# Do Any Localities Ban Mundane Things? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 27, 2008, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-localities-ban-mundane-things/478846 "2008-12-27T14:54:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-localities-ban-mundane-things/478846/1 "2008-12-27T14:54:34Z")
[Los Angeles has banned the construction of new fast-food restaurants in South L.A.](http://health.msn.com/nutrition/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100229565>1=31036). Excluding such things as bars & liquor stores, porn shops, strip clubs, etc., and excluding totalitarian states that ban anything and everything on the whims of their governments, are there any localities in the US (or the world) where mundane and unexpected things are banned? For example, is there any jurisdiction in the US that prohibits the posession/sale of satellite radios? Fois gras (I’m aware of Chicago’s recently-overturned ban)? Aluminum siding? ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-localities-ban-mundane-things/478846/2 "2008-12-27T15:08:23Z")
I guess it depends on what you consider to be mundane. In the state I live in (MA) slingshots are practically banned, except I guess it is legal to sell them to clubs or other organizations that would use them in sporting events. Don’t know if this ever really happens. I believe there are several states that ban ferrets as pets. ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-localities-ban-mundane-things/478846/3 "2008-12-27T15:17:01Z")
Like this? [Michigan city bans being annoying in public](http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/12/19/national/a133558S95.DTL) ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-localities-ban-mundane-things/478846/4 "2008-12-27T15:19:58Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Aluminum siding? Many communities in the US ban aluminum and vinyl siding; too many to list now. ---
**Author:** ![Karyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/fbc32d/32.png) [@Karyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karyn)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-localities-ban-mundane-things/478846/5 "2008-12-27T15:23:57Z")
Lots of communities (including mine) have ordinances about sleeping or covering up with a blanket outdoors that are aimed at homeless people. Trying to legislate bodily functions has got to be one of the most futile things I can think of. ---
**Author:** ![whorfin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/6f9a4e/32.png) [@whorfin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whorfin)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-localities-ban-mundane-things/478846/6 "2008-12-27T17:04:11Z")
Until recently, at least, Norfolk and Virginia Beach tried to ban cursing in public. [http://hamptonroads.com/2008/08/antiquated-profanity-law-norfolks-curse](http://hamptonroads.com/2008/08/antiquated-profanity-law-norfolks-curse) ---
**Author:** ![Lo-Slung\_Denim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f6c823/32.png) [@Lo-Slung\_Denim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lo-Slung_Denim)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-localities-ban-mundane-things/478846/7 "2008-12-27T17:07:44Z")
BoJo has banned alcohol consumption on any London public transport: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7387113.stm](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7387113.stm) Doesn’t stop people being \*drunk \*on public transport, so a giant waste of time, IMHO. That makes it rather mundane? ---
**Author:** ![erleichda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4da419/32.png) [@erleichda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erleichda)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-localities-ban-mundane-things/478846/8 "2008-12-27T18:07:32Z")
I found out recently that the community I live in (Bellevue, WA) has a city ordinance forbidding the sale of cut Christmas trees before Thanksgiving. You can buy an artificial tree or a live, potted tree, but not a real, cut tree. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-localities-ban-mundane-things/478846/9 "2008-12-27T18:47:53Z")
In some cities in CA, foam-type food containers are banned, even to the point that some dudes think (and in some areas they may be right) that Styrofoam coolers and such are also banned. In TX and other states, they have “Blue Laws” that ban the selling of certain things on Sundays. In one area, my freinds were told that selling tires was illegal on a Sunday!:eek: ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-localities-ban-mundane-things/478846/10 "2008-12-27T19:38:34Z")
In Tennessee, it is illegal to own a crossbow. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-localities-ban-mundane-things/478846/11 "2008-12-27T19:52:30Z")
There’s at least one community in New Hampshire that regulates outdoor Christmas decorations. Christmas lights are only supposed to be white or blue; all other colors are banned. Celebration, Florida is notorious for its community regulations. There are laws on subjects prohibiting things like what color you can paint your house or parking your car in the driveway instead of the garage or having your garbage can out on the curb too many hours before or after the pick-up. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-localities-ban-mundane-things/478846/12 "2008-12-27T20:13:52Z")
In a specific area of my town, it’s illegal to drive down the same street in the same direction more then twice inside of two hours. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-localities-ban-mundane-things/478846/13 "2008-12-27T20:15:54Z")
How about Arizona’s ban on license plate frames? [Dumb law](http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/12/10/20081210platecover1210.html) ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-localities-ban-mundane-things/478846/14 "2008-12-27T20:18:14Z")
My community just banned parking boats or watercraft anywhere within the jurisdiction. You can still have big ugly SUVs, but not a little plastic boat. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-localities-ban-mundane-things/478846/15 "2008-12-27T20:30:00Z")
Kanata, Canada had bylaws regulating the colour of garage doors. IIRC, purple was banned. ---
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-localities-ban-mundane-things/478846/16 "2008-12-27T22:29:48Z")
In Queensland you are not allowed to own a rabbit. ---
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-localities-ban-mundane-things/478846/17 "2008-12-27T22:33:17Z")
I used to live in a Florida municipality (not Celebration) that forbade highway billboards and car dealerships. This was years ago and I’m not sure if the regulations are still in place. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-localities-ban-mundane-things/478846/18 "2008-12-27T22:36:02Z")
Boca Raton, FL does not allow car dealerships… ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-localities-ban-mundane-things/478846/19 "2008-12-27T22:46:34Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > In a specific area of my town, it’s illegal to drive down the same street in the same direction more then twice inside of two hours. Nothing else for the teens to do on Saturday night, or what? ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-localities-ban-mundane-things/478846/20 "2008-12-27T22:50:56Z")
> [@Darth\_Nader](#): > > Nothing else for the teens to do on Saturday night, or what? I’ve seen this law in coastal towns on the beach road. Like an “anti-cruising” ordinance. Myrtle Beach comes to mind.. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-localities-ban-mundane-things/478846.md?page=2)