Ohio is a lovely place, with many beautiful places to visit and explore. Itโs also a great spot to find some really strange, puzzling and downright odd laws. So, if youโre in the mood for some weird Ohio laws then youโre in for a treat.
Watch The Video on These 25 Outlandish And Weird Ohio Laws Below.
1. In Akron, posting signs at swimming pools is illegal
Why arenโt you allowed to post any kinds of signs there is anyoneโs guess.
2. Fish and alcohol
Have you ever thought about getting a fish drunk? Why not? Just kidding :). We actually wonder who ever thought of doing something like this. And why? Itโs clear at least one person considered it because thereโs a law in Perry, Ohio that states you are not allowed to get a fish drunk.
3. In Bat Village, no walking cows down Lake Road
All other roads seem to be fine for this. What happened between a cow and Lake Road remains a secret.
The next one is one of the more weird Ohio laws.
4. In a house there must not live more than 4 women!
What happens if there are 5 children and all are girls/women? This law is so strange and odd that itโs hard to understand why and who had the bright idea to create it.
5. In Bexley, you canโt install/use slot machines in outhouses
6. You must honk your horn EVERY time you pass another car!!!
Could you imagine if drivers actually did this? It would be madness.
7. On Sundays you are not allowed to fish forโฆ whales
8. Patent leather shoes worn in public are a no-no for women
Could men wear them? It doesnโt say they canโt.
9. In Akron (again), selling colored chickens is illegal!
Thereโs no details as to what this means, what colors are prohibited and such. And why was such a law needed? No one knows.
10. In McDonald, your goose is not allowed on Main Street
So itโs cows, now gooses, whatโs next? Horses?
11. No arrests on 4th of July or on Sundays
So if you do any crime, you wonโt be arrested on those days? Where will they keep you until the next day, when they can arrest you? This is intriguing to say the least.
12. On Sundays, in Columbus, stores must not sell corn flakes
What exactly happened in Columbus that they hate corn flakes, is anyoneโs guess? And why only on Sundays?
13. License to kill flies?
It will probably sound like it couldnโt be true but it is. You need a LICENSE to kill a housefly within 160 feet of a church!
14. Another license for catching mice!
In Cleveland, itโs illegal to even try to catch mice without having a hunting license! So if your house has a few critters that shouldnโt be there, youโll need to get a license or find someone who has one.
15. No rice at the wedding
Some people love rice at weddings and some people really donโt. In Chillicothe, Ohio they are so against it that theyโve made it illegal.
16. Donuts are a no-no in Marion, Ohio
Ever considered walking backwards while eating a delicious donut? Well, if youโre in Marion, Ohio then think again. You arenโt allowed to eat a donut (Why a donut? Can you eat anything else?) if you are walking backwards on a city street.
17. No running out of gas
If you do run out of gas you could be in serious trouble in Ohio. It seems they donโt take lightly to people that donโt make sure they have enough gas in their car.
18. In Toledo, snake throwing is LEGAL while snake SHAKING is not!
Sounds strange? It is. We canโt even with this one. Why would the first be legal?
19. In Clinton County, leaning on public buildings can lead to fines
A bit too much? While public buildings need to be protected, should leaning on one lead to a fine?
20. In Fairview Park, honking your car horn excessively is against the law
What does excessively mean? 10 times? 5?
21. In Oxford, itโs illegal to spit on the sidewalk of the square
But can you do it anywhere else? Why is only the square getting this kind of โtreatmentโ?
22. The Oxford Square (again)
Itโs illegal for you to drive around the town square more than 100 times in 1 session. We wonder who keeps track of how many times someone drives around the town square. โOh, youโre at 99 now so thatโs enough of that!โ
23. In Youngstown, Ohio, riding taxi roofs is a no-no!
24. In Canton, Ohio, you canโt play any kind of game in a park without the permission of the Superintendent!
Can you imagine having to ask permission so your child can PLAY in a PARK? Why is this even a law? What happened in Canton that made people want to make this law? Also, in Canton electric fences are banned.
25. In Lima, Ohio, every map MUST have Lima clearly visible
Otherwise, you canโt sell it. Lima must be front and center or your map is no good.
Hopefully, youโve found a few weird Ohio laws that made you chuckle. And there are quite a few of those, arenโt there?
Recommended reading next: weird California laws
FAQ
Is Ohio a no-hands state?
Yes, as of 2023, it’s illegal to use a cell phone or any other device in your hand or lap while driving in Ohio. Hands-free are recommended and approved of.
Is driving without shoes illegal in Ohio?
Barefoot driving is permitted although not recommended in Ohio.
What are the stupidest laws in Ohio?
Weโve talked about a lot of these above but if we were to choose, we would pick one of the following:
Needing a license to kill flies near a church
Not being allowed to fish for whales (in a landlocked state)
Not being able to have more than 4 women live in the same house!
What is your favorite?
Feel Like Doing More Research on Ohio Law? References below:
https://libguides.uakron.edu/ohiolaw
https://ohioauditor.gov/references/laws.html
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.ย