I've always taken the right to dry for granted. We've got a couple of clotheslines, one in
a disused cow byre which is great for all round drying as I don't worry about it raining
on my washing, and one in the garden to take advantage of summer sunshine (when we
get it).
It's perfectly natural to see clothes hanging out to dry in cities in Italy, Spain,
Portugal, etc, and indeed the colourful washing often adds to the character of the
streetscapes.
So I was totally taken aback a few years ago when a friend who had moved to the United
States told me that the by-laws where she lived prevented her from hanging out her
washing, even on a warm summer's day. Further research revealed that such by-laws are
common in many parts of the United States as it's feared that washing hung out in
gardens would lower the tone of the neighbourhood, giving the impression that the
residents couldn't afford tumble driers. There are 'Right To Dry' campaigns by those
who realise just how nonsensical it is to be using electricity to dry clothes in warm climates.