Royston City Council Passes New Yard Sale Ordinance

Royston’s new yard sale ordinance is now in effect.

At their meeting Tuesday evening, the city council heard the second reading of that ordinance from city attorney Andrea Grant.

“A yard sale is defined as sale, exchange, trade or display of goods outside an enclosed structure,” Grant said. “And this includes areas commonly known as a garage, carport, and the area known as the yard of a residence.”

The ordinance also qualifies what constitutes items in a yard sale.

“Goods is a very broad definition,” Grant said. “It includes clothing, furniture, household items, antiques, food, dishes, and these are things not sold in the normal course of business or the normal course of selling or trading of such goods.”

Under the conditions of the new ordinance, Royston citizens may hold up to six yard sales a per year, but must obtain a permit from the city marshal to do so.

However, questions arose from some city councilmen regarding whether selling one item on a property would constitute a yard sale.

Royston Police Chief Donnie Boleman noted there is a state law regarding selling cars on one’s property.

“Georgia State law requires, under the Secretary of State, how many vehicles a year a person can sell from their yard,” Boleman said. “That includes motorcycles and things of that nature that would be titled and tagged by the State.”

But some councilmen and the mayor wanted to know if a person could sell  lawnmower or bicycle and if so, would that be considered a yard sale.

“I think the biggest thign most people are concerned about is a business that’s being run as a yard sale, without a business license cutting into the business of people who buy a (business) license in this town,” noted Councilman Wayne Braswell. “So, I think you came up with an ordinance that’s good. You came up with a couple of questions about whether someone can sell a bike or something like that, but I think the ordinance itself is going to prevent somebody from abusing that.”

After more discussion, the board voted to pass the yard sale ordinance as is and let the city marshal decide whether to exempt someone from selling one item on their property on a case-by-case basis.