12 Bizarre Wisconsin Laws That Are Still Technically On The Books In 2025
Contents
The Weirdest Wisconsin Laws: A Deep Dive into Dairy, Decorum, and Delinquency
Wisconsin's legislative history is rich with attempts to protect its primary industry: dairy. These laws often sound like jokes, but they were serious business designed to safeguard the state's economic identity and reputation as America's Dairyland.1. The Mandatory Cheese on Apple Pie Statute
It is a commonly cited, and technically true, piece of Wisconsin lore that it is illegal to serve apple pie in a public restaurant without a slice of cheese on the side. This bizarre food law is a testament to the state's fierce dairy pride. While no one is likely to be arrested for a cheese-less slice today, the statute highlights an era when the state government actively legislated the consumption of its most important product. The tradition of pairing a sharp cheddar with a sweet apple pie is a cultural staple, but in Wisconsin, it was once a legal requirement.2. The Margarine (Oleomargarine) Restrictions
Wisconsin's war on margarine, or "oleomargarine," is one of the longest and most contentious legal battles in U.S. history.- The Ban: Margarine was outright banned in Wisconsin until 1967.
- The Coloring Rule: Even after the ban was lifted, it was, and in some contexts still is, illegal to serve colored margarine in state institutions like restaurants, schools, hospitals, and prisons unless specific, restrictive rules are followed. This was an effort to prevent consumers from confusing butter with the cheaper, dyed substitute.
- Statute 97.18: The restrictions on oleomargarine remain a part of Wisconsin Statute 97.18, a bizarre state statute that continues to regulate the sale and serving of the butter substitute.
3. "Highly Pleasing" Cheese and Butter
Wisconsin Statute 97.09 requires that all state-produced butter and cheddar cheese be graded and found to be "highly pleasing" to the taste. This subjective, yet legally binding, standard ensures a high quality for Wisconsin's dairy exports. The law essentially mandates a positive sensory experience for consumers of its most famous products.4. The Felony Adultery Law
One of the most surprising and serious of Wisconsin's old laws is that adultery is still classified as a Class I felony. Defined as sexual intercourse with a person who is not your spouse, this statute carries a potential penalty of up to $10,000 in fines and three and a half years in prison. While prosecutions for this offense are exceedingly rare today, the fact that "cheating on your spouse is a felony" remains on the books is a striking example of a puritanical public conduct law from another era.Quirky Local Ordinances and Public Decorum
Many of the weirdest laws are not state-wide statutes but rather hyper-local ordinances passed by city councils in response to specific, often forgotten, incidents. These municipal laws are where the true oddity of Wisconsin shines.5. The Wausau Snowball Ban
In the city of Wausau, Wisconsin, a 1962 city ordinance banned the throwing of projectiles, which was interpreted to include snowballs. For decades, this law made it technically illegal to engage in a friendly snowball fight on public property. The ban was so notorious that, as of 2024, the city was actively considering repealing the antiquated projectile ordinance, acknowledging its bizarre nature. This local ordinance is a prime example of a law passed to address a specific issue (like throwing rocks) that inadvertently created a bizarre, seasonal prohibition.6. The La Crosse Squirrel Ordinance
In La Crosse, Wisconsin, a city ordinance strictly prohibits the act of "worrying a squirrel." This falls under a broader public conduct law that also covers molesting or destroying any songbird or squirrel. While the exact definition of "worrying" is left to interpretation—does it mean chasing, taunting, or simply looking at them crossly?—the intent is clearly to protect the city's small wildlife from harassment. If you've ever chased a squirrel in La Crosse, you may have been a scofflaw.7. Waking a Friend with a Pillow Fight
It is illegal to wake a friend up with a pillow fight in Wisconsin. This classic, yet often-cited, bizarre law speaks to an old-fashioned concern for public order and the prevention of minor disturbances. While the statute’s origin is murky, it remains a favorite on lists of silly Wisconsin laws, often grouped with other restrictions on noise and disorderly conduct.8. No Disrupting a Dam
The law prohibiting the disruption of a dam is a serious statute that is often cited for its unusual wording. It makes it illegal to "willfully or wantonly" break down, injure, or destroy any dam, reservoir, or embankment. While the intent is clear (protecting critical infrastructure), the inclusion on "weird laws" lists is due to its memorable, alliterative phrasing.Modern Oddities and Alcohol Laws
Not all strange laws are decades-old relics. Some are current statutes that simply have unusual or counter-intuitive applications, especially concerning the state's famously relaxed alcohol regulations.9. Underage Drinking with a Parent (A Fresh 2024 Context)
One of Wisconsin's most well-known and often-discussed laws is the exception that allows underage persons to legally consume alcohol in a licensed establishment (like a bar or restaurant) if they are accompanied by a parent, guardian, or spouse of legal drinking age. This statute, which was highlighted in a February 2024 article, is a significant departure from federal standards and reflects a cultural approach to alcohol consumption that emphasizes parental supervision over outright prohibition.10. Serving Limburger Cheese
Limburger, known for its pungent aroma, is a Wisconsin staple. One bizarre law, often cited, suggests it is illegal to make Limburger cheese without a Master's Cheesemaker's license. While the Master Cheesemaker program is a real, rigorous certification process in Wisconsin—the only one of its kind in the U.S.—the law underscores the state's deep commitment to quality control, even for its smelliest exports.11. The Chicken Crossing Law
While often attributed to various states, one popular, though likely apocryphal, Wisconsin law suggests that no person may take a chicken across a highway. This falls into the category of "silly laws" that are often based on misinterpretations of old livestock or traffic ordinances, but it persists in the state's folklore as a bizarre rule of the road.12. The No Sleeping in a Cheese Factory Law
Given the state's dairy obsession, it is often claimed that it is illegal to fall asleep in a cheese factory. While likely not a formal statute, this "law" is a humorous reflection of the state's work ethic and commitment to its primary industry, suggesting that the seriousness of cheesemaking brooks no idle slumber.The Enduring Charm of Wisconsin's Legal Quirks
The collection of weirdest laws in Wisconsin—from the mandatory cheese on apple pie to the La Crosse ordinance protecting squirrels—tells a story of a state fiercely proud of its heritage and willing to legislate even the smallest details of public life. These bizarre Wisconsin laws, whether they are antiquated state statutes or quirky local ordinances, serve as amusing reminders that legislative bodies often respond to specific, fleeting problems in ways that appear utterly absurd decades later. While you are highly unlikely to face consequences for throwing a snowball in Wausau or serving a cheese-less dessert, the enduring presence of these oddities ensures that Wisconsin remains one of the most legally fascinating, and hilariously strange, states in the nation.Detail Author:
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