Every state has strange laws that are in place. Maybe some are from days when they actually made sense, though a great many seem like they may have never made sense. It’s doubtful you’d be prosecuted for any of these wacky laws, but all of them are on the books or were at some point. Check out this list of weird laws in Georgia.

1. It is illegal to keep a donkey in a bathtub.
bagsgroove via Flickr
This weird Georgia law makes us laugh - hee haw! Who would even think to do such a thing? Oddly, there's actually a reason behind this one. In 1924, an Arizona farmer allowed his donkey to sleep in an old bathtub. A dam burst and the town flooded. The donkey (still in the bathtub) floated downstream. He was rescued, but the ordeal took many hours and a lot of manpower. After that, several states passed laws against the keeping of donkeys in bathtubs.
2. You cannot live on a boat for more than 30 days during the calendar year, even if just passing through the state
dan.kristiansen via Flickr
This one was targeted at run-down floating homes that existed on the Altamaha River. Neighbors found the houseboats ugly and were concerned about pollution. The Georgia state legislature passed a law in 1992 that living on a houseboat was illegal.
3. No one may carry an ice cream cone in their back pocket if it is Sunday.
William Murphy via Flickr
This is another one that sounds weird but has a source! Horse thieves apparently used to put ice cream cones in their back pocket to lure horses away. We're not really sure why this is only applicable one day of the week, but we suspect it might be related to horses being tied up during church.
4. In Acworth, all citizens must own a rake.
Noel Hankamer via Flickr
This crazy law in Georgia was passed in jest, but it's still on the books. A nearby city, Kennesaw, passed a law in 1982 declaring all citizens had to own a gun. Acworth retaliated saying all of their citizens needed a rake.
5. In Athens-Clarke County, adult bookstores may not sell alcohol.
B Rosen via Flickr
This is also a law in Tennessee, though many adult bookstore owners have attempted to fight it in court.
6. Also in Athens-Clarke County: if you want to read your favorite book in public to your friends, do it before 2:45 AM.
Christian Schnettelker via Flickr
We're not sure what led to this, but it probably was related to Athens being the home of the notorious party school, the University of Georgia.
7. Athens-Clarke County: Goldfish may not be given away to entice someone to enter a game of bingo.
Anna Lee/Flickr
We actually like this one strange law in Georgia! It supports animal welfare, as goldfish given away in carnival games typically are not well cared for or beloved family members.
8. Owners of mules may not allow their animal to roam around Athens-Clarke County unsupervised.
greg westfall via Flickr
At least you won't see any stray mules in Athens!
9. Persons under the age of 16 may not play pinball after 11:00 PM in Athens-Clarke County.
Needle via Flickr
Athens is taking all the fun out of everything!
10. It is also illegal to make a disturbing sound at a fair in Athens-Clarke County.
Kevin Dooley via Flickr
We're really curious as to what caused this.
11. If you're going out of business in Athens-Clarke County, you will need a business license to hold a going-out-of-business sale.
Bonnie Natko via Flickr
12. In Athens-Clarke County, it is illegal to sell two beers for the price of one.
Lynne Hand/Flickr
No BOGO sales on your beers!
13. While Georgia runs its own lottery, it's illegal to promote a private lottery. This is done under the guise the government is protecting their citizens.
Kim Scarborough/Flickr
Seems safe, as private lotteries could certainly lead to fraud.
14. If an organization non registered as “non-profit” fails to register their raffle with the local sheriff, that group risks paying up to $10,000 in fines and spending five years in jail.
Randy Heinitz via Flickr
15. Members of the state assembly cannot be ticketed for speeding while the state assembly is in session.
Wally Gobetz/Flickr
Hmm...I guess they're speeding to go vote on Georgia laws?

Have you broken any of these weird laws in Georgia? Do you know of any more unexpectedly illegal things in Georgia? Share your knowledge in the comments!

To learn more about the many quirks of the Peach State, check out our list of weird things about Georgia.

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Lisa Sammons | September 16, 2021

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The Peach state is a food capital and there are a lot of foods associated with Georgia, here are a few of our favorites:

 

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Whether you like outdoor attractions, museums, or cultures like plays and films, there's so much to do in Georgia. We have so many must-visit attractions here! Some of our most beloved past times include

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