Each state has its own quirky laws, but North Carolina has some downright weird ones. Obviously, pretty much all of the following 20 weird laws in North Carolina are no longer enforced, but they’re still technically laws. And some of them will really surprise you.

  1. Happy Hours are illegal.

Flickr / Hey Paul Studios Happy Hour specials can only be offered for ‘food.’

  1. You can get a DWI on a horse.

Flickr / Pete Markham Good, because my favorite bar has seriously scarce horse parking. Other ways to get a DWI is with a tractor, bicycle, and electronic scooter.

  1. You can’t collect your own reward money.

Flickr / Thomas Hawk Look at that face. He wants you to collect it, TOO!

  1. Rollerblading in the sun is illegal.

flickr/Paul Istoan Okay, so, who was the bingo rollerblading enthusiast that made some public official super angry?

  1. Forest City requires you to call their Town Hall before entering the city in a car.

Asheville Guidebook Thanks, leafers!

  1. A small font can send you to jail.

flickr/Donald Lee Pardue Restaurants with outdoor seating must post a menu outside to be readable by those in proximity, but unreadable by those on the street. Also, you cannot drive your car on the sidewalk to get a better view of the menu.

  1. It’s illegal to practice as a professional psychic or fortune teller, but amateurs are okay.

Flickr / SliceofNYC I see lots of illegal bingo parties in your future.

  1. It’s illegal for Grandma to get intoxicated at Bingo Night.

flickr/Anne Varak This is just one of the many illegal things in North Carolina.

  1. It’s illegal to rollerblade on state highways.

Flickr / Michael Summers But, how else am I supposed to get to my bingo game?

  1. Visiting the dead after midnight is illegal.

Flickr / Jeanette Runyon But, I just got off from work.

  1. Driving on sidewalks is illegal.

Flickr / Virginia Sanderson Okay, this makes sense!

  1. Women are required to wear clothes that total 16 yards, meaning Daisy Dukes are illegal.

flickr/Nathan Rupert At least they don’t appear to be rollerblading on a state highway.

  1. Bingo games may not last more than five hours, and alcohol is not allowed.

Flickr / Scott Ableman Well, if I’m stuck at a six-hour bingo game, I’m leaving anyway.

  1. Organizations may not hold their meetings when members present are in costume.

Flickr / Zach Frailey This really affects the Zombie Enthusiast Society.

  1. If a man and woman who aren’t married go to a hotel and register themselves as married, then according to state law, they are married.

Flickr / Thomas Hawke Um, what?

  1. Before North Carolina got its own lottery, it was illegal to be in mere possession of a lottery ticket, and you’d be fined $2,000 if you had one.

Flickr/nist6dh At least now we can get lucky.

  1. It’s a felony to steal more than $1,000 worth of grease.

Flickr / Patrick This is really going to affect my next cookout.

  1. It’s against the law to sing off-key.

Public Domain Pictures This is just another good excuse to back out of Karaoke Night.

  1. Elephants may not be used to plow cotton fields.

Flickr / Carolyn Granycome Now that I think about it, that could save some time. But these gentle giants belong only in their natural habitat.

  1. North Carolina is the only state in the country where alcohol is controlled by both the ABC and a council of more than 160 local boards.

flickr/Peter Miller It takes two to tango (drink) in North Carolina.

Basically, don’t rollerblade to a six-hour bingo game and call your horse Uber to take your home.

Flickr / Hey Paul Studios

Happy Hour specials can only be offered for ‘food.’

Flickr / Pete Markham

Good, because my favorite bar has seriously scarce horse parking. Other ways to get a DWI is with a tractor, bicycle, and electronic scooter.

Flickr / Thomas Hawk

Look at that face. He wants you to collect it, TOO!

flickr/Paul Istoan

Okay, so, who was the bingo rollerblading enthusiast that made some public official super angry?

Asheville Guidebook

Thanks, leafers!

flickr/Donald Lee Pardue

Restaurants with outdoor seating must post a menu outside to be readable by those in proximity, but unreadable by those on the street. Also, you cannot drive your car on the sidewalk to get a better view of the menu.

Flickr / SliceofNYC

I see lots of illegal bingo parties in your future.

flickr/Anne Varak

This is just one of the many illegal things in North Carolina.

Flickr / Michael Summers

But, how else am I supposed to get to my bingo game?

Flickr / Jeanette Runyon

But, I just got off from work.

Flickr / Virginia Sanderson

Okay, this makes sense!

flickr/Nathan Rupert

At least they don’t appear to be rollerblading on a state highway.

Flickr / Scott Ableman

Well, if I’m stuck at a six-hour bingo game, I’m leaving anyway.

Flickr / Zach Frailey

This really affects the Zombie Enthusiast Society.

Flickr / Thomas Hawke

Um, what?

Flickr/nist6dh

At least now we can get lucky.

Flickr / Patrick

This is really going to affect my next cookout.

Public Domain Pictures

This is just another good excuse to back out of Karaoke Night.

Flickr / Carolyn Granycome

Now that I think about it, that could save some time. But these gentle giants belong only in their natural habitat.

flickr/Peter Miller

It takes two to tango (drink) in North Carolina.

Which of these weird laws in North Carolina surprised you most, or maybe gave you a good laugh? Please let us know in the comments below.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

Address: North Carolina, USA

The OIYS Visitor Center

weird laws in North Carolina August 11, 2022 Jennifer Young What are five strange things you’ll find in North Carolina? There are several strange things you’ll encounter while in North Carolina. From one-of-a-kind parks to quirky statues, the list is endless. Listed below are five strange things you’ll find in North Carolina.

  1. METALmorphosis Located in Charlotte, North Carolina within the Whitehall Technology Park is METALmorphosis, a massive mirrored head sculpture that was designed by artist David Cerny. People have been known to drive many miles to see this amazing piece of art.
  2. Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park is a unique, two-acre park in downtown Wilson, North Carolina. It features 30 of Mr. Simpson’s whirligigs. Also at the park is an amphitheater where visitors can watch movies and live entertainment. Admission is free.
  3. World’s Largest Frying Pan The “World’s Largest Frying Pan” is a popular tourist attraction that’s located in Rose Hill, North Carolina. Measuring 15 feet in diameter and weighing two tons, it can hold approximately 200 gallons of oil.
  4. The Collettsville Cup House Located in Collettsville, North Carolina is “The Collettsville Cup House.” This tourist stop is a home that’s been completely covered in more than 20,000 coffee mugs. Visitors are able to leave a mug of their own if they can find a spot.
  5. World’s Largest Chest of Drawers High Point, North Carolina is the “Furniture Capital of the World,” so it only makes sense for the town to have the “World’s Largest Chest of Drawers” on display. This massive piece of furniture stands more than 30 feet tall and will definitely have you do a double take. What are five fun facts about North Carolina? You might think you know all there is to know about North Carolina. However, there might be a few fun facts about North Carolina that just may surprise you, including the five listed below. Were you already aware of these facts?
  6. Cape Hatteras, the tallest lighthouse in the United States, is located on Hatteras Island in North Carolina. It stands at 210 feet tall.
  7. In 1903, at Kill Devil Falls, the Wright Brothers made their first successful powered flight.
  8. The Biltmore Estate, which is located in Asheville, North Carolina, is the largest private residence in the United States. It boasts more than 250 rooms and is one of North Carolina’s top tourist attractions.
  9. The sweet potato is North Carolina’s state vegetable, and for more than four decades, the state has produced more sweet potatoes than any other state in the country.
  10. On May 20, 1775, the first state to declare independence from England was North Carolina.

The OIYS Visitor Center

weird laws in North Carolina

August 11, 2022

Jennifer Young

What are five strange things you’ll find in North Carolina? There are several strange things you’ll encounter while in North Carolina. From one-of-a-kind parks to quirky statues, the list is endless. Listed below are five strange things you’ll find in North Carolina.

  1. METALmorphosis Located in Charlotte, North Carolina within the Whitehall Technology Park is METALmorphosis, a massive mirrored head sculpture that was designed by artist David Cerny. People have been known to drive many miles to see this amazing piece of art.
  2. Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park is a unique, two-acre park in downtown Wilson, North Carolina. It features 30 of Mr. Simpson’s whirligigs. Also at the park is an amphitheater where visitors can watch movies and live entertainment. Admission is free.
  3. World’s Largest Frying Pan The “World’s Largest Frying Pan” is a popular tourist attraction that’s located in Rose Hill, North Carolina. Measuring 15 feet in diameter and weighing two tons, it can hold approximately 200 gallons of oil.
  4. The Collettsville Cup House Located in Collettsville, North Carolina is “The Collettsville Cup House.” This tourist stop is a home that’s been completely covered in more than 20,000 coffee mugs. Visitors are able to leave a mug of their own if they can find a spot.
  5. World’s Largest Chest of Drawers High Point, North Carolina is the “Furniture Capital of the World,” so it only makes sense for the town to have the “World’s Largest Chest of Drawers” on display. This massive piece of furniture stands more than 30 feet tall and will definitely have you do a double take. What are five fun facts about North Carolina? You might think you know all there is to know about North Carolina. However, there might be a few fun facts about North Carolina that just may surprise you, including the five listed below. Were you already aware of these facts?
  6. Cape Hatteras, the tallest lighthouse in the United States, is located on Hatteras Island in North Carolina. It stands at 210 feet tall.
  7. In 1903, at Kill Devil Falls, the Wright Brothers made their first successful powered flight.
  8. The Biltmore Estate, which is located in Asheville, North Carolina, is the largest private residence in the United States. It boasts more than 250 rooms and is one of North Carolina’s top tourist attractions.
  9. The sweet potato is North Carolina’s state vegetable, and for more than four decades, the state has produced more sweet potatoes than any other state in the country.
  10. On May 20, 1775, the first state to declare independence from England was North Carolina.

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

There are several strange things you’ll encounter while in North Carolina. From one-of-a-kind parks to quirky statues, the list is endless. Listed below are five strange things you’ll find in North Carolina.

  1. METALmorphosis

Located in Charlotte, North Carolina within the Whitehall Technology Park is METALmorphosis, a massive mirrored head sculpture that was designed by artist David Cerny. People have been known to drive many miles to see this amazing piece of art.

  1. Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park

Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park is a unique, two-acre park in downtown Wilson, North Carolina. It features 30 of Mr. Simpson’s whirligigs. Also at the park is an amphitheater where visitors can watch movies and live entertainment. Admission is free.

  1. World’s Largest Frying Pan

The “World’s Largest Frying Pan” is a popular tourist attraction that’s located in Rose Hill, North Carolina. Measuring 15 feet in diameter and weighing two tons, it can hold approximately 200 gallons of oil.

  1. The Collettsville Cup House

Located in Collettsville, North Carolina is “The Collettsville Cup House.” This tourist stop is a home that’s been completely covered in more than 20,000 coffee mugs. Visitors are able to leave a mug of their own if they can find a spot.

  1. World’s Largest Chest of Drawers

High Point, North Carolina is the “Furniture Capital of the World,” so it only makes sense for the town to have the “World’s Largest Chest of Drawers” on display. This massive piece of furniture stands more than 30 feet tall and will definitely have you do a double take.

What are five fun facts about North Carolina?

You might think you know all there is to know about North Carolina. However, there might be a few fun facts about North Carolina that just may surprise you, including the five listed below. Were you already aware of these facts?

  1. Cape Hatteras, the tallest lighthouse in the United States, is located on Hatteras Island in North Carolina. It stands at 210 feet tall.

  2. In 1903, at Kill Devil Falls, the Wright Brothers made their first successful powered flight.

  3. The Biltmore Estate, which is located in Asheville, North Carolina, is the largest private residence in the United States. It boasts more than 250 rooms and is one of North Carolina’s top tourist attractions.

  4. The sweet potato is North Carolina’s state vegetable, and for more than four decades, the state has produced more sweet potatoes than any other state in the country.

  5. On May 20, 1775, the first state to declare independence from England was North Carolina.