Ever been kissed by someone with a mustache in public, thrown a snowball, or let your horse snack on a fire hydrant? If so, you may have broken some Iowa laws.

That’s according to the seemingly endless stream of Instagram memes, novelty books and websites spreading bizarre claims about laws in the Hawkeye State. These strange statutes have made the internet rounds and gained a life of their own, so it's finally time to separate myth from reality.

Challenge accepted: We dug through Iowa Code, sifted through legislative archives and cross-referenced each claim against official state records to put the debate to rest once and for all — showing you exactly what's true, what's false and what's perhaps a mix of both.

So strap yourselves in, because here’s a list of 10 commonly repeated weird Iowa laws, plus a few honorable mentions.

More: Which new Iowa laws will take effect on July 1? Here are 10 of the biggest changes

The claim: one-armed piano players must perform for free

This law is probably one of the most popular and appears in dozens of those one-weird-law-per-state websites, including the headline of a 2012 Daily Mail article, a few books and on social media.

To confirm this, and a bunch of other laws on this list, we reached out to Lorrie Pellack, head of research and instruction services at the Iowa State University Library and an archive-sifting professional.

“It's entirely possible there's a good history for why someone would have passed a code like that, but it's not Iowa law, I can tell you that much,” she said. “It's either an urban legend or it's a very old local city code of some kind.”

Indeed, no such law could be found in a search of Iowa Code.

Given that one‑armed United Kingdom pianist Nicholas McCarthy regularly sells out concert halls, we thought we’d ask him what he thinks of this free performance requirement.

“I’m very amused by it,” he said. “I strongly feel that the law should be changed to state that a one-handed pianist must ALWAYS be paid…handsomely!”

Verdict: So there you have it, this myth hits a flat note every time and is false.

In Marshalltown, horses are forbidden to eat fire hydrants

It is said that a man named in 1851 Henry Anson found "the prettiest place in Iowa," and in that fated spot sprouted the town now called Marshalltown.

But to all hungry equine out there seeking to relocate, consider yourselves warned: hydrants are off the menu.

This one appears in a whole slew of websites and satirical social media posts, and begs the question: What had to happen for this law to be enacted?

Looking through the internet archives through the Wayback Machine, a now-deleted FAQ on the Marshalltown County website gets at the answer.

It reads: Can horses eat fire hydrants?

To which the city attorney says: “Absolutely not,” followed by an appropriate: “I would fear the horse that could.”

The law stems from a 1937 city code that prohibited: “Fasten, hitch, or tie any horse or other animal to any fire hydrant, telegraph, telephone, electric light or other pole or to any fence, tree, shrub or other property.”

The website further reads: “If I had to guess, some poor soul received a citation for tying his horse up to a hydrant back in early 1900, damaging the wooden post supporting the water line.”

Indeed, although you may be picturing a shiny red and very solid metal hydrant, many early fire protection systems used wooden components.

Verdict: Questionable.

In Ottumwa, a man may not wink at a woman he does not know

Many a lawyer has snatched the opportunity to leverage this weird law for that oh-so-sweet internet traction, but is it true?

Alas, websites that list this as law in Ottumwa do not include their sources.

“Ottumwa has some that are related to public displays of affection, but not these,” Pellack said. Indeed, a search of the city codes shows various ordinances limiting PDA, and even “adult entertainment businesses,” but nothing on winking.

We decided to check with the city administrator.

“There may have been a time when these were laws in the City,” said Philip Rath, “but I do not see where they would be found currently.”

As Rath puts it, this law seems to be nothing but “urban legend.”

Verdict: We’re calling this one false. Although unwanted winks were possibly never illegal here, perhaps you should remember it’s best follow some unwritten laws.

One must first obtain an Iowa drug tax stamp before selling illegal drugs

Because nothing says Iowa like a tax on your contraband.

This law has been popping up on a bunch of websites touting “Iowa’s Dumbest Laws.” And in fact, it didn’t take much research to get to the bottom of this one.

The law appears in Iowa Code 453B, and, as evident in this 2019 Des Moines Register article, is a very serious one. If caught not having paid their taxes, dealers can be required to pay both the tax they didn’t pay on the amount of drugs in question and a penalty equal to the same amount.

Verdict: True.

Snowball fights are illegal

Better lawyer up next winter if kid‑powered artillery is a no‑go in this oft-frigid state.

But before you and your friends hunker down to escape the authorities for your years of organized crime, we scoured Iowa Code for this one.

Results for “snowball,” “snow fight,” “throwing snow in a threatening manner,” “projectiles made of precipitation,” and “how to expunge years of snowballing off my record” yielded nothing.

Although we did discover the term “snow groomer,” and for non-skiers out there, no, it does not refer to whatever it is you’re thinking it does — it's an education program for operators.

We nearly gave up until we hit the jackpot: Davenport city code. Apart from apparently banning the ownership of “gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans and baboons,” Davenport city code also reads: “It is unlawful for any person to play ball, throw stones or snowballs or other things in any street, alley or public place.”

Verdict: True but only if you live in Davenport and only in streets, alleys and public places.

In Indianola, ice cream trucks are banned

Plenty of websites list this law, and surprisingly, there’s some legitimate context behind it. A 2007 Radio Iowa article links the origin of the ban to a tragic 1967 accident in Des Moines, where a child was fatally struck by an ice cream truck — sparking a citywide ban and, reportedly, “heated debate.”

Fast forward to 2015, and a Des Moines Register article notes Indianola hadn’t allowed food trucks in general, citing concerns over competition with local brick-and-mortar restaurants.

Things have changed since then.

“Since 2022, the city of Indianola has allowed mobile food and beverage vendors, including those selling ice cream and frozen desserts,” said Aaron Young, communications manager for Indianola, “as long as they have obtained a mobile food unit license from the city, along with any necessary state, federal, or county permits, certifications and licenses.”

So Indianola kids (and nostalgic adults), rest easy: a search of current licensed operators confirms at least one ice cream truck is back on the road, Indianola-based The Outside Scoop.

Verdict: False.

More: Dreamy Des Moines ice cream shops to cool off in on a hot summer day

The Iowa Legislature must serve cornbread

What’s the best thing since sliced bread (shoutout to Davenport’s own, inventor Otto Frederick Rohwedder)? Well, if you ask an Iowan, sliced cornbread, of course.

And there was a time when it wasn’t just a side dish, but a legislative priority.

According to a 1963 Des Moines Register article, state Rep. Percie Van Alstine successfully pushed a resolution to add cornbread to the Statehouse cafeteria menu.

The article noted a noticeable uptick in statewide cornmeal demand and quoted Van Alstine as saying, “It would be a good thing” for more people to put cornbread on their menus at home.

But, there’s a twist. “The trick with this one is resolution,” said Pellack. “It’s not an Iowa law.”

So yes, the cornbread resolution happened. No, you can’t sue the Capitol cafeteria if they’re out of it.

Verdict: True, but not a law.

It's a crime to use a dead person's handicapped parking sign or license plate

Oh boy. If grandpa’s placard mysteriously reappears on your dash — beware the fine, according to this law.

Unlike many of the so-called “weird laws” floating around, this one is absolutely “legit,” as Pellack put it, and the consequences are clearly spelled out.

Under Iowa Code 321L.3, it is a simple misdemeanor to knowingly use a persons with disabilities parking permit after the person it was issued to has died.

“I'm guessing that somewhere along the line, some smart person decided that they just weren't going to turn in a license plate, and they were just going to go ahead and use it so they could park closer to wherever they were going, right?,” said Pellack. “Evidently, someone pointed out that it's not technically illegal, and so they decided to actually make it illegal.”

Verdict: True, it’s officially on the books.

A man with a mustache may never kiss a woman in public

Our question is, where do you draw the line? Would the man only have to have a mustache, or does it extend to men with mustaches and beards?

This one's a classic. It pops up in virtually every weird law list, from Pinterest boards to Reddit threads to IdiotLaws.com, and virtually with no sources either.

We searched the Iowa Code top to bottom. Nothing. No statute past or present makes facial hair a criminal variable in public displays of affection.

Pellack thinks it’s more of a social myth than a legal one, and possibly, going back to good old Ottumwa.

“It’s probably tied to the Ottumwa winking one, maybe even the same code,” she said. “If you think about social mores over time, any kind of public display of affection before, I don't know, probably 1950, 1940-ish, probably was considered to be a big deal.”

So alas, handlebar heartthrobs, including the Des Moines Register’s own Phillip Sitter, smooch away.

Verdict: We’re calling this one false.

In Cedar Rapids, it's illegal to read someone's palms

Palm readers, pack up your tarot cards before you cross into the City of Five Seasons.

Turns out, in Cedar Rapids, fortune-telling wasn’t just frowned upon — it was banned outright starting in 1943.

According to a 2003 Radio Iowa article, it wasn’t until 82 years after it was enacted that City Council members voted to repeal the ordinance that made the use of "clairvoyant powers" illegal.

So if you’re thinking of crossing the metaphysical realm anywhere in Cedar Rapids, you’re probably in the clear.

Verdict: True, until 2003.

Here are some other honorable mentions

In Ogden, you need written permission from the City Council before throwing bricks or arrows onto a highway.

Planning a casual brick-throwing spree? Ogden officially prefers you ask nicely first. This isn’t one you’ll see plastered on memes or viral videos, but we stumbled across it during our research.

Ogden city code specifically says it’s unlawful to “throw stones, bricks or missiles of any kind or to shoot arrows, rubber guns, slingshots, air rifles or other dangerous instruments or toys” onto any street, alley, sidewalk, highway, or public building without written consent from the council.

In Dubuque, does every hotel in city limits must have a water bucket and a hitching post out front?

“That would be for fire back before modern-day fire engines, probably because they would have had to have a hitching post for the horses that were drawing or driving the fire wagon,” said Pellack.

And indeed, this would certainly make sense if those hydrant-hungry Marshalltown horses had eaten through all the local firefighting equipment.

The city attorney doesn’t think so, though. “I have been with the City Attorney’s Office for 19 years and have never heard of this law,” said Crenna Brumwell. “To confirm I did a search of the City Code of Ordinances. The search confirmed there is nothing in our code related to buckets and hitching posts.”

Can kisses last longer than five minutes?

If your lengthy PDA was ever state-regulated, we couldn’t find evidence — but honestly, we’d be seriously concerned if you’re clocking in longer than that.

Pellack said perhaps it traces back to some obscure code from the same playbook as mustached kisses and Ottumwa’s alleged wink ban.

All we have to say is: Ottumwa of the past, look what you’ve done.

Can you wear a bee in your hat?

We couldn’t find anything on this either. However, if you’ve broken this fake law, we’d be very concerned for you (and your bee).

According to Pellack, this one’s likely a misunderstanding of the old-timey phrase, “Don’t get a bee in your bonnet.”

Is it illegal to serve wine in teacups?

We don’t know about this, but we sure hope mugs aren’t considered teacups (don’t act like you haven’t done it, too).

Pellack’s best guess? “If it’s a thing, it’s from prohibition. People disguised liquor in all sorts of different containers on purpose.” After all, teacups seemed perfectly innocent because, as Pellack joked, “ladies back then were too prim to have alcohol in their teacups.”

Nick El Hajj is a reporter at the Register. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on X at @nick_el_hajj.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Can you guess which of these weird Iowa laws are actually true?