Most outdated ordinances stay active because no one has taken formal steps to repeal them. Removing an old law usually requires a city council vote, and low-impact rules rarely become a priority.
Georgia has several old and unusual laws still on the books, ranging from a fried chicken eating rule to a firearm ownership ordinance. Most of these laws date back decades and are rarely enforced today. They remain part of the state’s legal history and continue to surprise residents and visitors alike.
Georgia is known as the Peach State and is home to more than 11 million residents. Atlanta serves as the state capital and a major hub for business, film production, and transportation. The state’s economy spans agriculture, logistics, and technology, with landmarks like Stone Mountain and the Okefenokee Swamp drawing visitors each year.
This mix of small-town history and modern growth has produced some genuinely weird laws in Georgia over the years. Some began as local ordinances meant to solve a specific problem, while others were passed decades ago and simply never got repealed.
Fried Chicken Must Be Eaten With Your Hands
Gainesville, Georgia, calls itself the poultry capital of the world, and the city passed an ordinance in 1961 requiring fried chicken to be eaten with the hands. The law was created as a publicity stunt to promote the local poultry industry and technically remains on the books today.
Enforcement is essentially nonexistent, though the law gained media attention in 2009 when an elderly woman was cited using a fork as part of a staged event.
Kennesaw Requires Heads of Household to Own a Firearm
In 1982, Kennesaw passed an ordinance requiring heads of household to keep a firearm and ammunition in the home. City officials said the measure was meant to promote emergency preparedness. The ordinance includes exceptions for disabilities, felony convictions, religious objections, or financial hardship.
Nearby Acworth responded with its own ordinance requiring residents to own a rake instead. Neither law is actively enforced today.
Savannah’s Bedroom Smoking Ban
Savannah’s municipal code makes it unlawful to smoke, or even strike a match, while lying or sitting on a bed within city limits, under Code 1977, § 3-2008. The rule was written with fire safety in mind, since smoking in bed is a common cause of residential fires. It applies only inside Savannah’s corporate city limits.
Spitting Restrictions in Public Spaces
Savannah also prohibits spitting on sidewalks, in public buildings, or inside public vehicles, unless done into a designated cuspidor, under Code 1977, § 9-3004. Marietta has a similar rule, making it illegal to spit from the window of a moving car or bus. Both trace back to early public health concerns about hygiene.
Other Notable Local Ordinances
Several smaller Georgia towns have their own unusual rules still listed in their municipal codes.
- Quitman’s code has long been cited as making it illegal for chickens to cross certain roadways.
- Athens bans the use of slingshots within city limits.
- Athens also prohibits giving away goldfish to encourage people to play bingo.
- Dublin restricts playing ball games in roadways, alleys, and sidewalks.
These local ordinances typically address specific safety or nuisance concerns from when they were first written.
Why These Laws Are Still on the Books
Most outdated ordinances stay active because no one has taken formal steps to repeal them. Removing an old law usually requires a city council vote, and low-impact rules rarely become a priority. This pattern is common across the United States, not just in Georgia.
Key Takeaways
- Gainesville’s 1961 fried chicken ordinance was created as a publicity stunt and is rarely enforced.
- Kennesaw’s 1982 firearm ordinance requires heads of household to own a gun, with several exceptions.
- Savannah bans smoking in bed and spitting in public spaces under its 1977 municipal code.
- Several small Georgia cities, including Quitman, Athens, and Dublin, have their own unusual local ordinances.
- Most of these laws remain on the books because repealing them is rarely a legislative priority.
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