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City mulls garage sale crackdown
May 1, 2006. 07:49 AM
VANESSA LU AND PAUL IRISH
STAFF REPORTERS
For garage sale lovers, it could soon get harder to find a bargain.
Toronto is considering restricting the number of garage sales that residents can have to just two a year.
Under a proposed bylaw, to be debated at City Council's planning and transportation committee meeting today, no more than two garage sales in a year would be allowed on any premises in a residential area.
The penalty for failing to comply has not been set yet, but it would probably fall under the provincial offences act, and could mean a fine of up to $500.
The city would define a garage sale as not exceeding two consecutive days.
The move comes as a result of increased traffic, noise and litter from recurring garage sales.
"A couple a year is reasonable," said Councillor Mike Del Grande (Ward 39, Scarborough Agincourt), who first brought up the matter after receiving complaints from constituents. "But if you're doing it every weekend, you're causing problems for your neighbours."
While most people just want to have a sale to get rid of old stuff, Del Grande said some individuals are running businesses that are masquerading as garage sales.
Elisa Williams, 26, says she can understand why some people want garages sales controlled, but she wants to remind all concerned that the money raised at such events often goes to charities or other good causes.
She was holding her own lawn sale Saturday near her home at Gerrard and Hastings, with all proceeds going to Casey House, a Toronto hospice for those with AIDS.
"I usually have a sale like this once a year with all the proceeds going to a charity,'' she said. "The big (fundraising) walk for Casey House is next Sunday at Riverdale Park and this sale will help me reach the $2,000 goal I set for myself.''
Williams had hoped to make about $150 from selling items donated by her friends as well as items collected from her home, but stressed the sale is a one-shot deal.
But she says she knows of a few addresses in her community that seem to have more than their fair share of sales during the summer months and can understand the concern of the city and area residents.
"You'll see these people out every weekend selling stuff,'' she said. "I don't know where they keep finding things to sell, but they do. I don't think it's a spring cleaning ... I think they're trying to make an extra bit of money.''
Peter Stemp, 45, who was examining the merchandise at Williams' sale, said most people have one big sale a year, and keep it at that.
"It's fun and there are a lot of bargains,'' he said. "I'd say 98 per cent of the people have the one sale, but it's the other 2 per cent that wreck it for everyone.''
Stemp said when he was living in Willowdale there was a man who used to sell power tools from his home and every weekend he'd set up a stand in his driveway.
"He'd sit in his garage all day long and drink beer,'' said Stemp. "He didn't attract many buyers, there weren't big crowds, but who wants to own a home next to a guy that sets up a stall every Saturday? I think he was eventually told he was breaking some kind of law.''
Brian Chow, who was also holding a garage sale in front of his house on Rosevear Ave. in East York Saturday, said most people may have one event a year, and that there shouldn't be a bylaw limiting them.
"They're fun and kids like helping out,'' he said. "As long as they aren't causing a lot of noise, traffic or litter people should be left alone. Trade and bartering is the heart of our society.''
Mike Dimuantes, a senior policy research officer in the city's municipal and licensing standards department, said he is aware of complaints of individuals selling antiques at weekly garage sales, while retail antique shops are in the vicinity.
If adopted, the bylaw would have to be enforced on a complaints basis, he said. If a complaint is registered, then the city would send a bylaw enforcement officer to the location and investigate.
Some municipalities restrict the number of garage sales residents can hold, enforcing the rules through zoning bylaws. Guelph allows three two-day garage sales a year.
Brantford and Leamington have specific garage sale bylaws. Brantford allows three two-day sales and Leamington allows three a year of no more than three consecutive days. Burlington, Newmarket, Mississauga and Windsor have no bylaw provisions regulating recurring garage sales.
Prior to amalgamation in Toronto, garage sales were regulated under the zoning bylaw. But because that bylaw has not been harmonized yet, the city's practice has been to revert to the policies in the former municipalities.
Link to article
City mulls garage sale crackdown
May 1, 2006. 07:49 AM
VANESSA LU AND PAUL IRISH
STAFF REPORTERS
For garage sale lovers, it could soon get harder to find a bargain.
Toronto is considering restricting the number of garage sales that residents can have to just two a year.
Under a proposed bylaw, to be debated at City Council's planning and transportation committee meeting today, no more than two garage sales in a year would be allowed on any premises in a residential area.
The penalty for failing to comply has not been set yet, but it would probably fall under the provincial offences act, and could mean a fine of up to $500.
The city would define a garage sale as not exceeding two consecutive days.
The move comes as a result of increased traffic, noise and litter from recurring garage sales.
"A couple a year is reasonable," said Councillor Mike Del Grande (Ward 39, Scarborough Agincourt), who first brought up the matter after receiving complaints from constituents. "But if you're doing it every weekend, you're causing problems for your neighbours."
While most people just want to have a sale to get rid of old stuff, Del Grande said some individuals are running businesses that are masquerading as garage sales.
Elisa Williams, 26, says she can understand why some people want garages sales controlled, but she wants to remind all concerned that the money raised at such events often goes to charities or other good causes.
She was holding her own lawn sale Saturday near her home at Gerrard and Hastings, with all proceeds going to Casey House, a Toronto hospice for those with AIDS.
"I usually have a sale like this once a year with all the proceeds going to a charity,'' she said. "The big (fundraising) walk for Casey House is next Sunday at Riverdale Park and this sale will help me reach the $2,000 goal I set for myself.''
Williams had hoped to make about $150 from selling items donated by her friends as well as items collected from her home, but stressed the sale is a one-shot deal.
But she says she knows of a few addresses in her community that seem to have more than their fair share of sales during the summer months and can understand the concern of the city and area residents.
"You'll see these people out every weekend selling stuff,'' she said. "I don't know where they keep finding things to sell, but they do. I don't think it's a spring cleaning ... I think they're trying to make an extra bit of money.''
Peter Stemp, 45, who was examining the merchandise at Williams' sale, said most people have one big sale a year, and keep it at that.
"It's fun and there are a lot of bargains,'' he said. "I'd say 98 per cent of the people have the one sale, but it's the other 2 per cent that wreck it for everyone.''
Stemp said when he was living in Willowdale there was a man who used to sell power tools from his home and every weekend he'd set up a stand in his driveway.
"He'd sit in his garage all day long and drink beer,'' said Stemp. "He didn't attract many buyers, there weren't big crowds, but who wants to own a home next to a guy that sets up a stall every Saturday? I think he was eventually told he was breaking some kind of law.''
Brian Chow, who was also holding a garage sale in front of his house on Rosevear Ave. in East York Saturday, said most people may have one event a year, and that there shouldn't be a bylaw limiting them.
"They're fun and kids like helping out,'' he said. "As long as they aren't causing a lot of noise, traffic or litter people should be left alone. Trade and bartering is the heart of our society.''
Mike Dimuantes, a senior policy research officer in the city's municipal and licensing standards department, said he is aware of complaints of individuals selling antiques at weekly garage sales, while retail antique shops are in the vicinity.
If adopted, the bylaw would have to be enforced on a complaints basis, he said. If a complaint is registered, then the city would send a bylaw enforcement officer to the location and investigate.
Some municipalities restrict the number of garage sales residents can hold, enforcing the rules through zoning bylaws. Guelph allows three two-day garage sales a year.
Brantford and Leamington have specific garage sale bylaws. Brantford allows three two-day sales and Leamington allows three a year of no more than three consecutive days. Burlington, Newmarket, Mississauga and Windsor have no bylaw provisions regulating recurring garage sales.
Prior to amalgamation in Toronto, garage sales were regulated under the zoning bylaw. But because that bylaw has not been harmonized yet, the city's practice has been to revert to the policies in the former municipalities.