⚠️This fact has been debunked
This claim appears in multiple 'strange laws' compilations but cannot be verified through San Francisco's official municipal code or authoritative sources. No specific ordinance number or code section has been documented. Similar to many 'weird laws' that circulate online, this appears to be either fabricated or a significant misrepresentation of actual law.
In San Francisco, there is an ordinance, which bans the picking up and throwing of used confetti.
The San Francisco Confetti Myth: Debunked
If you've spent any time browsing "weird laws" lists online, you've probably encountered this gem: in San Francisco, it's illegal to pick up and throw used confetti. The claim is oddly specific—used confetti, as if fresh confetti gets a pass. But here's the problem: this law doesn't actually exist.
The Strange Laws Industry
The internet loves bizarre legislation. Websites and books dedicated to "dumb laws" proliferate like wildfire, each one recycling claims from the last. According to Wikipedia's analysis of these compilations, many purported strange laws "do not exist, no longer exist, or were never passed."
These lists often lack crucial details like specific code sections, ordinance numbers, or dates of passage. The San Francisco confetti claim is a perfect example—it appears on dozens of sites, but none cite an actual law.
What San Francisco Actually Regulates
San Francisco does have real regulations about public celebrations and littering. The city's municipal code covers noise ordinances, public gatherings, and waste disposal. City Hall even has specific rules prohibiting confetti and ticker tape at its events—but that's a venue policy, not a criminal ordinance.
There's no Police Code Section 8.12.030 about used confetti. There's no littering statute that specifically targets second-hand party supplies. The claim simply doesn't hold up to scrutiny.
Why These Myths Persist
Strange law claims spread because they're entertaining and shareable. They confirm our suspicions that government can be absurdly bureaucratic. But they also:
- Lack accountability—no one fact-checks viral lists
- Get copied across hundreds of websites
- Rarely include verifiable sources
- Mix real laws with exaggerations and fabrications
The Library of Congress Law Library has noted that "many so-called 'dumb laws' are based on misunderstandings, exaggerations or outright fabrications." The confetti claim fits this pattern perfectly.
The Bottom Line
Can you pick up confetti off the ground in San Francisco and throw it? Yes, legally you can. Should you? That's a different question—littering is always inconsiderate, whether or not there's a quirky law about it.
The next time you see a "weird laws" list, remember: if it sounds too strange to be true and doesn't cite a specific statute, it probably isn't true. The San Francisco confetti ban joins a long list of legal urban legends that sound fun but fall apart under investigation.