail to cover her breasts with less than a full opaque covering of any portion thereof below the upper portion of the nipple.”
19. No pretending to sleep on a bench
What if someone actually needs to take a nap? If it’s somehow an emergency?
Well, that’s all folks. We hope you’ve enjoyed our weird Delaware laws and maybe knowing some of these will come in handy someday, who knows? If you happen to know of any other bizarre laws from this state don’t hesitate to share. And if you want more strange ones just head on over to weird Illinois laws for a real doozy 😉
I’m a passionate writer with an insatiable curiosity for history, obscure facts, and the weird corners of the internet. When I’m not fact-checking bizarre stories or diving into historical mysteries, I’m exploring the strange and unusual to bring you the most fascinating tales.
A self-proclaimed weirdness enthusiast, who loves turning the odd, the quirky, and the unbelievable into engaging stories for curious minds.
My kids sometimes call me the walking Wikipedia, which can get very annoying sometimes.
