Weird Laws in North Carolina: Which Are Still on the Books?

We checked three claims that recur on popular lists of weird North Carolina laws against the General Statutes and, for the one that names a town, the Mount Airy city code, as of October 21, 2026. Each landed somewhere different: a real state limit, a court story retold as a ban on bad singing, and a town rule. For other states, see our weird laws by state guide.

Weird laws in North Carolina: the verdicts

Each claim below was checked against the North Carolina code and, where it names a town, the local code. 3 claims checked.

Still on the books

The claim: Bingo games cannot run more than five hours (and only twice a week).

What the law says: North Carolina limits bingo run by an exempt organization (a licensed nonprofit) to two sessions a week, each no longer than five hours, with no two sessions within 48 hours and no more than two sessions in one building per week. An organization that breaks these rules commits a Class 2 misdemeanor and is barred from running bingo for a year after conviction, and the game itself is treated as gambling.

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-309.8 (penalties 14-309.5(b), 14-309.12)

“The number of sessions of bingo conducted or sponsored by an exempt organization shall be limited to two sessions per week and such sessions must not exceed a period of five hours each per session.”

Penalty: G.S. 14-309.5(b): "Any licensed exempt organization who conducts a bingo game in violation of any provision of this Part shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. Upon conviction such person shall not conduct a bingo game for a period of one year." G.S. 14-309.12: a game conducted otherwise than in accordance with the Part is "gambling" under G.S. 19-1 et seq.

Last cited by a court: Durham Highway Fire Protection Ass'n v. Baker (1986)

Primary source · Checked October 21, 2026.

Real law, twisted claim

The claim: Singing off-key is illegal.

What the law says: No North Carolina law makes singing off-key a crime. The state's disorderly conduct statute does make it a Class 2 misdemeanor to intentionally disrupt or disturb a religious service. The legend traces to State v. Linkhaw (1873), where a man was indicted for disturbing worship with singing so odd it made part of the congregation laugh; the state Supreme Court ordered a new trial because the State admitted he did not intend to disturb anyone. The distortion: the law punishes intentionally disrupting a service, not singing badly.

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-288.4(a)(7)

“Disorderly conduct is a public disturbance intentionally caused by any person who does any of the following: ... (7) Except as provided in subdivision (8) of this subsection, disrupts, disturbs, or interferes with a religious service or assembly or engages in conduct which disturbs the peace or order at any religious service or assembly.”

Penalty: Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, any person who willfully engages in disorderly conduct is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.

Last cited by a court: In re: A.B.T. (2026)

Primary source · Checked October 21, 2026.

City law, not state law

The claim: Silly String and Snap-N-Pops are banned in Mount Airy.

What the law says: Mount Airy's city code makes it unlawful to sell or use Snap-N-Pops, Silly Strings and similar items within the city limits; a violation is a misdemeanor. It is a city ordinance, not state law.

Mount Airy, NC: Code of Ordinances § 10-14 (Ord. of 10-3-89): "It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or use 'Snap-N-Pops,' 'Silly Strings' and similar items within the corporate limits of the city." (in force)

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.

The five-hour bingo limit

North Carolina really does cap bingo sessions. G.S. 14-309.8 provides:

The number of sessions of bingo conducted or sponsored by an exempt organization shall be limited to two sessions per week and such sessions must not exceed a period of five hours each per session.

An exempt organization is a licensed nonprofit. The rules also bar two sessions within 48 hours of each other and more than two sessions in one building in a week.

The penalties fall on the organization. Under G.S. 14-309.5(b), a licensed exempt organization that runs bingo in violation of these rules commits a Class 2 misdemeanor and may not conduct bingo for a year after conviction. G.S. 14-309.12 adds that a game run outside the rules is gambling under the state's gambling statutes.

Singing off-key and the 1873 case

No North Carolina law makes singing off-key a crime. What does exist is the disorderly conduct statute, G.S. 14-288.4(a)(7), which covers a public disturbance intentionally caused by anyone who:

disrupts, disturbs, or interferes with a religious service or assembly or engages in conduct which disturbs the peace or order at any religious service or assembly.

Willful disorderly conduct is a Class 2 misdemeanor. The legend traces to State v. Linkhaw (1873), in which a man was indicted for disturbing worship with singing so odd that part of the congregation laughed. The state Supreme Court ordered a new trial because the State admitted he had not intended to disturb anyone. The statute in force today turns on intent to disrupt a service, not on pitch.

Silly String in Mount Airy

The Mount Airy claim is accurate as a city rule. Section 10-14 of the city's Code of Ordinances, from an ordinance dated 10-3-89, reads:

It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or use 'Snap-N-Pops,' 'Silly Strings' and similar items within the corporate limits of the city.

A violation is a misdemeanor. The ban stops at the city limits; it is not a North Carolina state law.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a time limit on bingo in North Carolina?

Yes. G.S. 14-309.8 limits bingo run by a licensed nonprofit to two sessions a week, each no longer than five hours, with no two sessions within 48 hours and no more than two sessions in one building per week. An organization that violates the rules commits a Class 2 misdemeanor and is barred from running bingo for a year after conviction.

Is it illegal to sing off-key in North Carolina?

No North Carolina law makes singing off-key a crime. The disorderly conduct statute, G.S. 14-288.4(a)(7), makes it a Class 2 misdemeanor to intentionally disrupt or disturb a religious service. In State v. Linkhaw (1873) the state Supreme Court ordered a new trial for a man accused of disturbing worship with odd singing, because the State admitted he did not intend to disturb anyone.

Is Silly String illegal in North Carolina?

Not under state law. Mount Airy city code section 10-14 makes it unlawful to sell or use Snap-N-Pops, Silly Strings and similar items within the city limits, and a violation is a misdemeanor.

What are some weird laws in North Carolina?

Of the 3 claims checked, the five-hour bingo session limit for nonprofits (G.S. 14-309.8) is a state law, and the Silly String and Snap-N-Pops ban is a Mount Airy city ordinance.