Up to this point, the city of North Royalton had no restrictions on yard sales or garage sales. Council passed legislation at its May 15 meeting that would change that.
Mayor Bob Stefanik said that there were some houses that had items for sale all year round, which didn’t sit well with neighbors. “We tried to balance the ability for residents to sell items with the community desire to maintain a beautiful community image,” said Ward 4 Councilman, Paul Marnecheck.
Council amended the city’s codified ordinances, Part Six General Offenses Code, Chapter 660 Safety, Sanitation and Health by creating a new Section 660.23 entitled Front Yard Sales in Residential Districts which shall read as follows:
“660.23 FRONT YARD SALES IN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS
(a) No person (owner or tenant) shall display items for sale in the front yard of a residentially zoned district from Sunday at 8:00 pm through Thursday at 8:00 am exclusive of Federal holidays. Merchandise placed in the front yard for sale during permitted times shall be located at least 35 feet from the street pavement and at least 10 feet from side property lines.
(b) Whoever violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a minor misdemeanor and shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each offense. A separate offense shall be deemed committed each day during or on which a violation or noncompliance occurs or continues.”
Simply put, yard sales, garage sales, or items for sale can only take place starting at 8 a.m. on Thursdays through 8 p.m. on Sundays. The items for sale must be located at least 35 feet from the street and at least 10 feet from side property lines. Anyone violating this ordinance can be fined with a $100 fine for each offense, each day.
The city currently does not have any other legislation regarding yard sales or garage sales. No permit is required, as is the case in many other cities, nor is there a limit to the number of sales each year.
Luckily, selling items at a garage sale or yard sale is not taxable. According to the Ohio Division of Taxation, “there are many ways to sell your personal items these days; whether it’s through an internet sale, an advertisement in the paper, or a yard sale, they are all considered to be the same type of transaction: a casual sale. Casual sales are not taxable transactions, as sales tax was paid on these items the first time they were purchased.”
The city, however, does have ordinances regarding the use of signs. Under the ordinances for residential areas, “signs which no longer serve the purpose for which they were intended, or which have been abandoned or not maintained in accordance with this chapter and other applicable regulations of the City, shall be removed by the latest permit holder or by the City at the expense of such permit holder.”

By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer