Do You Have Your Garage Sale Permit?

August 25, 2018

Your garage sale requires more than a sign, table, and money.

When you thought you knew it all about garage sales, you find outlaws are governing them in just about every city and town across Canada.

I honestly had no idea there were bylaws, and in some cases, you must obtain a garage sale permit before you can even host one.

What Is A Garage Sale?

Garage sale – defined

“Garage sale” means and includes any general sale to the public of personal property from any residential premises in any residential zone as defined in the City’s Zoning By-law as may be amended from time to time and also includes, but is not limited to, all sales entitled “garage,” “lawn,” “yard,” “attic,” “porch,” “driveway,” “room,” “backyard,” “patio,” “flea market,” “rummage,” “boot,” “estate,” or “moving sales.”

Know The Laws Before You Consider A Garage Sale

Over the past few years, I’ve been researching garage sales because we love to venture out on a Saturday or Sunday morning to see what bargains we can find.

Hosting a garage sale is a great way to reuse or recycle products by having someone else buy them, thus keeping them out of a landfill.

The great thing about a garage sale is the prices, but it can become costly for a homeowner who doesn’t follow city or town by-laws.

Let’s not forget that Health Canada also regulates what you can and cannot sell at your garage sale, so some homework is involved before saying yes to a garage sale.

Not only do you need a garage sale permit in some municipalities, but you also need to abide by garage sale signage by-laws.

These bylaws detail when you can host a garage sale, for how long, and for a certain number of days.

I spent time scouring Ontario bylaws around our area, to find out the juicy details on garage sales by-laws.

The results 100% include a garage sale permit in some cities but not in others.

Are Garage Sales Legal?

Most municipalities in Ontario regulate garage sales.

Before you post signs, you must know your rights as a homeowner and renter.

For example, you can only host three garage sales per calendar year in Brantford, Ontario.

Not more than three garage sales may be held or conducted at or upon any residential premises during any calendar year, whether the same are held or conducted by one person, a combination of persons, or a succession of persons. By-law 171-2001, 12 November 2001.

Garage Sale Permit

Do I need a permit for a garage sale?

Yes, you might need a garage sale permit before you host a sale.

Not only that, but there are laws in many municipalities that govern how you can display signs for your garage sale and other events.

In Hanover, Ontario, their online bylaw states that homeowners need a garage sale permit before a garage sale or risk a fine.

The same applies in Belleville, Ontario, where you must apply for a garage sale permit for the cost of $2, and with that also comes other garage sale rules that must be followed.

Anyone wishing to conduct a garage sale shall apply to the City Treasurer of the City of Belleville or to any person designated by him and shall complete and file the form supplied.
The fee for such licence application shall be the sum of Two Dollars ($2.00) per application.

Source: Belleville, Ontario Garage Sale By-law

The same goes for the Town of Wasaga Beach, Ontario, where you must first get a permit to host a yard sale or face a possible fine.

If you purchase your permit before 1:00 pm on the Friday of the weekend you are holding your sale, we will post your address and day of sale on our event calendar at no additional charge.

Visitors to our site can then print out a list of sales for the upcoming weekend, posted by 9:00 pm Friday.
Wasaga

The town classifies a yard sale as a “special sale,” If you get your permit in advance, it will cost you $10, but if it is obtained on-site, it will cost you $50.

Garage Sale Permit Hawkesbury

Hawkesbury, Ontario, also requires a permit to host a garage sale but offers free garage sales twice a year at the end of May and in October.

Freebies are nice, right?

A permit is required to have a garage sale. The cost is $10 for 2 consecutive days. Two garage sales per year are authorized per household.

The Council has been granting two free garage sales per year, the last weekend of May and the long weekend of October. Source: Municipal Law Enforcement Hawkesbury

Town Of Champlain

Residents in the Town of Champlain require a permit to host a garage sale.

However, the first garage sale of the year is free, which means no permit is required.

After your first garage sale, the permit for a subsequent sale within a calendar year will cost you $30 in 2018, 2019, and 2020.

Interestingly, by-laws differ from city to city and town to town in Canada.

Did You Know That It is An Offence To:

Sell items other than personal property?
Fail to obtain a garage sale licence?
Hold a garage sale for more than 3 consecutive days?
Hold a garage sale at an address other than indicated.
Fail to display a garage sale licence?
Hold a garage sale on a sidewalk, street, or public.
Hold a garage sale when prohibited?

Source: Champlain Township

No Garage Sale Permit Toronto Ontario

If you live in Toronto, Ontario, you do not need to get a garage sale permit.

However, they do have regulations around garage sales and where you can post your garage sale signs.

Note below that the city offers a complaint line for residents who find that those who make host garage sales aren’t following the rules of the bylaws.

A property owner may have two garage sales annually.

One garage sale can last two consecutive days.

Homeowners must remove all signs advertising the garage sale once the sale is completed.

A permit or licence is not required to hold a garage sale or put up a sign.

If you wish to file a complaint about someone holding more than one garage sale or someone not removing garage sale signs, you can submit a service request online at http://www.toronto.ca/311 or call 311.

Yard sales are an excellent way to minimize waste, maximize the reuse and recycling of household items, and put some extra money in your pocket.

There are, however, bylaws that regulate yard sales.

Hanover Garage Sale Registration

Effective May 1, 2016, all yard sales shall be registered with the Town of Hanover.

Residents having a yard sale can download the registration form and submit it either in person at the Municipal Office, by mail to the Municipal Office, or by email to civic@hanover.ca, at least one week before having a yard sale.

Residents will benefit from free advertising of their yard sale via the Town of Hanover website.

Sales are permitted a maximum of three (3) times per year at any one (1) location and for no longer than two (2) consecutive days.
Source: Hanover Yard Sales

Midland Garage Sale Permit

Update 2024: Changes to garage sale by-law get rid of $10 fees and permit requirements

In Midland, Ontario, you need a garage sale permit if you plan to host one on your property or face a fine by a by-law officer.

No person shall sell or offer for sale under authority granted by this by-law property other than personal property.
No person shall hold a garage In Midland, Ontario. You need a garage sale permit if you plan to host one on your property or face a fine by a by-law officer within the Town unless a permit is issued to do so, following the provisions of this by-law.
Every person wishing to conduct a garage sale shall first apply to the Municipal Law Enforcement Officer or his designate to issue the necessary license.
The Town’s Composite Fee By-law shall determine the fee for a license to hold a garage sale.
Such license shall limit the garage sale to one location and limit the sale over two consecutive days to be set out in the said application.
Such license shall further limit the hours of sale on the said two consecutive days from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm on each of the two consecutive days.

For more info in Midland, Ontario- Garage Sale Bylaws

Read City And Town Bylaws

That’s not all, so it’s best always to read the bylaws set out by your city.

This is to ensure that you are not holding a garage sale without a permit or marketing with incorrect signage or placement of signage,

Also, some municipalities may only allow you to host a garage sale during certain weekends or times of the year.

You may get lucky and find that your town or city that requires a garage sale permit often offers a garage sale permit-free weekend during the summer months.

What Time Can I Host A Garage Sale?

Another thing you may want to be mindful of besides the possibility of needing a garage sale permit is the time frame you are allowed to host a garage sale.

For example, in the Town of Fort Erie, Ontario, you can host up to four garage sales in one calendar year, but they must be held between 8 am and 6 pm. Source: Fort Erie Bylaws

In Wasaga Beach, you can only host a garage sale from 8 am to 8 pm, which differs from place to place.

It would be best if you did your due diligence beforehand, as I don’t think there won’t be any slaps on the wrist.

For those of you who live in Edmonton, you can, at one location, hold up to three garage sales in a calendar year for up to three consecutive days each.

If you go over three days, you must obtain a business licence.

The good news is that you don’t need a garage sale permit in Edmonton, but there are other bylaws to abide by everywhere else. Source: City of Edmonton Garage Sale By-laws

Avoiding Garage Sale Permit Or Other Sale Laws

Don’t even think about getting around the garage sale permit by calling your garage sale by another name.

The definition of a garage sale is pretty much the same across the board.

Most laws around garage sales are straightforward, and the price of a garage sale permit won’t break the bank.

However, depending on your municipality fines, a fine might set you back into the hundreds or even thousands.

Garage Sale Limits

How many garage sales can I have a year?

This depends based on the by-laws set out by your city.

For example, in Brantford, Ontario, homeowners can only hold three garage sales in one calendar year or face a fine.

Garage Sale Sign By-Laws

Not all municipalities have garage sale sign-by-laws, but many do so again, so be informed.

If you plan to market your garage sale, read the by-laws or contact your local city hall to find out what they are.

Newmarket, Ontario

In the Town of Newmarket, Ontario, there are strict rules regarding what must be advertised on a garage sale sign and the dimensions of the sign that you must follow.

Only displayed or erected after 5:00 pm on the day immediately before the garage sale and must be removed no later than 7 am on the day immediately following the garage sale;
Maximum height 0.6m (2ft); Maximum width 0.6m (2ft);
Shall be located within the untraveled portion of the road allowance, not including any centre median, traffic island, or centre boulevard of a roadway;
Minimum of 1.83m (6ft) from roadway
Minimum of 0.6m (1.97ft) from sidewalks and driveways
Must include the address of the property where the garage sale will be located;
Must include the date of the garage

Using Public Property For A Garage Sale

Can I use a park for a garage sale?

If you plan on using city property for any event, you should always contact the by-law office in your town or city for information.

Most often, yes, you will need a special permit to use private city property, and a fee may accompany that if allowed.

Selling Food At A Garage Sale

Is it legal to sell food at a garage sale?

You may also need a permit for this, whether adults or kids run it, so make sure to ask when you contact your local by-law.

I’ve seen loads of kids selling lemonade, cookies, muffins, hot chocolate, and coffee for profit or donating to charities while visiting garage sales.

I’m pretty certain you’ll be safe; however, what I and the law say is different.

Always find out if you’re not sure.

CBB Home and Blog Update

I finally finished the new fence this past week and am collecting the money from the neighbours.

So far, all but one has paid their bill, so we will see how that turns out.

On the agenda over the past week, we made our way to the apple orchards to pick the first crop of apples.

However, a new variety has been released, so we plan to make our way back again.

We only picked a dozen apples for our son to experience what it was like to go to the farm, which I think every parent should do yearly.

If we had the space to plant fruit trees, we might, but you must consider using the fruits yearly.

I know many people who sell or give them away as my father-in-law did to friends and family, so it may be worth looking into.

Swimming And Sports

For the summer, our swimming and baseball lessons have ended.

However, we will keep up with soccer lessons into the new year.

Swimming will resume again in October, which we purposely did because we feel our son must learn to swim at all costs.

Making Pesto

Next week, we plan to start making basil pesto with our lemon basil and Italian basil, so we have enough to use through the winter and spring for cooking.

We don’t fancy high prices for fresh basil in winter; we love fresh herbs in everything we cook.

It makes a dish go from alright to damn fine!

The last couple of weeks before school will be spent labeling clothes and just about everything our son will use for school with Mabel’s labels and ensuring he has all he needs.

We will also be participating in some fall events for kids that will be happening in our area.

Have a great couple of weeks!!

Mr.CBB

Frugal Recipe Pick

Have you ever heard of Mud Hen Bars before?

I haven’t, so the name caught my attention, as did the photo at Shugharysweets.com, but so did the ingredients.

Mud Hen Bars include a cookie dough base topped with melted marshmallows and chocolate chips.

That sounds good to me.

It is almost similar to a S’mores bar, but without a graham cracker base. Of course, you could certainly do that.

Fan Deal of The Week

If you have a deal you’d like to be featured on CBB, email me a photo and a short write-up of what you’ve found.

Hi everyone,

Here are your garage sale deals:

Pencil case filled with pencils and markers plus two more boxes of pencils for $.50
Two baskets for $.50
Ladies t-shirt, shorts, and Lululemon sports bra $3 (asking was $6)

Total spent: $4

Thanks, Jen Peacock

Mr. CBB’s Thoughts Corner

Home and Garden

Even though it’s still summer, I’ve started garden chores, which are very important if you want your garden and lawn to be gorgeous next year.

I’ve already started my compost and raked out the back of the house.

After installing the new fence, our plants took a bit of a hit, as did our grass, but by next year, with lots of love, it will be lush and full of life again.

Never neglect the outside of your home.

Every season counts.

Saturday Search Term Giggles

Google Search Terms for Canadian Budget Binder

Every week, I get tens of thousands of people who visit Canadian Budget Binder because they have searched online and found my blog. (SIC) means I’ve copied their search text with any spelling errors.

Most times funny, Sometimes serious.

Should I sell my house for MPAC value? – Sure, if you don’t mind losing money.
How often should I shower?– Depends on how smelly you are.
How to build a rock garden without rocks?– Good luck.

Don’t forget to Follow me on SocDon’tedia and Subscribe to the blog.

NO COMMENTS

Mary Davies August 25, 2018 At 9:49 am

WELLAND Ontario no by-law re garage sale or yard sale.

- Mo CanadianBudgetBinder August 25, 2018 At 1:50 pm
  
  Hi Mary,
  So you are allowed to host as many as you’d like and no need for a permit? Interesting how cities differ.
  
Cindy May 11, 2019 At 3:05 pm

I Live in Elmvale Ontario n Plan on asking a Church across from where I live if I can Use Their Parking Lot.
Do I Need a Permit?

- Mo CanadianBudgetBinder May 11, 2019 At 6:04 pm
  
  You would have to call your local city council and they can let you know if you need a permit. It will be different everywhere.

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