Here are some obscure laws of Canada’s New Brunswick province that are too odd to be taken seriously but are nonetheless still in force:
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No howling cats
In the city of Edmundston, the Bylaw No. 10R2011 2(a)(iii) decrees that no cat owner should allow his or her cat to “cause a disturbance to a person by its meowing or howling.”
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No loud phonograph-playing
The phonograph, invented in 1877, largely went out of vogue by the 1930s, but nuisance Bylaw 750-12 s. 4(i) in Sussex still prohibits overly noisy phonographs along with loud piano playing.
3. No showing off your snake
The provincial capital city of Fredericton has barred pet snakes from being shown in public place. The rule is part of Section 2.13 of the municipal animal control bylaw which states that “no person shall have, keep or possess a snake or other reptile upon the street or in any public place.”
Similar laws bar public display of snakes in cities of Sussex, Perth Andover, Sackville and Miramichi.
4. No bitches on the street
Fredericton’s animal control Bylaw No. S-11A prohibits bitches in heat to be let loose in public. Its Section 3.16 notes “no owner of a bitch shall suffer or permit such bitch to be upon the street or in any public place while the bitch is in heat.”
- No hooting
In the city of Saint John, Bylaw M-22, which aims to curb excessive noise expressively prohibits hooting stating “no person shall permit … yelling, shouting, hooting, or unreasonably loud whistling or singing” that disturbs others.
6. No pigeonhole or bagatelle
The laws of Saint George still bar old time games of pigeonhole or bagatelle. Bylaw No. 11, which was enacted in 1974, states that without a licence, “no person, firm, or corporation shall operate, maintain or conduct a pool, billiard or bagatelle or pigeonhole table open to the public”.
7. No circuses in the park
The cities of Sackville and Nackawic don’t approve the use of their green space for noisy, unruly carnival or circuses. Bylaw No. 236, regulating the use of public parks in Sackville, states “no person … shall use a park or any part thereof for the purpose of holding or carrying on a fair, carnival, bazaar or circus.”
8. No adult trick-or-treaters
In the city of Bathurst,no one over the age of 16 can take part in trick or treating. Until September 2017, it was actually not legal for Bathurst teens over age 14 to go door-to-door for trick or treating after 7 pm. After an outcry the curfew was extended to 8 pm.
9. No splashing pedestrians
Pedestrians of Moncton are safe from the annoying practice of cars hitting the gas and drenching pedestrians, at least on paper.
Under, Section 2(h) of Moncton’s use-of-streets bylaw “no person shall drive a motor vehicle on any street so as to splash water, mud or snow on a pedestrian.” Such a no-splashing law is also on the books in Charlottetown. If found guilty, the driver can be fined up to $175.
10. No excessive garage sales
Edmundson residents must be careful of breaking the laws on just how many garage sales can be held by them.
Section 10(d) of Bylaw No. 13R2014 states that household may hold over the course of a year just two garage sales!
