30 Spectacular Halloween Displays That Turned Ordinary Homes Into Spooky Masterpieces

Halloween has suddenly crept up on us with a big “boo!” While it's widely celebrated in the United States and Europe, you might be surprised to know there are a few weird laws when it comes to how and where you can take part in the freaky festivities.

Up until recently, teenagers caught trick-or-treating in Chesapeake, Virginia could face up to six months in jail. The outdated 1970s law was done away with following public outcry. But according to NPR, the city’s “statute still says kids over 14 who trick-or-treat are guilty of a misdemeanor.”

Jacksonville and Rayne have similar rules. Both towns ban kids older than 13 from trick-or-treating. While Belleville forbids anyone above eighth grade from indulging in the practice. But Belleville takes it one step further. If you’re 12 years or older, you have to get permission from the Mayor or Chief of Police if you plan to wear a mask or disguise on days other than Halloween.

Taft, Texas only allows trick-or-treating between 6pm and 8:30pm on Halloween. Authorities say they don’t want people roaming the streets late at night, as it’s “undesirable”, places a burden on the police department and creates "an intolerable situation". The Oregon Legal Research blog reveals that it’s illegal in Alabama to dress up as religious figures such as nuns, priests, and rabbis.

Meanwhile, in Hollywood, Silly String has been banned from 12:00 a.m. on Oct. 31 to 12:00 p.m. on Nov. 1. Anyone caught using it during these hours could face up to six months in jail or quite a hefty fine. Authorities took the drastic measure following pressure from residents in the early 2000s.

As the LA Times reports, Silly String has caused thousands of dollars in property damage in the past. People’s cars have been attacked, and even Hollywood Walk of Fame stars weren’t spared the wrath of the sticky, glue-like strands. “On a typical Halloween night, up to 100,000 people come to Hollywood Boulevard,” read a 2004 Los Angeles Police Department statement. “Hundreds of illegal vendors flock to the street and sell Silly String which then becomes the sole source of entertainment for the night."

Further afield, you could find yourself behind bars if you choose to dress up as a police officer on Halloween night in the U.K. While dressing as a clown became illegal in the town of Vendargues, France in 2014. Japan's Shinjuku Ward has recently banned street drinking in and around the Kabukicho district from the evening of Oct. 31 until the following morning.