U.S. Towns May Regulate Garage Sales As Americans Use Backyard Business To Boost Income

Boston, MA (AHN) - With more Americans resorting to various backyard business options to boost their income, a Boston community is considering regulating garage sales as local officials noticed a rise in number of yard sales in Weymouth. Similar moves have been made in other U.S. towns.

A 2007 ordinance allows Weymouth residents to hold garage sales without a need to secure a permit from the local government unit. But it limited yard sales to just three days per year for an address. For the fourth garage sales, a $2 permit must be secured by the home owner, while those who violate the ordinance would receive a written warning on first offense and be slapped a $100 fine for second offense.

Other regulations covering the garage sales include banning the resident from selling items they do not own, vending items purchased elsewhere, selling items prior to the date of the sale and opening before 8 a.m.

Records showed that so far 225 garage sale permits have been approved for this year, compared to only 128 for the entire 2007.

Meanwhile, Elkhart in Indiana is now considering passing legislation that would limit residents to one garage sale monthly after the city council noticed it is being used by some residents as their only source of income. Some residents have also complained of the noise and outsiders the garage sales bring to their place.

Some of those who resorted to yard sales admitted it was their only recourse after losing their work. The unemployment rate in Elkhart in August was 9.3 percent, which rose by over 4.8 points from August 2007.