I live on a cul de sac and my neighbor has yard sales EVERY weekend...people park in my drveway?

Question

in my yard....block the street...im about to go buy everything she has so that she doesnt have any thing left to sell....Im not a very confrontational person...am i wrong to be this upset

Answer 1

Charge for valet parking. And sell refreshments. Why shouldn't you make some money off her inconsiderate behavior?

Answer 2

A garage sale that occurs every weekend is not a garage sale - it's a business. In some circles it's called a flea market. That violates a couple laws.

It's zoned residential, right? Your neighbor has a commercial operation going on. She should have a business license displayed so that the sale patrons can clearly see it. It's time to alert the mayor or City Commissioner.

Does she advertise these sales in the newspaper? Start circling them and keeping the date of the paper intact so that you can show proof she is conducting this unlicensed business so frequently. I am including one of several links I found regarding the ordinance issue.

In Florida, there are ordinances that you have to have a license even if you are going to have a one-time garage or moving sale. It's not expensive to acquire, but it can be expensive it you are caught at the helm without one.

In Maine, you can get a permit to have a "garage sale" that lasts for an entire year - complete with posted hours of operation. You can advertise it in the newspaper and by putting up signs at street corners. But you have to have that permit to make it legal. I understand that getting one is not difficult, but if you were in a residential area on a cul de sac, it probably wouldn't be approved.

I don't personally think you should have to put up "No Parking" signs in front of your house when you are on a cul de sac.

I don't think you should have to block it yourself, either. But if that's your choice, I would do it with a couple trash cans so it doesn't cost anything. Oh, and you might want to have a bag of trash in each of them to keep people from thinking they are up for grabs.

Oh, and let's not forget that you have a right to "quiet enjoyment" of your home whether rented or owned. That's a clause in a lot of rental contracts.

And some people work nights - so they sleep during the day. Does your neighbor know for a fact that there are no day-sleepers in the neighborhood? They have every right to be able to sleep during the day - even on weekends. i would think that all that commotion would be irritating to a day sleeper.

Just my 2 cents.

Answer 3

Don't call the police. It will just create bad blood with your neighbor. Just let your neighbor know about the problem and ask if she can put a sign or something in your driveway before the sale starts and keep an eye out for people blocking the street. You could also find out how often the city allows garage sales and gently drop it into the conversation. You don't have to be confrontational, just tell her, "I having these problems with the garage sale, can you help me fix it?"

You are not wrong to be highly irritated. Your other neighbors probably feel the same way.

Answer 4

You say that you are not a confrontational person, but in this case you must be. You should approach the neighbor and ask if she has a home business license. This will put her on alert that she is probably breaking the law with her constant yard sales and that others are aware of it. Also you should tell her, in a straight forward manner, that her customers are interfering with your right to enjoy your own property. Yes, you have a legal right to enjoy your property without constantly being harassed or inconvenienced by others through their uninvited use of your drive and yard. If she doesn't get the message and her "business" continues, then you should then call the proper authorities and report the situation, i.e. your police department, city counsel, mayor....anybody and everybody who should know and will take action. You probably won't come out of this with a "friend" next door, but your neighbor is certainly not being a "friend" to you and the neighborhood anyway.

Answer 5

Start by putting up "no parking" or "no trespassing" signs on your property. This will give you some legal footing to tow or call the police, etc., if things get out of hand again.

Also, find out if your city has any kind of regulation for yard sales. Many do, and your neighbor could be in violation. If not, go before the city council and explain your problem, because this is how such regulations get made.

And just remember - it's not just your neighbor creating the problem. Maybe you could speak to your neighbor about the problems you are having in a polite way. If there is adequate parking somewhere nearby, maybe you could suggest that she state on her signs and advertisements, "Additional parking available (here)."

Let her know that while you respect her wishes, she does have some inconsiderate customers who are making your life miserable...

Answer 6

I would definitely put a no parking sign up at your driveway - I would tactfully let her know that her constant yard sales are becoming an inconvenience to you at your home, and ask her to help you in encouraging people attending the sale to park in areas that do not block the street or intrude upon other people's property. Keep in mind that it is not JUST your neighbors problem, but the rude people that are doing this parking.

Answer 7

I thought that most of these answers were very passive-aggressive, which could only aggrevate the problem. I think if you are going to put up signs and such you should go over and speak with your neighbor FIRST. You can kindly convey the problem and ask that they ask people to park somewhere else. If that does not get you anywhere, then I would resort to the other suggestions.

Answer 8

when my neighbor has HER endless garbage I mean garage sales, I dial up the police (on their non-emergency tel, of course) and sweetly ask them to please come over before there's an accident...me backing INTO someone's car blocking my drive!

AND....our town also has an ordinance requiring a 4$ license to hold the garbage/garage sale and they'll give you a 50$ ticket if you don't get it! AND...you can only have 2 a year.
SO if you dont have anything like that, maybe you can get it before your town board, city council, etc?
And NO you are NOT WRONG to be this upset! She sounds like a real prize of a neighbor. I highly recommend flaming bags of poop and SOON! :-)

Answer 9

That would totally tick me off if I were you, but just call the mayor's office, or other proper authority, as one woman said. That should take care of too many garage sales. I would not want to start a confrontation with the neighbor- you have to live next to her.

Answer 10

1. Check with your local municipality. There may be a law on the books limiting the amount of rummage sales one can have a year.

2. There is in my city.

3. If there is a law. Anonymously report them to the police & let them handle it. Believe me, the rest of your neighbors will probably appreciate that you did.

Good luck and warm regards.

Answer 11

I LOVE yard sales. Just put a no parking sign out and then go over and see what she has for sale!