Weird Florida Laws: Old, Odd and Still on the Books

General public information only — not legal advice. The laws below are quoted or summarized from the 2026 Florida Statutes. Laws change, many have exceptions, and cities and counties have their own codes. Confirm with the current statute and a qualified attorney before relying on any of this.

How to use this page

Every "weird law" list online claims Florida has strange rules. Some are real, some are badly garbled, and some don't exist at all. This page sorts them into four groups:

1. Old laws still on the books: passed decades ago, still printed in the statutes.
2. Odd modern rules: newer laws that surprise people.
3. Repealed: gone, but still quoted online.
4. Myths: claims we could not find in Florida law.

Every real law links to the official statute. "Still on the books" means the text appears in the 2026 Florida Statutes. It does not tell you how often the law is enforced; we did not research that.

The short answer

Old laws still on the books

"Living in open adultery" (1874)

• Florida still makes it a second-degree misdemeanor for "whoever lives in an open state of adultery." If either person is married, both are guilty (s. 798.01).
• The history note traces it to an 1874 law.
• The Legislature repealed the related cohabitation ban in 2016 (see "Repealed"), but this section was not part of that change.

The mask law (1951)

• People over 16 may not wear a mask, hood or device that hides their identity on a public street, road, sidewalk or other public way (s. 876.12, enacted 1951).
• Exemptions in s. 876.16:
• traditional holiday costumes
• safety masks for work
• theatrical productions, which the statute itself says include "Gasparilla celebrations and masquerade balls"
• gas masks used in emergency drills

No coloring grapefruit or tangerines (1949)

• "It is unlawful for any person to use on grapefruit or tangerines or apply thereto any coloring matter" (s. 601.79). It is part of the Florida Citrus Code, with history back to 1949.
• Oranges are treated differently: s. 601.80 makes it unlawful to use on oranges or citrus hybrids any coloring matter "which has not first received the approval of the Department of Agriculture." In other words, approved coloring is allowed on oranges, but no coloring is allowed on grapefruit or tangerines.

Wine and liquor bottle sizes (1930s)

• Wine: wine may not be sold in Florida in a container larger than 1 gallon, except specific sizes the statute lists, such as 4.5, 6, 9, 12 and 15 liter glass bottles and 5.16 gallons. The rule dates to 1939 and was amended as recently as 2025 (s. 564.05).
• Liquor: distributors and vendors may not sell distilled spirits in a container over 1.75 liters (59.18 ounces). History traces to 1935 (s. 565.10).

Odd modern rules

Dwarf-tossing ban (1989)

• Florida directed the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco to bar establishments that sell alcohol on the premises from any contest, promotion or recreational activity "involving exploitation endangering the health, safety, and welfare of any person with dwarfism."
• Penalties include license suspension or revocation and a civil penalty of up to $1,000 (s. 561.665, ch. 89-204).
• A 2012 bill to repeal it (HB 4063) died in a House subcommittee.

No dyed chicks or bunnies

• It is a second-degree misdemeanor to dye or artificially color an animal under 12 weeks old, or a fowl or rabbit of any age.
• It is also a misdemeanor to sell or give away baby chicks, ducklings or other fowl under 4 weeks old, or rabbits under 2 months old, as pets, toys or retail premiums.
• Agricultural uses and livestock exhibitions are exempt (s. 828.1615, ch. 2013-245).

Beer cans must say "Florida" or "FL"

• Taxable beer and other malt beverages in individual containers held for sale in Florida must carry the word "Florida" or "FL," with no other state's name.
• Having more than 4½ gallons of beer in containers without the mark is prima facie evidence it is held for sale.
• There is an important exception: brewers with an approved tracking system don't need the mark (s. 563.06).

Shopping carts and milk crates

• Anyone in possession of a shopping cart, laundry cart, dairy case, egg basket, poultry box or bakery container that has a registered name or mark is presumed to be in possession of stolen property and commits a first-degree misdemeanor (s. 506.509).
• See ss. 506.501–506.519 for the definitions and registration rules.

Penny-ante games at home

• Poker, pinochle, bridge, rummy, canasta, hearts, dominoes and mah-jongg are not a crime if played as a "penny-ante game": no player wins more than $10 in a single round, hand or game.
• The game must be in a dwelling or certain other listed places, with no admission fee or house cut (s. 849.085).

Balloon releases

• Florida has restricted intentional balloon releases since 1989.
• Since a 2024 change (ch. 2024-263), it is a noncriminal littering infraction to intentionally release, organize the release of, or cause the release of lighter-than-air balloons. The exceptions are scientific or government releases, recovered hot air balloons and indoor releases (s. 379.233).
• Children 6 and under are exempt.

Headphones while driving

• You may not drive while wearing a headset, headphones or other listening device, other than a hearing aid.
• Exceptions include certain motorcycle helmet speakers and a phone headset that covers only one ear. A violation is a noncriminal traffic infraction (s. 316.304).

Don't leave the engine running unattended

• A driver may not leave a vehicle standing unattended without stopping the engine, locking the ignition and removing the key.
• Exceptions include delivery trucks and vehicles started by remote control with the ignition, transmission and doors locked (s. 316.1975).

Feeding wildlife

• Breaking a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission rule that prohibits feeding wildlife or freshwater fish is a $100 noncriminal infraction the first time, with stiffer penalties after that (s. 379.412).
• Which animals are covered depends on FWC rules. Check FWC before feeding wild animals.

Repealed: the 1868 cohabitation ban

• Until 2016, Florida made it a crime for an unmarried man and woman to "lewdly and lasciviously associate and cohabit together." A Florida Senate staff analysis says the law was originally enacted in 1868.
• That analysis also noted that, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, only Florida, Michigan and Mississippi still made cohabitation illegal at the time.
• The Legislature removed the cohabitation language in 2016 (SB 498, ch. 2016-188).
• What remains of s. 798.02 covers "open and gross lewdness and lascivious behavior" by any man or woman, married or unmarried.

Florida's official symbols are in the statutes too

These aren't weird so much as fun to know: the Legislature wrote them into Chapter 15. - Orange juice is the official state beverage. Precisely, it's "the juice obtained from mature oranges of the species Citrus sinensis and hybrids thereof" (s. 15.032, 1967). - Key lime pie is the official state pie (s. 15.052, 2006).

Myths: "Florida laws" we could not find

These circulate widely on "weird laws" lists, usually with no statute number: - "You must pay the parking meter if you tie an elephant (or goat, or alligator) to it." - "It's illegal to sing in public while wearing a swimsuit." Some lists attribute this to Sarasota. - "Unmarried women may not parachute (skydive) on Sundays." - "Men may not be seen in public wearing a strapless gown."

What we found: - None of these appeared in our review of the Florida Statutes. - We did not check every city and county code. A list that names a city should be checked against that city's own ordinances. - If someone gives you a statute number, look it up on the official Florida Statutes site.

CHECK: these are reported as "not found in our statute review," not "proven never to have existed." If you find an official citation, it can be added.

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