14 Strange (But True) Laws You’ll Only Hear About in North Carolina

North Carolina: where the barbecue debate burns hotter than the summer sun, and the laws are just as smoky and strange. Sure, it’s home to beautiful mountains, sandy shores, and college basketball royalty—but dig into the legal code and you’ll find rules that raise more eyebrows than a Duke fan in Chapel Hill. From bingo bans to squirrel-frying etiquette, here are the Tar Heel State’s most delightfully odd laws.

1. It’s Illegal to Hold More Than Two Bingo Games Per Week

In North Carolina, nonprofit organizations can only host bingo games twice a week—because apparently, three bingos is where the madness begins.

2. You Can’t Borrow Your Neighbor’s Dog Without Permission

Even if it’s just to take Buster for a joyride or a squirrel-chasing adventure, dog-borrowing without consent is a legal no-no.

3. Singing Off-Key in Public Is Technically Prohibited

This dusty old law still haunts the books. So if your karaoke rendition of “Bohemian Rhapsody” is more screech than sing, consider this your warning.

4. It’s a Felony to Steal More Than $1,000 Worth of Grease

Yes, we’re talking used cooking oil. Grease theft rings are real, and North Carolina cracked down on the black market of fryer drippings.

5. You Can’t Use Elephants to Plow Cotton Fields

If you were hoping to go full circus-farming, you’re out of luck. This law was added after (allegedly) someone actually tried it.

6. It’s Illegal to Fry Squirrels Using Dynamite

This one comes from early hunting laws. Just because squirrels are fast doesn’t mean explosive shortcuts are okay.

7. It’s Against the Law to Rollerblade on State Highways

Zooming down I-40 on your skates? That’s not “cool”—it’s illegal. Stick to the greenways, you thrill-seeking menace.

8. You May Not Use Profanity in Front of a Dead Body

Funeral decorum is serious business. Swear near the dearly departed, and you could face a misdemeanor charge.

9. It’s Illegal to Sell Your Eyeballs

North Carolina says “no” to the ocular black market. Keep your peepers where they belong—or risk time behind bars.

10. You Must Register Your Ferret With the Local Government (In Some Towns)

Certain municipalities require you to let them know if you’re harboring a tube-shaped bandit. Failure to register? That’s one illegal weasel.

11. You Can’t Ride a Bicycle Without Both Hands on the Handlebars

If you’re showing off your “look mom, no hands!” trick—don’t. It’s considered reckless cycling.

12. Practicing as a Professional Psychic Without a License is Prohibited in Some Areas

Got a crystal ball and a business plan? Better get certified. Clairvoyance is regulated in cities like Winston-Salem.

13. In Charlotte, Women Must Wear at Least 16 Yards of Fabric in Public (By One Old Ordinance)

This Victorian-era law has long been ignored—but it’s still on record, just in case anyone feels like measuring hems.

14. It’s Illegal to Serve Alcohol at a Bingo Game

Bingo is serious business in North Carolina—so serious, they keep the booze out of it. No sippin’ while dabbin’.

North Carolina might be sweet tea and Southern charm on the surface, but its laws reveal a deeper layer of fried squirrel caution, psychic regulation, and surprisingly strict bingo control. So whether you’re skating the line or frying up dinner, remember: in the Tar Heel State, quirky is part of the legal tradition.

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