Odd Laws Still on the Books
Dyed chicks, carrier pigeons, horse tails and studded tires: real Ohio sections, still the law
Lists of strange state laws get passed around constantly, usually with no section number attached. Every one below has one. Each is a current section of the Ohio Revised Code, read from the state's own site, and each still carries a penalty.
Who handles this in Ohio: Ohio State Bar Association lawyer referral; and legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Ohio directory.
| The law | What it says | Breaking it |
|---|---|---|
| The lawDyed chicks and bunnies | What it saysNobody may dye or color a rabbit or baby poultry, or sell, raffle or give away one that has been colored. Baby poultry under four weeks old may only be sold or given away in lots of three or more. | Breaking itMisdemeanor of the fourth degree, third degree after that |
| The lawCarrier pigeons | What it saysNobody but the owner may shoot, kill or maim a homing pigeon, or trap or hold one whose wing, tail or leg band carries its owner's name or number. | Breaking itMinor misdemeanor |
| The lawLive targets | What it saysLive birds or fowl may not be used as targets in trapshooting. | Breaking itMisdemeanor of the fourth degree |
| The lawA horse's tail | What it saysNobody may cut a horse's tail to shorten it, or pull hairs from its mane, foretop or withers beyond what medical testing needs, unless a veterinarian does it for an accident, malformation or disease, or to prevent injury. | Breaking itMisdemeanor of the second degree, first degree after that |
| The lawNot near the street | What it saysThe owner of a stallion or jack may not let it breed a mare within thirty feet of a public street or alley inside a city or village. | Breaking itMinor misdemeanor |
| The lawRodeo gear | What it saysNo twisted wire snaffles, unpadded bucking or flank straps, or electric prods on a horse, mule, ox or other work animal, including one in a show or a rodeo. The owner answers for it. | Breaking itMisdemeanor of the first degree |
| The lawStudded tires | What it saysStudded tires are allowed on Ohio roads only from November 1 to April 15, except on public safety vehicles and school buses. Retractable studs can stay on all year if they stay retracted. | Breaking itMinor misdemeanor |
| The lawThe Block Parent sign | What it saysNobody may display the old Block Parent symbol, or a McGruff House symbol without authorization, to mark a building as a safe place for children. The state's Block Parent program was repealed in 2007, and the sign is still protected. | Breaking itMinor misdemeanor |
| The lawA lion in the yard | What it saysKeeping a dangerous wild animal has been forbidden since January 1, 2014, outside permits and exceptions. | Breaking itMisdemeanor of the first degree, then a felony |
Odd is not the same as unenforced. A minor misdemeanor carries a fine of up to $150, and a misdemeanor of the first degree up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
Many laws that sound strange are city or village ordinances rather than state law, and those differ from town to town; this page covers only the Revised Code. Whether a particular act broke one of these sections is a question for a licensed Ohio attorney.
Sources for this section (16)
- ORC 925.62 — Dyeing rabbits and chicks
- ORC 959.18 — Killing a carrier pigeon
- ORC 5589.081 — Studded tires, and the season the statute allows them in
- ORC 2917.46 — Unauthorized use of a block parent or McGruff house symbol
- ORC 925.99 — Penalties under the agricultural products chapter
- ORC 959.17 — Live birds as trapshooting targets
- ORC 959.14 — Horse tails
- ORC 959.19 — Servicing a mare near a public street
- ORC 959.20 — Devices prohibited on work animals
- ORC 959.99 — Penalties under the animal offenses chapter
- ORC 5589.99 — Penalties under the highway offenses chapter
- ORC 935.02 — Possession of a dangerous wild animal prohibited
- ORC 935.18 — Sale, release, roaming and signs for dangerous wild animals and restricted snakes
- ORC 935.99 — Criminal penalties under the dangerous wild animal chapter
- ORC 2929.24 — Definite jail terms for misdemeanors
- ORC 2929.28 — Financial sanctions for misdemeanors
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Ohio attorney.