Garage Sales

City Code

Per City Code Section 14-36 - License required for garage sales. 

"No person shall conduct a garage sale or similar sale of in excess of three (3) items of personal property without first having obtained from the City Clerk a license to conduct such sale. The City Clerk may issue such license, at a cost as specified in the Schedule of License, Permit, Inspection, and Application Fees established by City Council order, to any person proposing to conduct such sale provided that such license and any sale conducted thereunder shall not be lawful and valid for more than three (3) consecutive days. Signs may be utilized to advertise such sale; provided, however, no such signs shall obstruct or intrude onto any public right-of-way, block the sight vision of any public right-of-way for vehicular or pedestrian traffic, be placed upon any public utility pole, or be placed upon the property of others without their prior consent. Such signs may not be erected or allowed to remain either more than twenty-four (24) hours prior to or more than twenty-four (24) hours after such sale. 

The City Clerk may issue only two (2) garage sale licenses for such sale, whether conducted indoors or out-of-doors, to any person or for a sale on any given lot within a consecutive six-month period. Any sale of this type conducted more frequently than three (3) consecutive days for each six (6) consecutive month period, or any sale conducted without license, shall be considered a use of land which must comply with the South Portland Zoning Ordinance and all licensing ordinances of the City, including the licensing requirement for secondhand dealers within this Chapter.

 (Ord. No. 19-76, 8-16-76; Ord. No. 11-83/84, 11-21-83; Ord. No. 19-88/89, 5-1-89; Ord. No. 16-03/04, 2/2/04 [Fiscal Note: Less than $1000]; Ord. No. 18-09/10, 6/21/10 [Fiscal Note: Less than $1000])"

How to Obtain a Garage Sale License

Please visit the City Clerks office at 25 Cottage Road, South Portland, ME 04106.