City of Othello yard sale permit price and process update

The City of Othello has updated the Othello Municipal Code to reflect some concerns about yard and garage sales. A yard or garage sale includes all general sales open to the public that are conducted upon residential premises and are for the sole purpose of disposing used household items. A yard sale permit is required for each sale and must be purchased at City Hall.

The permit will need to state the name and address of the person conducting the sale and the dates the sale is going to be held. Each residential address can have up to three (3) yard sales per year and each sale shall not continue more than three consecutive days. The non-refundable fee has been changed to $5 per permit instead of the usual $3.

All items must be displayed upon private property and not within the public right of way. The sales can be held from 8 a.m. and closed by 8 p.m. Yard sales cannot be held on commercial property, unless there is a residential unit on the property. Nonprofit and civic organizations may have yard sales on their privately-owned property or in Pioneer Park; however, they still must purchase a yard sale permit. Nonprofit and civic organizations can invite others to sell items in their yard sales; however, their profits or a portion of their profits must be donated to the organization hosting the yard sale.

Signs advertising yard sales CANNOT be attached to any public structures, traffic signs, traffic control devices or utility poles. All advertising signs must be removed within 24 hours after the sale is complete. We are asking that our citizens pick up their signs immediately after their sale. Any violations of the “garage sale” chapter of the Othello Municipal Code is subject to a C-12 Civil Infraction of up to $110 for each offence.

Further information regarding this can be obtained from City Hall at 488-5686.