- Excuse me, sir, may I see your shampoo license?
It makes sense that some things require a license. If it has a chance to cause serious bodily harm or significant property damage, you probably shouldn’t let just anyone do it.
But there are also completely normal everyday things that governments have put behind license. And that’s without mentioning the completely harebrained licenses you can find in some corners of the world.
Here’s a sampler of eight of the most bizarre things that need a license from around the world.
1. Performing on the Street
To most minds, playing an instrument on the street is often seen as a last-ditch effort to earn just a little bit of money to make rent this month. That’s a poor plan in the many places where you need a license for busking.
In the U.K., for instance, you need a license if you want to play your instrument in the famous London Underground stations. I suppose you have to pay for the privilege of not having to stand in the rainy London streets.
But perhaps the most stringent requirements for street performers are found in Singapore. Not only do you need to buy a license, but you also need to pass an audition to get your permit.
2. Shampooing Hair
All of us shampoo our hair on our own in the shower. But if you want to do it for someone else, you might have to get licensed.
Five U.S. states require shampooers at hair salons to pay for a shampoo license. And then there’s Tennessee, which requires you to undergo 70 days of training and take two paid exams.
All that just to shampoo someone’s hair. What on earth do people do during that two-month training period?
3. Upholstering Furniture
I suppose you could ostensibly hurt someone by getting shampoo in their eyes. But why do you need a license to upholster furniture?
If you want to replace couch cushions and fix wobbling chairs, seven U.S. states dictate you must get licensed. But here’s the catch – none of the licenses require any training, certification, or testing.
These licenses are just a blatant cash grab. It’s the worst in California, where the upholsterer license fee runs in excess of $300.
4. Piloting a Gondola
Venice’s famous gondoliers are a prestigious group. The profession is controlled by the city’s guild of gondolieri who restrict the number of gondoliers to only around 400 at one time.
Becoming one of the legendary boat pilots isn’t easy. You must undergo 400 hours of training over a six-month period, complete an apprenticeship, prove your boat-handling skills and local historical knowledge in multiple exams, and learn a foreign language.
Perhaps the requirements are a bit too strict. Venice struggles with a chronic shortage of gondoliers as people are reluctant to go through the training despite the relatively high salary.
5. Owning a Tiger
Did you know you can own a tiger in Texas? It’s true! There’s no law prohibiting you from having one of the big cats as a pet.
However, you must have a “dangerous wild animal” license, which requires annual renewal. What’s more, you need to get $100,000 in liability insurance. Additionally, some of Texas’ big cities, like Dallas and Houston, have outlawed tigers.
In the countryside, though, you can own almost any animal with the license. That means you could have lions, tigers, and bears – oh my!
6. Visiting Antarctica
Although there’s not much to see in Antarctica, it’s a relatively popular adventure tourism destination. If you’re a Swedish citizen, though, you can’t just waltz over to Antarctica.
Sweden requires all of its citizens “spending time” in Antarctica to acquire a valid permit. They must have an acceptable reason to visit the southernmost continent and specify how long they will stay there.
That’s all well and good, but what’s the point when many countries don’t require such licenses? Also, who’s out there to enforce this rule? Does Sweden maintain a permanent Antarctic police force?
7. Sweeping Chimneys
A precocious chimney sweep used to be a stock character in literature for a short while. Perhaps the character fell off the bandwagon because the profession became licensed.
At least in Germany it did. Some cities, such as Ettingen, require chimney sweeps to be “appointed by a competent authority.” Brushing chimneys without such certification is unlawful behavior.
You know, maybe chimney sweeps disappeared from literature because people invented ways to keep your house warm that didn’t require a chimney… No, I choose to believe it was because of the licensing requirements.
8. Watching TV
And here it is! The U.K.’s TV license is perhaps one of the most notorious licenses of all time.
That’s right – you need to pay an annual fee to be able to legally watch TV in good ol’ England. And it’s not just TV, as livestreams, YouTube, and Netflix fall under the legislation as well.
Basically, if it’s a watchable piece of entertainment, you’ll have to pay for a license to enjoy it. If you don’t pay, be prepared for regular check-ins by officials who want to see if you’re able to receive licensed broadcasts.