No, sleeping on a refrigerator is not illegal in Maryland backyards statewide. This notion stems from urban legends or misattributed “dumb laws,” with no specific statute prohibiting it. Local zoning, nuisance ordinances, or housing codes may indirectly apply if it creates safety hazards or public disturbances.
Relevant Maryland Laws
Maryland Code § 21-327 bans sleeping in food processing plant workrooms or food service facility kitchens/storage areas, but exempts private backyards. Abandoned refrigerators cannot be left outside unsecured due to child entrapment risks under Md. Code, Crim. Law § 10-109, yet this targets storage, not use as a bed.
Local Considerations
County codes (e.g., Prince George’s or Baltimore) regulate outdoor appliances for sanitation and aesthetics but do not mention sleeping atop them. HOAs or nuisance laws could intervene if neighbors complain about eyesores or safety issues like electrical hazards.
Practical Advice
Such activity risks trespass or disorderly conduct charges if on another’s property, but on your own backyard, no direct prohibition exists. Verify local ordinances via county websites for site-specific rules.
