15 of the Strangest Laws in Las Vegas

1. Do Not Feed Wild Animals

In November 2017, it became illegal to feed wild pigeons in Las Vegas. This means that those who previously enjoyed feeding the pigeons now face a $1,000 fine or six months in jail. Then, in 2020, the law was extended to include all wild animals including rabbits and cats. However, the fine was reduced to a more reasonable $10.

The logic behind this law is questionable (they were worried about the links between wildlife and human illness). However, there are reasonable concerns surrounding too many pigeons congregating in public places.

Whether you think the law is fair or not, think twice before using left overs to feed the birds in Vegas.

2. Feel Free to Keep an Exotic Animal

While you may not be able to feed wild animals, you are welcome to keep exotic animals as pets. Bizarrely, the famous scene in The Hangover with the pet tiger is actually feasible. You can keep lions, elephants, camels, tigers, zebras and more. However, don’t try to adopt a bet skunk or fox, as this is strictly illegal.

3. Don’t Ride A Camel On The Highway

If you do happen to opt for a pet camel, be sure not to ride it down the highway. This law dates back to the early nineteenth century when camels were used to carry loads across the Nevadan deserts. This resulted in too many camels on the roads, so the law was brought in.

4. Do Not Stop A Taxi On The Strip

It is illegal for taxi drivers in Las Vegas to drop people off or collect passengers anywhere along the famous Strip. However, there are designated spots outside most of the casinos and hotels where it is easy to get a taxi, just don’t try stopping one on the street.

5. Stay Away from Bath Salts

After a tough day on the casino floor, it is entirely understandable if you want to relax in the bath. However, it is illegal to use bath salts in Las Vegas. Luckily, the law does not refer to the type of bath salts that you are (likely) thinking of. The law talks about bath salts that are synthetic cathinones, which were once a legal high. They were reportedly cheaper and stronger than cocaine, but long-term use resulted in a number health problems. As such, they have been illegal since 2012.

6. Put Your Hula Hoop on Fremont Street

Fremont Street is one of the highlights of Las Vegas; it is full of life and amazing street performers. However, the street can also become very busy and hula hooping requires quite a large amount of space. Therefore, the local council have made hula-hooping illegal on Fremont Street. A number of other activities were also made illegal including skateboarding, skating and uni-cycling.

7. Keep Your Teeth to Yourself

Some people may be tempted to head to a pawnshop after a run of bad luck at a casino, which is almost certainly a bad idea. However, if you do decide to use one, then don’t try to pawn a pair of dentures, as it is illegal. The origins or this law are not known, but there is probably a funny story behind it.

It is also illegal to try to pawn things when drunk, which is a far more reasonable law and it isn’t hard to imagine why it is necessary in Vegas.

8. Make Sure You Have a Home

As of November 2019, homelessness is illegal in Las Vegas. If you are found to be “lodging” on the sidewalk, then you could be hit with a $1,000 fine or six months in jail. It is a highly controversial law and one that still provokes a great deal of discussion.

9. Do not Rent Out Your Home For a Weekend in Residential Areas

If you own a home in a residential area of Las Vegas, you can forget about renting it out to tourists. If you do so, then you may be hit with a fine of up to $1,000 a day. The law came into effect in 2012 and one homeowner had to pay $29,000.

10. Don’t Drink Alcohol in Public Spaces

It is illegal to drink in public spaces in Las Vegas. For Europeans this may sound like a very strange law, but in America, it is actually quite common. You are free to drink bars, clubs, pubs, restaurants, and so on. However, don’t go for a walk in the part with a bottle of beer.

11. Do Not Pay for Sex

There are some counties in Nevada where it is legal to pay for sexual services, but Las Vegas is not one of them. Paying for sex is only legal in counties that have a population of less than 700,000 and then, it is only legal in brothels with a state license. If you are caught trying to pay for sex or offering to sell sexing Las Vegas you will face jail time and fines of up to $1,400 for a first offense.

12. If You are a Cat Fancier, Own No More Than Six Adult Cats

A Cat Fancier is someone who takes his or her feline pets to at least one cat show per year. However, in Las Vegas, there is a limit on how many adult cats they are allowed to keep and exhibit in a year. Luckily, there doesn’t seem to be a limit on kittens.

13. Do No Swear On The Las Vegas Strip

Different cultures have different responses to swearing. Even more confusingly, different words are considered swear words in different countries. In Las Vegas it is illegal to swear on the Strip so it is probably better to play things safe than sorry and imagine you are talking in the presence of little children at all times.

14. Forget About Recreational Hunting

If you enjoy hunting then there is plenty of space in Nevada where you can do so, roughly 48 million hectares. However, recreational hunting in the Las Vegas Valley is illegal. While this may disappoint some people, it is probably not a bad idea.

15. Don’t Give a Communist a Salary

For the final strange Vegas law, just know that you are not allowed to hire a communist. The law dates back to the Cold War and today it is very much irrelevant. However, at the time there was a great deal of fear around communism. There have been numerous discussions about whether the law violates the 1st Amendment and the right to free speech, but despite this, it remains in place. If you are a communist yet have decided to join the capitalist working regime, it may be simplest to just keep your views to yourself in job interviews.