Section 480-3(A) (PDF) of the Toronto Municipal Code states that:
No person shall sell personal property at a garage sale other than personal property that has actually been used on, about, or in connection with the residential premises or, in the case of a joint garage sale held with a neighbour, the residential premises of the neighbour.
People sometimes accuse local politicians of poking their noses a little too far into residents’ private business, and with some justification. A by-law that declares residents must have used everything that they’re selling in a garage sale would seem to confirm the stereotype. This one rule alone eliminates most Saturday morning front yard staples: candles, exercise machines, and gaudy tchotchkes.
I guess the idea is to prevent professional vendors from selling off their excess inventory under the guise of garage sales, instead of at a flea market or other suitable venue.
Oh, I know the clause is in there to help combat curbsiders, but it’s a curious way of doing it.
I agree.
I guess politicians have only two tools: laws and taxes.
Perhaps we should be grateful that they didn’t apply taxes in this case.