The city council finds and declares that:

(a)   The intrusion of non-regulated garage sales is causing annoyance to citizens in residential areas in the city and congestion of the streets in residential areas in the city.

(b)   The provisions contained in this article are intended to prohibit the infringements of any businesses in any established residential areas by regulating the terms and frequency of garage sales, so as not to disturb or disrupt the residential environment of the area.

(c)   The provisions of this article do not seek control of sales by individuals selling a few of their household or personal items.

(d)   The provisions and prohibitions hereinafter contained are enacted not to prevent but to regulate garage sales for the safety and welfare of the city’s citizens.

(Ord. 140, Sec. 1)

For the purposes of this article, the following terms, phrases, words and their derivations shall have the meaning given herein. When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future, words in the plural number include the singular number, and words in the singular number the plural number.  The word “shall” is always mandatory and not merely directory.

(a)   Garage sale shall mean and include all general sales, open to the public, conducted from or on a residential premises in any residential zone, as defined by the zoning ordinance, for the purposes of disposing of personal property including, but not limited to, all sales entitled “garage,” “lawn,” “yard,” “attic,” “porch,” “room,” “backyard,” “patio,” “flea market,” or “rummage” sale. This definition shall not include a situation where no more than five specific items are held out for sale and all advertisement of such sale specifically names those items to be sold.

(b)   Personal Property shall mean property which is owned, utilized and maintained by an individual or members of his or her residence and acquired in the normal course of living in or maintaining a residence. It does not include merchandise which was purchased for resale or obtained on consignment.

(Ord. 140, Sec. 2)

It shall be unlawful for any individual to sell or offer for sale, under authority granted by this article, property other than personal property.

(Ord. 140, Sec. 3)

No garage sale shall be conducted unless and until the individuals desiring to conduct such sale shall obtain a permit therefor from the city clerk. Members of more than one residence may join in obtaining a permit for a garage sale to be conducted at the residence of one of them. 

(Ord. 140, Sec. 4)

Prior to issuance of any garage sale permit, the individuals conducting such sale shall file a written statement with the city clerk, at least five days in advance of the proposed sale, (mailed applications must be postmarked at least seven days in advance of the sale), setting forth the following information:

(a)   Full name and address of applicant.

(b)   The location at which the proposed garage sale is to be held.

(c)   The date, or dates upon which the sale shall be held.

(d)   The date, or dates of any other garage sales within the current calendar year.

(e)   An affirmative statement that the property to be sold was owned by the applicant as his or her own personal property and was neither acquired or consigned for the purposes of resale.

(Ord. 140, Sec. 5)

There shall be an administrative processing fee of $3 for the issuance of such permit.

(Ord. 140, Sec. 6)

The permit shall set forth and restrict the time and location of such garage sale. No more than two such permits may be issued to one residence and/or family household during any calendar year. If members of more than one residence joint in requesting a permit then such permit shall be considered as having been issued for each and all of such residences.

(Ord. 140, Sec. 7)

Such garage sales shall be limited in time to no more than the daylight hours of three consecutive days.

(Code 1989)

If a garage sale is not held on the dates for which the permit is issued or is terminated during the first day of the sale because of inclement weather conditions, and an affidavit by the permit holder to this effect is submitted, the city clerk may issue another permit to the applicant for a garage sale to be conducted at the same location within 30 days from the date when the first sale was to be held. No additional permit fee is required.

(Ord. 140, Sec. 8)

Before issuing a permit, the city clerk may conduct an investigation as may reasonably be necessary to determine if there is compliance with this article.

(Ord. 140, Sec. 9)

Personal property offered for sale may be displayed within the residence, in a garage, carport, driveway, and/or in a rear yard, but only in such areas. No personal property offered for sale at a garage sale shall be displayed in the front or side yard areas of any such premises or in any public right-of-way.

(Ord. 140, Sec. 10)

Any permit in possession of the holder or holders of a garage sale shall be posted on the premises in a conspicuous place so as to be seen by the public.

(Ord. 140, Sec. 11)

(a)   Signs Permitted.  Only the following specified signs may be displayed in relation to a pending garage sale:

(1)   Two Signs Permitted. Two signs of not more than four square feet shall be permitted to be displayed on the property of the residence where the garage sale is being conducted.

(2)   Directional Signs. Two signs of not more than two square feet each are permitted provided that the premises upon which the garage sale is conducted is not on a major thoroughfare, and written permission to erect the signs is received from the property owners upon whose property such signs are to be placed.

(b)   Time Limitations. No sign or other form of advertisement shall be exhibited for more than two days prior to the day such sale is to commence.

(c)   Removal of Signs. Signs must be removed each day at the close of the garage sale activities or by the end of daylight, whichever first occurs.

(Ord. 140, Sec. 13)

The individual to whom such permit is issued and the owner or tenant of the premises on which such sale or activity is conducted shall be jointly and severally responsible for the maintenance of good order and decorum on the premises during all hours of such sale or activity. No such individual shall permit any loud or boisterous conduct on the premises nor permit vehicles to impede the passage of traffic on any roads or streets in the area of such premises. All such individuals shall obey the reasonable orders of any member of the police or fire departments of the city in order to maintain the public health, safety, and welfare.

(Ord. 140, Sec. 140)

A police officer or any other official designed by city code or ordinance may make inspections under the licensing or regulating article or to enforce the same, shall have the right of entry to any premises showing evidence of a garage sale for the purpose of enforcement or inspection and may close the premises from such a sale or arrest any individual who violates the provisions of this article.

(Ord. 140, Sec. 15)

All parking of vehicles shall be conducted in compliance with this code. Further, the police department may enforce such temporary controls to alleviate any special hazards and/or congestion created by any garage sale.

(Ord. 140, Sec. 160)

(a)   False Information. Any permit issued under this article may be revoked or any application for issuance of a permit may be refused by the city clerk if the application submitted by the applicant or permit holder contains any false, fraudulent or misleading statement.

(b)   Conviction of Violation. If any individual is convicted of an offense under this article, the city clerk is instructed to cancel any existing garage sale permit held by the individual convicted and not to issue such individual another garage sale permit for a period of two years from the time of conviction.

(Ord. 140, Sec. 17)

The provisions of this article shall not apply to or affect the following:

(a)   Persons selling goods pursuant to an order or process of a court of competent jurisdiction.

(b)   Persons acting in accordance with their powers and duties as public officials.

(c)   Any sale conducted by any merchant or mercantile or other business establishment from or at a place of business wherein such sale would be permitted by the zoning regulations of the city or under the protection of the non-conforming use section thereof or any other sale conducted by a manufacturer, dealer or vendor and which sale would be conducted from properly zoned premises and not otherwise prohibited in this code.

(d)   Any bona fide charitable, educational, cultural or governmental institution or organization when the proceeds from the sale are used directly for the institution or organization’s charitable purposes and the goods or articles are not sold on a consignment basis.

(Ord. 140, Sec. 18)

Every article sold and every day a sale is conducted in violation of this article shall constitute a separate offense.

(Ord. 140, Sec. 19)