24 Weird Laws in Michigan That Will Shock You

The Mitten State is awesome for so many reasons, but there’s no denying that there are some weird laws in Michigan!

From laws concerning smiling on Sundays to prohibiting serenading in Kalamazoo to staying sober on trains, Michigan has some odd, interesting, and just plain weird laws that Michiganders must follow.

Now, some of these laws are still on the books, easily found in the annuals of the Michigan Legislature. Others are akin to urban legends — relics of yesteryear when laws in Michigan were different.

No matter their age or intention, make sure that you follow all actual laws and have a laugh at some of the more ludicrous ones.

Go Putt-Putt Golfing Early in Detroit

Putt-putt golfing is the perfect family activity, even if you’re no good at it. There’s just something fun about trying to get your ball through windmills, water features, and other obstacles while trying to get a hole-in-one.

But if you’re visiting putt-putt golf courses in Detroit, make sure you do it early. A Michigan law doesn’t allow golfing past 1 a.m., on mini golf courses, putting greens, or driving courses.

Be Careful About Keeping Wildlife as Pets

Everyone likes having pets, but Michigan has laws in place for anyone who might be thinking about keeping anything that’s not considered a “traditional pet.”

Michigan law states that possessing wild animals — including foxes, raccoons, beavers, ducks, geese, coyotes, turkeys, and other specifically mentioned animals — can only be done with a special permit. Additionally, it’s illegal to process any injured or orphaned animals from the wild.

Put a Smile On Every Sunday in Detroit

Michiganders have been trying to find interesting ways to keep law and order for decades. One of the weirdest laws in the Mitten State has to be one in Detroit — A man is prohibited from scowling at his wife on a Sunday.

So fellas, be sure to keep a smile on your face on Sunday. No matter if you get stuck doing chores or you get interrupted during a big game, keep things positive.

Don’t Even Think About Buying a Car on Sundays

Have you ever wondered why you can’t visit a dealership to buy a car on Sundays? Believe it or not, it’s based on a 1953 Michigan law that prohibits motor vehicle sales on Sunday. That includes buying new or used vehicles.

If that isn’t weird enough, vehicle sales are allowed in Michigan on Sundays in counties with populations of less than 130,000. Laws like these are rooted in blue laws, which prohibit the sale of certain items or prohibit certain activities on Sundays.

Keep Change On You for Your Cows in Wayland

Many weird laws in Michigan and other states can trace their roots back to older times when farming was an important part of everyday life.

In Wayland, in Michigan’s Allegan County, anyone who visits Main Street downtown with their cow can keep it there for just 3 cents per day. So if you happen to be strolling through downtown Wayland with your cow, keep a pocket full of change handy.

Don’t Fling Hoop Skirts in Grand Haven

Arguably one of the oddest (and maybe the funniest) laws in Michigan concerns an 1890s ordinance in Grand Haven that prohibits people from throwing hoop skirts on the sidewalks or into the streets.

If you find yourself unable to follow this law, be ready to pay a $5 fine each time you do it. Whether you have one or a box full of hoop skirts, it’s probably best to donate them instead.

Robbers Have Rights in Michigan

Robbery is definitely frowned upon in Michigan, but the state recognizes that even robbers are people too. To that end, the state has a law on the books that allows robbers to sue if they get hurt in a person’s house.

Keep in mind that it’s possible to sue for just about anything and that it’s also possible for a case to get dismissed if a robber sues for an injury.

Get Your Bathing Suit Approved in Rochester

Buying a bathing suit is always fun before the arrival of a Michigan summer. With four Great Lakes and so many inland lakes, Michiganders are never far from a body of water. But if you’re a resident of Rochester, a law states that all bathing suits have to be inspected by the police.

Don’t Start Singing to Your Sweetie in Kalamazoo

From buying flowers to buying jewelry to writing letters, there are a lot of romantic gestures a gentleman can make to show affection for his significant other.

But if you’re looking to make a romantic gesture around Kalamazoo, don’t start breaking out in song. Why? There’s allegedly a law that forbids men from serenading their girlfriends in the city.

Now, it’s probable that this law is just an urban legend, but maybe there was an incident that prompted a law to be passed. Either way, it’s probably safe now to serenade your sweetie with a song.

If You’re a Woman, Cut Your Hair Carefully

Urban legend says that a Michigan law — more specifically, a Battle Creek law — forbids a woman from cutting her hair without her husband’s permission.

In recent years, a Michigan TV station investigated the law, talking to law enforcement as well as attorneys. What they found is that a law like that doesn’t exist, and, if it did, it would be unenforceable.

So ladies, when the time comes to cut your hair, you and you alone can decide when and how much hair gets cut.

You Can Get in Trouble for Cutting Hair Without a License

As if a law regarding a woman’s hair wasn’t weird enough, Michigan has another odd one on the books concerning hair.

Unless you’re a certified cosmetologist or barber, or you’re in training, you’re prohibited from cutting the hair of anyone who’s not a family member. If you break the law, you could be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Keep Your Pigs Close in Detroit

Detroit is known for its rich history, and there’s so much for Michiganders to see and do in the Motor City. But if you’re walking around town and happen to have a pig with you, make sure that your pig has a ring in its nose if you’re going to let it run free.

There’s some practicality in this law because a loose pig can be hard to catch. As farmers know, a nose ring provides a means to get a grip on pigs and to keep them subdued.

Don’t Pull a Fast One by Painting Your Sparrows

In Harper Woods, the law says that painting sparrows to sell them as parakeets is forbidden. This law isn’t specific to Harper Woods, or Michigan for that matter, but you can scratch your head all day pondering how this was a big enough issue at one time to warrant making a law.

Smoking in Bed Is Not Allowed

Various sources point to this being a law in Sault Ste. Marie, also known as the Soo, but it’s also likely that this is good practice throughout the state.

Attitudes about smoking in public places have changed over the years, but there’s a lot of common sense behind this law. It prevents fires from starting in bedrooms, prevents a lot of freak accidents, and keeps the air clean.

Don’t Tie Your Alligator to a Fire Hydrant in Detroit

You know how everyone who lives in Detroit or visits Motor City likes to take their alligators for walks? Well, if you’re one of those people, don’t tie your alligator to a fire hydrant because it’s illegal.

It’s unknown what kind of behavior proceeded a law like this, but, depending on where you look, the law prohibits people from tying any animal to fire hydrants, so that includes, dogs, alligators, and anything else that you can think of. 

Certain Animals Are Protected From Seizures

According to Michigan law, courts can issue orders for the seizure of property. But if your items are seized, the courts can’t take everything. The law states that certain animals are exempt from a seizure, including five roosters, five swine, 100 hens, and a sufficient quantity of both grain and hay.

The odds are that this has some roots in farming, but it’s good to know that if you ever run afoul of the law and have your property seized, any of the abovementioned animals get to stay with you.

Stay Sober on a Train

Public drunkenness is highly discouraged in many places, but in Michigan, it’s also illegal to be drunk while riding a train. If you happen to ride a railway train in the Mitten State, leave the enjoyment of alcoholic beverages for when you reach your destination.

Apparently, the law was enacted in the early 1910s, and it’s likely that railroad companies wanted to keep things running smoothly.

Treat Your Vintage Radios With Care

In Detroit, it’s illegal to break, deface, manipulate, or sell — among other things — telecommunication components such as a radio.

So if you have an old radio stashed in the basement somewhere, it’s better to consider donating it rather than destroying it. It’s hard to say why this law was enacted, but it may have had to do with historical preservation.

Keep Your Meats in Order

This law probably applies to butchers, meatpackers, or farmers above anyone else, but a section of the Michigan Penal Code forbids Michiganders from selling horse and dog meat unless the meats are clearly labeled. Anyone who doesn’t follow the law may be guilty of a misdemeanor.

A Clawson Law Allows Farmers to Sleep With Their Farm Animals

A law in this Metro Detroit town legally allows farmers to sleep with their cows, chickens, pigs, goats, and horses. No word on what defines “sleeping,” but chalk this law up as definitely strange.

Take Time to Celebrate Log Cabin Day

Michigan has a lot of special days that residents celebrate throughout the year, including the Detroit Tigers’ home opener and the opening day of firearm deer season.

If you’re all about celebrating special days throughout the year, mark the last Sunday of June on your calendar. Beginning in 1989, the Michigan Legislature declared that day “Log Cabin Day.”

Don’t Try to Seduce a Married Woman

Seducing a married woman is likely a frowned-upon activity in some circles, but you can actually get in trouble for it in Michigan. Act 328 of the Michigan Penal Code forbids a man from seducing a married woman.

Any man who gets caught risks getting charged with a felony, going to state prison for up to five years, or being fined $2,500. So be polite, but just know that funny business isn’t tolerated.

Adultery Is a Big No-No Too

Michigan not only frowns upon trying to seduce married women but also forbids adultery by either party involved under the Michigan Penal Code. Anyone caught risks being charged with a felony.

It’s important to note with this law that a complaint of adultery has to be made by the spouse of the person in violation, and the complaint has to be made within a year of the infraction.

Be Mindful of Where You Have Relations

In Detroit, the law states that couples are prohibited from making love in a vehicle in a public setting. However, couples are allowed to have sex in their vehicles if the vehicles are parked on their own property.

Abide by These Weird Laws in Michigan (At Least the Real Ones)

So, there you have it — two dozen of the strangest, oddest, most out-of-this-world laws to ever come out of the Mitten State.

Are you ever going to break these laws, whether you live in Michigan or not? Probably not. But just in case, make sure that you stay on the right side of the law.

The next time you’re riding a railway train, stay sober. The next time you’re walking your cow in downtown Wayland, pay the 3 cents to keep it tied up. Keep a good pace of play when you’re playing putt-putt golf in Detroit and go all-out when it’s time to celebrate Log Cabin Day too.