The 10 most bizarre laws in Switzerland

Switzerland is very famous for its many laws and obligations - a true playground for bureaucrats. Here are 10 of the country's most bizarre rules that will especially surprise newcomers:

1. After 10 pm it is illegal to slam car doors, wear high heels in your apartment or flush the toilet because it could disturb the neighbors. This statutory "Nachtruhe" (night rest) applies from 10 pm to 6 am. 
2. It is prohibited to drive while wearing flip-flops, because of safety concerns (although you're still allowed to smoke, as long as you've got your hands on the steering wheel).
3. You are allowed to eat cat or dog meat, if you do it by yourself. But if you invite somebody over for such a meal, it is seen as a criminal act. 
4. You are not allowed to hang up laundry outside on Sundays. According to the Homeowners Association (HEV), the law is based on the fact that it "does not look very nice if every balcony is filled with laundry on the same day". To protect the general Sunday-rest, you're also discouraged of mowing your lawn or doing outside handywork on that day.
5. In Switzerland, you are not allowed to possess only one guinea pig. They are highly social animals, and isolating them would be considered an act of abuse, so you need to keep at least two of them in one appropriate enclosure. The same applies to parakeets, lamas, horses, and goldfish. 
6. If you leave your car and forget to take the ignition key with you, the police might punish you with a fine of CHF 60.
7. You're legally required to have health insurance - but the insurance companies are all privately owned, the premiums differ for the same services, and you're responsible to conclude your own insurance! Many expats struggle to understand this combination of government requirement and private services, and finding the right offer for your personal needs isn't easy. That's why the insurance calculator insuris is here for you, so you can easily find your desired coverage.
8. If you have a garden in Zurich and want to manage your compost yourself, instead of disposing it in a designated bin, an official government-compost-inspector will have to inspect your compost every few years for proper shading and distance to other buildings. If you pass the inspection, you receive a certificate of compost-properness and can skip the compost disposal fee. For it's perceived stingyness, a publication recently rewarded this law with the title of "most unnecessary law". 
9. When fishing, it is forbidden to take a selfie with a fish you caught if you intend to throw it back into the water later.
10. And last but not least: Until 2015, the Swiss air force was allowed to fly only between 8 am and 5 pm. In 2019, they expanded their readiness from 6 am to 10 pm.

As you can see, there is a law for almost everything in Switzerland, and it’s almost impossible to keep track of all of them. That's why it's essential to have legal insurance. Under this coverage, you are optimally protected even in the event of legal disputes and can always rely on competent advice. 

We are happy to find the right legal insurance for you, matching your personal needs. E-Mail us via welcome@expatservices.ch or contact us via WhatsApp on 044 552 72 32.