[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Watertown 9-5-2006.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Sales — See Ch. 244.
Transient retail businesses — See Ch. 284.
For purposes of this chapter, the following terms, phrases, words and
their derivations shall have the meanings set forth below:
The City of Watertown Code Enforcement Supervisor and such other persons as shall be designated by the City Manager as outlined at Chapter 120 of the Watertown City Code.
Includes all general sales, open to the public, conducted from or
on a residential property, regardless of its zoning classification, for the
purpose of disposing of personal property or other property, including, but
not limited to, all sales entitled "garage," "lawn," "yard," "attic," "porch,"
"room," "backyard," "patio," "flea market," "rummage sale," or similar title.
Property which is owned, utilized and maintained by an individual
or members of that individual's residence and acquired in the normal
course of living and/or maintaining a residence. The term does not include
merchandise which is purchased for resale or obtained on consignment.
A lot on which a building is located which has a certificate of occupancy
for a residential occupancy classification as the same is defined by the New
York State Residential Code and New York State Building Code, and such term
is deemed to include any vacant lot abutting a residential premises.
It shall be unlawful for any individual to offer for sale, on residential
premises, property other than personal property.
Personal property offered for sale may be displayed within a residence,
a garage, in a carport or in a yard, but only in such areas. No personal property
offered for sale at a garage sale shall be displayed in any public right-of-way.
A.
Sign permitted. Only the following specified signs may
be displayed in connection with a pending garage sale:
(1)
Two signs permitted. Two signs of not more than four
square feet each may be displayed on the residential premises where the garage
sale is being conducted. For purposes of this subsection, the term "residential
premises" does not include the margin between the sidewalk and the street.
(2)
Directional signs. Two signs of not more than two square
feet each may be displayed on another residential premises if written permission
is received from the owner of such other residential premises upon whose property
such signs are to be posted.
B.
Time limitations for signage. No sign or other form of
advertisement shall be exhibited more than two days prior to the day a garage
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 occurs
first.
D.
Prohibited signage. No signs are allowed to be placed
on utility poles, municipal poles, or on street signs.
No more than two garage sales may be conducted in any one residence
and/or family household during any calendar year. Nothing in this section
shall be deemed to preclude members of more than one residence from joining
in a garage sale to be conducted at the residence of one of the participants.
Garage sales shall be limited in time to no more than the daylight hours
of three consecutive days.
A.
A violation of any provision of this chapter shall be
deemed an offense punishable by a civil proceeding commenced in Watertown
City Court and, upon a finding of a violation of this chapter, shall be subject
to a civil penalty of not less than $25.
B.
Each sale of property other than personal property and
the conduct of a sale in violation of the term limitations contained in this
chapter shall constitute a separate offense.
