Maryland is famous for its blue crabs, beautiful Chesapeake Bay, and historic cities like Annapolis and Baltimore. But hidden among its charming towns and rolling countryside are laws that range from slightly quirky to downright hilarious.
While most of these laws are relics of a bygone era, they technically remain on the books—and they just might leave you scratching your head or chuckling in disbelief.
1. No Lion at the Movies
Yes, you read that right. In the city of Baltimore, it’s illegal to take a lion to the movies. This law likely came into being in the early 20th century when traveling circuses or exotic animal owners may have made such outlandish decisions. While we’re all for supporting the arts, maybe leave Simba at home next time.
2. Keep Your Mouth (and Fountain Soda) in Check
In some parts of Maryland, it is considered illegal to drink and eat while driving—even non-alcoholic beverages. While this law is more about promoting safe driving, imagine getting pulled over for sipping your morning coffee or snacking on fries during a road trip. It’s one of those rules that’s technically enforceable but rarely acted upon.
3. Fortune Telling is a No-Go (Sort Of)
In the city of Baltimore, fortune telling is actually illegal unless you receive a license to do so. This means psychics, tarot card readers, and crystal ball gazers are supposed to get official approval before reading your future. The law is part of a broader historical crackdown on fraudulent or deceptive practices, but the idea of “government-approved psychics” is enough to make anyone giggle.
4. Oysters and Obscenities Don’t Mix
Here’s a salty law: it is illegal to curse while crabbing or fishing for oysters on the Chesapeake Bay. Apparently, sailors and watermen were once expected to maintain gentlemanly conduct, even while pulling in a tough haul. Lose your cool and drop an F-bomb over a tangled net, and technically you’d be in violation of state code.
5. No Swearing on the Sidewalk
Keeping with the theme of clean language, another Maryland law makes it illegal to use profane language in public. In Rockville, swearing within earshot of others—especially women and children—could result in a misdemeanor. While enforcement is nearly nonexistent today, the mere existence of this law seems ready-made for sitcom-level misunderstandings.
6. You Can’t Take a Lion to the Theater (Seriously)
Just in case you thought the lion law was a one-off—nope. In Maryland, bringing a wild animal (particularly a lion) to a theater is a specific and repeated prohibition. One can only imagine the 1900s incident that prompted lawmakers to say: “That’s it, no more lions in public entertainment venues.”
7. No Thistles in Your Yard
If you’re living in Maryland, be warned: allowing thistles to grow in your yard could be considered a legal offense. Considered a nuisance and invasive species, thistles fall under a category of “prohibited plants.” Gardeners with a wild side beware—what you see as natural landscaping might make your property a botanical outlaw.
8. Chickens Crossing the Road: Regulated
Why did the chicken cross the road? In Maryland, that age-old question might require a permit. In certain towns, allowing your chicken to wander across public roads is not only discouraged—it’s against the law. This bizarre regulation was intended to reduce road hazards and property damage caused by wandering farm animals, but today it sounds more like the punchline to a joke.
9. No Public Kissing on Sundays?
Some sources claim that Maryland once had a law banning public kissing on Sundays. While largely considered an urban myth today, remnants of such puritanical blue laws did exist in several American states, Maryland included. If true, you’d have to schedule your romantic smooches for Saturdays or Mondays.
10. Keep Your Circus Elephants Off Main Street
Here’s a big one—literally. In Maryland towns like Hagerstown, local ordinances reportedly restricted elephants from parading down certain main streets. These laws were most likely designed during the age of traveling circuses to prevent damage to roads or create public panic. While Ringling Bros. may be gone, the law’s spirit lives on in city code
Why Do These Laws Still Exist?
Many of these weird Maryland laws are holdovers from a different time—when circuses were popular, public behavior was tightly regulated, and lawmakers were overly cautious (or overly imaginative). Most are no longer enforced and are regarded more as curiosities than rules you need to worry about.
These laws also remind us how communities evolve. Social norms shift, technology advances, and public expectations change. But the law books? They’re often slow to catch up. As a result, states like Maryland end up with a colorful patchwork of outdated statutes that reflect moments in history—some serious, some silly, and some just plain strange.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a lifelong Marylander or just passing through the Old Line State, these oddball laws are sure to entertain. They offer a humorous glimpse into the past, when lawmakers tried to legislate everything from poultry to psychic predictions. Thankfully, while you’re unlikely to be arrested for sipping soda or taking your fortune read, it’s always fun to know what peculiar rules still exist—just in case your chicken has plans to cross the road.