El Centro Municipal Code Art. XIV Garage Sales

As used in this article, 'yard sale', rummage sale', 'garage sale' "estate sale" or similar sale (collectively "garage sale") mean any event conducted in any residential zone which is advertised by any means whatsoever at a location where member of the public may purchase identifiable or tangible items of personal property.

Garage sales do not include:

(a) the occasional sale of used personal property in residential zones, where no signs advertising such sale are placed at the location of the sale and where all prospective buyers are invited by or have made an appointment with the seller prior to inspecting, purchasing or taking delivery of said personal property. Said personal property must be stored away from public view.

(b) any event which constitutes a sales activity, wholesale or retail, pursuant to any business license issued by the City of El Centro or one conducted pursuant to the requirements of City Code Chapter 16 Article IV.

(Ord. No. 18-05, § 1, 6-5-18)

It shall be unlawful for any person to conduct or operate a garage sale, as defined in this article, in the city without first obtaining a permit from the community development department. The permit shall be posted on-site at all times during the course of the sale.

(Ord. No. 18-05, § 1, 6-5-18)

To obtain a garage sale permit, an application must be filed with the community development department at least two (2) working days before the proposed event. The applicant shall apply on city forms designed for this purpose. The city council may, by resolution, establish an application fee for such permit. A bona fide nonprofit organization shall be exempt from the application fee provided that proof of its nonprofit status is submitted with the application. Documentation from the Internal Revenue Service or Franchise Tax Board shall constitute acceptable proof of the organization's nonprofit status.

(Ord. No. 18-05, § 1, 6-5-18)

(a) No more than one (1) permit per calendar month shall be issued to the same person or for the same premises.

(b) The total maximum number of garage sales which may be held by one (1) person for the same premises is twelve (12).

(c) No permit shall be transferable to another person or to another premises.

(d) There shall be no fee for such permit.

(Ord. No. 18-05, § 1, 6-5-18; Ord. No. 22-09, § 2, 12-20-22)

No permit shall be approved and no sale shall be conducted for more than two (2) consecutive days in any week. The sale shall not be conducted before 7:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m.

(Ord. No. 18-05, § 1, 6-5-18; Ord. No. 22-09, § 2, 12-20-22)

(a) The display of goods and related sales activities shall be conducted by the permittee only on the residential real property identified in the permit. The display of personal property and related sales activities are prohibited on public sidewalks, streets, parkways, alleys and any other public rights-of-way.

(b) The commercial sale of goods is prohibited. Commercial sale include goods purchased elsewhere for the purpose of resale at the garage sale, or products manufactured, assembled or grown for the sole purpose of sale at garage sales.

(Ord. No. 18-05, § 1, 6-5-18)

Signs advertising a garage sale for which a permit is required under this article may be placed or erected on the sale premises, but not at any other location, subject to the following conditions:

(a) The permitted signs shall not exceed a total of four (4) square feet in area.

(b) No such sign shall be displayed at times other than the permitted times of the sale.

(c) One (1) sign may be placed on the property at the authorized location of the sale, and one (1) sign may be placed at the nearest corner.

(d) No sign shall be placed on off-site property without obtaining permission from the property owner, and no sign shall be placed on any public property or in the public right-of-way.

(e) The use of flags, banners, pennants and other similar items to advertise the garage sale is prohibited.

(f) All signage shall be removed by 8:00 p.m. on the date on which the sale ends.

(Ord. No. 18-05, § 1, 6-5-18)

Any permit issued under this article may be revoked and any subsequent application within one (1) year may be denied if any enforcement official finds that conduct of the yard sale has created a public or private nuisance or has violated any provision of this article or other applicable law.

(Ord. No. 18-05, § 1, 6-5-18)

Violation of any provision of this article constitutes an infraction that may be enforced as provided in the City Code, including through enforcement by administrative citation.

(Ord. No. 18-05, § 1, 6-5-18)