What Is The Weirdest Local Custom or Law Regarding Real Estate?

[Russell Brazil]

I was having a brief online discussion with @Jay Hinrichs about the regional differences in real estate throughout the country.  I was curious what everyone else thinks is the weirdest local custom or law you have in your market. Although if it is in your market, you might think of it being perfectly normal...so perhaps you might chime in with something that seems weird from another market.

In my market, I think one of the more interesting oddities is a system of Ground Rent we have in our area. It occurs primarily in Baltimore, but is also found in random other spots in Maryland and Virginia. In Baltimore many of the properties you buy you are technically only buying the physical structure while someone else owns the land and you pay them rent on that land. The owner of that land might be known, or might not be known.