No, sleeping on a refrigerator in your New Hampshire backyard is not illegal under state law. The often-cited “dumb law” appears to be an urban legend or exaggeration stemming from child safety statutes.
Relevant Statute
New Hampshire Revised Statutes § 147:21-a requires owners to remove doors or lids from discarded refrigerators before leaving them accessible outdoors, preventing child entrapment. This targets abandonment hazards, not sleeping atop one.​
Urban Legend Origins
Lists of quirky laws circulate online, claiming bans on sleeping on fridges outdoors, but no actual code prohibits it. No penalties exist for napping on a functional backyard appliance.​
Local Considerations
Zoning or nuisance ordinances might apply if it disturbs neighbors or violates property upkeep rules, but nothing state-specific bans the act. Always check municipal codes for backyard use.
SOURCES
[1](https://law.justia.com/codes/new-hampshire/title-x/chapter-147/section-147-21-a/)
[2](https://www.mclane.com/insights/residential-landlords-in-massachusetts-beware-state-sanitary-code-updates-effective-april-2023/)
[3](https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-hampshire/N-H-Admin-Code-SS-He-C-4001.17)
[4](https://www.avvo.com/legal-answers/is-putting-locks-on-fridge-or-freezers-at-night-be-5422811.html)
[5](https://forestgrove.pgusd.org/documents/Computer-Lab/Strange-State-Laws.pdf)
