This chapter shall be known as "Garage and Yard Sales."
The occasional conduct of sales of personal property from residential
areas of the Village known as "garage sales," "lawn sales," "attic
sales," "yard sales" or by any other similar designation has proliferated
and, in some cases, created traffic congestion problems. Such sales
often have continued for extended periods of time, resulting in ongoing
retail operation to the detriment and degradation of the character
of residential neighborhoods, and residents are having frequent and/or
repeated garage and yard sales at their homes, in effect turning their
residential premises into a site where retail business is conducted
in a residential area. The purpose of this chapter is to regulate
and restrict the conduct of such garage sales in residential areas
in order to protect the safety, health and welfare of the residents
and to preserve the character of such neighborhoods. Thus, it has
become necessary to restrict such garage and yard sales to casual
and/or occasional occurrences in order to help maintain the nonbusiness
residential character of residential neighborhoods. The intent of
this chapter is to eliminate repeated, perpetual, prolonged and extended
garage and yard sales in residential zoning districts. Such sales,
if continued without limitation, tend to have the effect of establishing
retail businesses in residential areas, creating a public nuisance
and altering and compromising the residential character of residential
neighborhoods. It is not the intent of this chapter to amend any other
chapter of the Village Code.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings ascribed to them herein:
GARAGE SALE
The sale or offering for sale of new, used or secondhand
items of tangible personal property from any one residential premises,
or from a combined group of residential property owners.
PERSON
An individual, partnership, family group, an unincorporated
association or a corporation.
PERSONAL PROPERTY
Items, goods, merchandise, clothing, furniture or other tangible
property which is owned, utilized and/or maintained by an individual
or members of his/her residence and acquired by such individuals 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.
RESIDENTIAL PREMISES
A single- or multiple-family dwelling unit used for residential
purposes which is not located in an area of the Village zoned for
commercial, industrial, business, manufacturing or mercantile uses.
It shall be unlawful after the effective date of this chapter
for any person to conduct a garage sale from residential premises
of the Village for more than two consecutive days. It shall also be
unlawful for any person to conduct a garage sale from residential
premises of the Village more than six times in any one twelve-consecutive-month
period. Garage sales pursuant to this chapter shall be conducted between
the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. only.
This chapter shall not apply to:
A. A person selling personal property pursuant to an order or process
of a court of competent jurisdiction; or
B. Any public official acting pursuant to and within the scope of his
authority;
C. Any sale conducted by any lawful and legitimate business or commercial
or industrial establishment or any sale conducted by any other vendor
or dealer in a time, place and manner not otherwise prohibited by
state or local laws;
D. Any public auction having a duration of no more than two days and
conducted by an auctioneer licensed by the State of New York.
This chapter shall be enforced by the Building Inspector (or
deputy/assistant), the Fire Inspector (or deputy/assistant), Code
Enforcement Officer (or deputy/assistant), any police officer of the
Village of Piermont Police Department and any other person specifically
authorized by resolution of the Village Board.
It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to fail to comply
with this chapter or any provisions of this chapter. Any person violating
any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a
violation and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined in an amount
not exceeding $250 or imprisonment not to exceed 15 days, or both.
This chapter will become effective immediately upon its enactment
by the Village Board and proper filing with the offices of the Secretary
of State.