DANA POINT : New Ordinance Will Restrict Garage Sales

Complaints that some Dana Point residents are turning garage sales into virtually permanent flea markets prompted the City Council this week to limit each resident to four sales a year.

The council voted 5-0 Tuesday night to introduce a new ordinance that would restrict the number of garage sales and the signs advertising them. City officials reported that 300 garage-sale signs are removed from public rights of way each month.

City staff had suggested limiting each resident to two garage sales a year, but the council rejected that.

Councilwoman Karen Lloreda said it was too bad that people were taking advantage of the situation and forcing the council to legislate good taste.

Three residents spoke about the problems of garage sales that occur every weekend.

“I’m not against the neighborhood garage sale,” said Rosalind Williams, a resident of the Lantern Village area, where many of the garage sale abuses are said to occur. But she does object to “having to walk in the street” around clothes and other items strewn on the sidewalk every weekend.

Councilwoman Eileen Krause said the restrictions are the result of those people who have turned garage sales into a “retail operation,” which includes the sale of name-brand merchandise.

“People can’t even back out their driveways” because of the constant sales, Krause said.