City Code Curiosities, Pt. 1: Barbed wire and banana peels — outdated laws still on the books

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — In a city where history lines every brick and curb, some city ordinances linger just as long — including one that makes it illegal to wrap barbed wire around your tree.

That forgotten rule, still on the books since 1959, is one of many curious ordinances tucked away in Vicksburg’s city code. From fence restrictions to outdated regulations that no longer match modern life, these relics of law offer a glimpse into a different time — and they haven’t gone anywhere.

Each week, VDN will highlight a few of these overlooked or unusual ordinances in a new series exploring the stranger side of city law and the stories they may still tell.

Sec. 20-21. – Barbed wire—Prohibited around premises near street.

It shall be unlawful for any person to place, or allow to be placed any wire known as barbed wire around his premises for the purpose of fencing, or protection of the same, where such property borders on or touches any city street or sidewalk.

(Code 1959, § 17-27)

Sec. 20-22. – Same—Prohibited around trees near streets.

It shall be unlawful for any person to place, or allow to be placed, any barbed wire around any tree which shall be situated on any city street or sidewalk.

(Code 1959, § 17-28)

Sec. 20-32. – Slippery substances on sidewalks.

It shall be unlawful for any person to put, place, leave or throw, on any sidewalk in the city, any banana peelings, orange peelings, or other slippery substances.

(Code 1959, § 17-20)

While these laws might draw a chuckle today, they once served real concerns—whether protecting pedestrians from slippery peels or shielding trees from barbed entanglements. Though time has moved on, the city code remains a living archive, preserving the peculiar priorities of the past. In dusting off these forgotten rules, we’re not just revisiting odd ordinances—we’re uncovering the character and caution of a Vicksburg that still echoes through the fine print.