Our BC Historical books collection contains a copy of the City of Vancouver By-Laws from 1898. Reading from them almost one hundred and twenty-five years later, there are some odd legislative topics that pop-out from the more mundane issues such as building codes and health inspection. Below are some of the notable laws on the books at the time.

Pool halls and clairvoyants both required operating licenses to be legally allowed to do business in Vancouver.

A loaf of bread was described as weighing 1.5 pounds as defined by the Bread-law. Biscuits, buns, rolls, crackers, and muffins were not regulated.
Stores were legally obligated to close on Sundays. This must of made weekly planning for groceries and errands much more difficult.

Minors could purchase and drink alcohol with parent permission. Speech was limited under a morality law. Prostitution, public intoxication, and indecent exposure are all illegal. By-law 7 seems to allow for swimming without a bathing suit after 8pm.

No alcohol on Sunday either. Drinks had to stop being served at 11pm Saturday.

Bicycles also have laws. How was the speed of a cyclist determined before the speedometer was invented?

Tires and wheels were entirely separately regulated from vehicles. And the city had official “Street Inspectors.”

Lawn care is regulated and weeds are deemed illegal. If you did not destroy the weeds, someone else would and you would be charged for it.

Women were not allowed at music halls unless they were performing, and then they had to be on stage. And the hall had to be closed by 11:30pm.

Thank you for reading!