Pennsylvania, a state rich in American history and cultural significance, is also home to a collection of quirky and downright puzzling laws that have somehow remained on the books over the years. While most of them are rarely enforced today, they reflect a unique legal past shaped by everything from colonial values to early industrial concerns.
Whether you’re a local or just passing through, these laws might make you pause, laugh, or shake your head in disbelief. Here are seven of the most bizarre laws in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
1. You Can’t Catch Fish With Your Bare Hands
It might sound like a scene from a survival show, but in Pennsylvania, catching fish with your bare hands is strictly prohibited. According to the Fish and Boat Commission, this law was likely created to promote fair fishing practices and protect fish populations. While this might not affect most casual anglers, it certainly puts a damper on anyone planning a Bear Grylls-style adventure along the Susquehanna River.
2. Singing in the Bathtub Is Technically Illegal in Pennsylvania
If you love belting out your favorite tunes during a relaxing soak, beware: a strange, old ordinance prohibits singing in the bathtub. Though never actively enforced, this bizarre regulation is believed to have originated during a time when moral codes were rigid and the idea of mixing cleanliness with entertainment may have been frowned upon. Thankfully, the “singing police” are unlikely to break down your bathroom door anytime soon.
3. It’s Illegal to Sleep on Top of a Refrigerator Outdoors
Yes, you read that right. In Pennsylvania, sleeping on top of a refrigerator placed outdoors is against the law. While it’s hard to imagine how this regulation came to be, it may have been aimed at discouraging dangerous behavior or preventing loitering in public areas. Regardless of its intent, it’s safe to say your fridge should stay inside—and be used for food storage only.
4. Fortune Telling Is Banned in Certain Towns
In several Pennsylvania communities, including Chester, fortune-telling is illegal. This includes practices like tarot card reading, palmistry, or crystal ball gazing. The law considers such services fraudulent, regardless of the practitioner’s intent or belief. While modern society may be more accepting of these mystical services, these towns still technically uphold the ban. So if you’re thinking about opening a psychic business in Pennsylvania, double-check your city’s ordinances first.
5. No Fireworks If You’re Not From Here
While Pennsylvanians can legally purchase consumer-grade fireworks under certain conditions, non-residents used to be restricted from buying them altogether. Though recent changes in fireworks laws have relaxed some restrictions, older laws still on the books created confusion. At one point, stores could legally sell fireworks to out-of-staters—but not to their own residents. It was an ironic twist that made Pennsylvania both a fireworks destination and an example of legal inconsistency.
6. You Can’t Use Dynamite to Catch Fish
Another fish-related oddity, this law specifically bans the use of explosives like dynamite to catch fish. While this might seem like common sense today, the fact that it had to be written into law suggests it may have once been a problem. Likely rooted in historical mining practices near water sources, this law also helps protect aquatic ecosystems from extreme damage. It’s both hilarious and terrifying to imagine anyone trying this technique in modern times.
7. You Need a Permit to Host Bingo Games
Bingo might seem like harmless fun, especially at church events or senior centers, but in Pennsylvania, it’s heavily regulated. Nonprofit organizations must obtain a license before hosting bingo games, and there are strict rules about the number of games per week, prize amounts, and who can run them. Designed to prevent illegal gambling, these laws can seem overly complex for what many consider a wholesome community activity.
Why These Laws Still Exist
Many of these strange laws are relics of a different era, preserved more out of bureaucratic inertia than practical enforcement. In some cases, they were originally passed to curb specific nuisances or behaviors that no longer exist—or never really did. Others may have been created as placeholder ordinances that were never repealed.
Municipalities and states are often reluctant to clean up their books unless a law becomes controversial or interferes with modern regulation. As a result, Pennsylvania, like many states, still carries the legal fingerprints of centuries past.
Final Thoughts
While most of these odd laws won’t affect your daily life in Pennsylvania, they offer a fascinating glimpse into the state’s legal and cultural history. From outlawed bathtub concerts to mystic bans, each regulation tells a peculiar story of how communities once tried to enforce order—or morality—in creative ways. So the next time you’re in Pennsylvania, be sure to keep your singing indoors, your fridge upright, and your fishing gear properly licensed—you never know when the law might still be watching.