ORDINANCE NO. 593

AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE

REGULATING GARAGE SALES

The Board of Supervisors of the County of Riverside, State of California, do ordain as follows:

Section 1. DEFINITION.

As used in this ordinance, "garage sale" shall mean the sale, or offering for sale, of personal property in, at or upon any property used or occupied for residential purposes. Garage sales shall include, but not be limited to, any yard sale, home sale, patio sale, or any other sale similarly conducted on any property used or occupied for residential purposes.

Section 2. UNAUTHORIZED SALES PROHIBITED.

No person, firm, association or corporation shall sell, offer for sale, or assist in the sale of personal property to the general public at a garage sale except as permitted by this ordinance.

Section 3. EXEMPTIONS.

The provisions of this ordinance shall not apply to the following:

a. Sales by charitable or religious organizations when the sale proceeds are used proceeds are used solely for charitable or religious purposes.

b. Sales conducted pursuant to process or order of any court.

c. Sales where the sale is not to be conducted on a designated date or dates and the personal property offered for sale is not openly displayed to the public.

d. Sales otherwise expressly permitted by law.

Section 4. FREQUENCY AND TIME OF SALES LIMITED.

No person, firm, association or corporation shall conduct more than three garage sales during any period of 12 consecutive months, nor shall more than three garage sales be conducted upon any lot or parcel of land during any period of 12 consecutive months. No garage sale shall be conducted between the hours of 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. or be conducted for longer than 3 consecutive days.

Section 5. DISPLAY.

All personal property offered for sale shall be arranged so that fire, police, health and other officials may have access for inspection at all times during the sale. Personal property offered for sale shall not be displayed or stored on adjoining public sidewalks, streets, or rights-of-way.

Section 6. SIGNS.

No sign advertising a garage sale shall be posted, erected or maintained except on the premises where such sale is to be held. No more than one unlighted sign advertising a garage sale may be posted, erected or maintained on the premises where such sale is to be held; provided, however, that no such sign may be posted, erected or maintained on the public right-of-way. Any such sign posted, erected or maintained on the public right-of-way may be immediately and without notice removed by the Road Commissioner. The Road Commissioner may thereafter bill the responsible party for the reasonable costs of such removal.

No sign posted, erected or maintained as provided for in this section shall exceed 4 square feet in area. No such sign shall be maintained for a period of more than 5 days immediately preceding the lawful commencement of the garage sale. Each such sign shall be removed at or before the close of the last day on which the garage sale may be lawfully conducted.

Section 7. PENALTY.

A. Any person violating any of the provisions or failing to comply with any of the mandatory requirements of the ordinances of the county shall be guilty of an infraction unless the violation is made a misdemeanor by ordinance.

B. Except in cases where a different punishment is prescribed by any ordinance of the county, any person convicted of a misdemeanor for violation of an ordinance of the county is punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment not to exceed six months, or both such fine and imprisonment.

C. Any person convicted of an infraction for violation of an ordinance of the county is punishable by a penalty of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00).

D. Each such person shall be guilty of a separate offense for each and every day during any portion of which any violation of any provision of the ordinances of the county is committed, continued or permitted by any such person, and such person shall be punishable accordingly.

ADOPTED: 10/12/82 (Eff.: 11/11/82)

AMENDED: 03/14/00 (Eff.: 04/13/00) (amded by Ord. 802 – Violation Provisions)