10 Craziest Foreign Laws You Won't Believe Actually Exist

There are laws that make sense. There are laws that don’t make sense.

And then there are laws that make you wonder if someone in the legislature lost a bet.Today we’re exploring 10 of the craziest foreign laws that are absolutely real.

#10 – No Flushing After 10 PM In some older apartment buildings in Switzerland, flushing your toilet after 10 PM is considered noise pollution. Residents have actually been fined for multiple violations. If nature calls late at night, you’re expected to just close the lid and wait until morning.

#9 – No Reincarnation Without Permission In China, the government requires official approval for reincarnation. A 2007 regulation (Order No. 5) gives the State Administration for Religious Affairs the power to approve or deny reincarnations — especially for Tibetan Buddhist “Living Buddhas.” The rule is actively enforced for high-profile cases.

#8 – You Must Walk Your Dog at Least Three Times a Day In Turin, Italy, dog owners are legally required to walk their dogs a minimum of three times per day. The law was introduced to prevent animal neglect. Fines range from €25 to €500 depending on the severity, and repeat offenders can face additional animal cruelty charges.

#7 – No Chewing Gum Singapore banned chewing gum in 1992. The sale, import, and advertisement of gum are prohibited (except for medicinal gum). The reason? People sticking gum on subway doors and disrupting the sensors. Fines can reach $2,000, and large-scale importers can face up to two years in jail.

#6 – No Running Out of Gas on the Autobahn In Germany, it is illegal to run out of fuel on the Autobahn. Authorities consider it an avoidable hazard that can cause serious accidents. Drivers are expected to monitor their gas gauge — even while traveling at high speeds.

#5 – No Winnie the Pooh In China, images of Winnie the Pooh are heavily censored online. The reason? Internet users kept comparing the cartoon bear to President Xi Jinping. What started as memes is now treated as a serious enough issue to trigger national censorship.

#4 – No Peeing in the Ocean In the Spanish city of Vigo (and several other coastal towns), peeing in the sea is banned — even if you’re far offshore. Officials claim urea harms marine life. Fines can reach up to €750, and beach patrols are authorized to issue tickets.

#3 – Pregnant Women Can’t Wear Hats In Madagascar, an old law states that pregnant women are not allowed to wear hats in public. The origin is unclear but is believed to stem from superstition and bad luck. While rarely enforced today, the law remains on the books.

#2 – No Skinny Jeans In North Korea, blue jeans and especially skinny jeans are banned because they are viewed as symbols of Western capitalism. The regime also prohibits mullets, dyed hair, and piercings. Penalties range from fines to labor camps for repeat offenders.

#1 – It’s Illegal to Die Several towns in France have passed bylaws that make it illegal to die unless you already own a burial plot. In 2008, the mayor of Sarpourenx declared residents “forbidden from dying” due to a full cemetery. Similar rules have appeared in other towns facing the same problem.

Final Thoughts

Most of these bizarre laws started with one very specific, very dumb incident — and somehow became permanent. Gum is dangerous, bears are political, and in some places even death requires proper paperwork. If your country has a weird law, drop it in the comments below. Which one surprised you the most? If you enjoyed this, hit that like button and subscribe for more lists that make you question reality (and your government). And as always… keep climbing.