Maryland
Weird Laws in Maryland: Which Are Still on the Books?
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited October 21, 2026). · 5 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
We checked five claims from popular weird-law lists about Maryland against the Maryland Code and, because most of them name Baltimore, against Baltimore City's codes, as of October 21, 2026. Baltimore is where the real rules turned up; none of the five is a statewide law exactly as the lists tell it. For other states, see our weird laws by state guide.
Weird laws in Maryland: the verdicts
Each claim below was checked against the Maryland code and, where it names a town, the local code. 5 claims checked.
The claim: Taking a lion to the movies is illegal (Baltimore).
What the law says: Maryland makes it a misdemeanor for a person to import, sell, trade, possess or breed a live member of the cat family other than the domestic cat, which covers lions, with exceptions for licensed research facilities, licensed exhibitors, DNR permit holders, qualifying sanctuaries and similar entities. Baltimore's Health Code separately bars keeping any wild or exotic animal without a city permit. Neither law mentions movie theaters.
“A person may not import into the State, offer for sale, trade, barter, possess, breed, or exchange a live: ... (iii) member of the cat family other than the domestic cat;”
Penalty: A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to: (i) if an individual, a fine not exceeding $1,000; or (ii) if not an individual, a fine not exceeding $10,000.
Baltimore City: Baltimore City Health Code § 10-601 (Wild, exotic, and hybrid animals) (in force)
No court opinion in our database cites this section.
Primary source · Checked October 21, 2026.
The claim: Eating while swimming in the ocean is illegal.
What the law says: No Maryland state law found banning eating while swimming in the ocean.
No state law found in the Maryland code as of October 21, 2026.
How we searched
We searched the full text of the Maryland Code for any rule on eating while swimming or bathing, and read the state's disorderly-conduct section and its rule on swimming across power boat race courses.
Parts of the code read
- Maryland Code, Criminal Law Section 10-201 (disturbing the peace and disorderly conduct)
- Maryland Code, Natural Resources Section 8-704 (swimming across a power boat race course)
No town code was checked for this claim.
Primary source · Checked October 21, 2026.
The claim: Making or selling stench bombs is banned.
What the law says: Baltimore City Code Art. 19 sec. 59-30 makes it unlawful to sell, barter, trade, make or prepare, throw or discharge a stench bomb (a substance intended to produce a noxious or offensive odor). It is a city ordinance, not a Maryland state statute.
Baltimore City: Baltimore City Code Art. 19, sec. 59-30 (Stench bombs) (in force)
Primary source · Checked October 21, 2026.
The claim: Fortune-telling is illegal in Baltimore.
What the law says: Baltimore City's Code of Public Local Laws (Art. 4 of the Maryland Code of Public Local Laws, sec. 24-1) makes it a misdemeanor to demand or accept payment for forecasting or foretelling, or pretending to foretell, the future of another 'by cards, palmreading or any other scheme': a fine up to $500 or up to 1 year in jail. It is a city law, not statewide. In 2010 Maryland's highest court held that a closely similar Montgomery County ban on paid fortunetelling violated the First Amendment (Nefedro v. Montgomery County); that ruling did not address Baltimore's provision, which is still printed in the city's code.
Primary source · Checked October 21, 2026.
The claim: Sleeveless shirts banned in Baltimore parks.
What the law says: No Maryland state law or Baltimore City Code provision banning sleeveless shirts in parks was found as of 2026-10-21.
No state law found in the Maryland code as of October 21, 2026.
How we searched
We searched the full text of the Maryland Code for any rule on sleeveless shirts or clothing in parks, read the state's disorderly-conduct section, and searched the full text of the Baltimore City Code articles on parks and police ordinances for any dress rule.
Parts of the code read
- Baltimore City Code Article 7 (natural resources, including Division V, City Parks and Trees)
- Baltimore City Code Article 19 (police ordinances)
- Maryland Code, Criminal Law Section 10-201 (disturbing the peace and disorderly conduct)
The local code named in the claim was checked too.
Primary source · Checked October 21, 2026.
Checked October 21, 2026. This is legal history and information, not legal advice. Laws change; the linked official text is the authority.
A lion at the movies
The claim that it is illegal to take a lion to the movies in Baltimore points at two real laws, neither of which mentions a theater. The state one is Maryland Criminal Law § 10-621, which says a person may not import, offer for sale, trade, barter, possess, breed or exchange a live "member of the cat family other than the domestic cat." That covers lions.
The ban has exceptions for licensed research facilities, licensed exhibitors, holders of a Department of Natural Resources permit, qualifying sanctuaries and similar entities. A violation is a misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $1,000 for an individual and up to $10,000 for anyone else.
Baltimore adds its own layer. Health Code § 10-601 bars keeping any wild or exotic animal in the city without a city permit. Neither law mentions a movie theater.
Baltimore's older rules
Stench bombs
This one is a Baltimore ordinance, not a state law. Baltimore City Code Art. 19, sec. 59-30 makes it unlawful to sell, barter, trade, make or prepare, throw or discharge a stench bomb, meaning a substance intended to produce a noxious or offensive odor.
Fortune tellers
Baltimore's Code of Public Local Laws, § 24-1, makes it a misdemeanor to demand or accept payment for forecasting or foretelling, or pretending to foretell, another person's future "by cards, palmreading or any other scheme." The penalty is a fine of up to $500 or up to 1 year in jail. The section's history notes trace it back to the Public Local Laws of 1860.
There is a wrinkle. In 2010, Maryland's highest court held in Nefedro v. Montgomery County that a closely similar Montgomery County ban on paid fortunetelling violated the First Amendment. That ruling did not address Baltimore's provision, which is still printed in the city's code.
Eating in the ocean and sleeveless shirts
No state law was found in the Maryland Code as of October 21, 2026 against eating while swimming in the ocean. We searched the full text of the Maryland Code for any rule on eating while swimming or bathing, and read the state's disorderly-conduct section (Criminal Law § 10-201) and its rule on swimming across power boat race courses (Natural Resources § 8-704).
The claim that sleeveless shirts are banned in Baltimore parks also came up empty. A search of the Maryland Code and of Baltimore City Code Article 7, which covers city parks, and Article 19, the police ordinances, found no dress rule of that kind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to take a lion to the movies in Baltimore?
Neither law behind this claim mentions movie theaters. Maryland Criminal Law § 10-621 makes it a misdemeanor to possess a live member of the cat family other than the domestic cat, with exceptions such as licensed exhibitors and qualifying sanctuaries, and Baltimore Health Code § 10-601 bars keeping a wild or exotic animal without a city permit.
Is fortune-telling illegal in Baltimore?
Baltimore's Code of Public Local Laws § 24-1 makes it a misdemeanor to accept payment for foretelling another person's future by cards, palmreading or any other scheme, punishable by a fine up to $500 or up to 1 year in jail. In 2010 Maryland's highest court struck a closely similar Montgomery County ban under the First Amendment, but that ruling did not address Baltimore's provision.
Are stench bombs illegal in Maryland?
Baltimore City Code Art. 19, sec. 59-30 makes it unlawful to sell, make, throw or discharge a stench bomb in Baltimore. It is a city ordinance, not a Maryland state statute.
Is it illegal to eat while swimming in the ocean in Maryland?
No Maryland state law banning eating while swimming in the ocean was found in the Maryland Code as of October 21, 2026.
What are some weird laws in Maryland?
The real ones are mostly in Baltimore: a stench bomb ordinance, a fortune-telling misdemeanor in the city's public local laws, and a permit rule for wild and exotic animals. Statewide, Maryland bars possessing a live member of the cat family other than the domestic cat, such as a lion, with exceptions.
Updates
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources
Sources and References
- Md. Code, Criminal Law § 10-621 (Maryland General Assembly)(mgaleg.maryland.gov).gov
- Baltimore City Health Code § 10-601, Wild, exotic, and hybrid animals (Baltimore City)(codes.baltimorecity.gov).gov
- Baltimore City Code Art. 19, sec. 59-30, Stench bombs (Baltimore City)(codes.baltimorecity.gov).gov
- Code of Public Local Laws of Baltimore City, § 24-1, Fortune tellers (Baltimore City)(codes.baltimorecity.gov).gov
- Md. Code, Criminal Law § 10-201, disturbing the peace and disorderly conduct (Maryland General Assembly)(mgaleg.maryland.gov).gov