ORLANDO, Fla. – Lots of people like a good garage sale, but Judith Stebbins says the ones that have been happening next door to her, are ruining her East Orange County neighborhood.
[WEB EXTRA: Check Orange County garage sale code ]
"The majority of the people who live on this street are not happy about this at all," Stebbins said. "They are very frustrated," she said.
She is so frustrated, she snapped photos of one of the sales, showing tables sprawled across the lawn and cars crowding her cul-de-sac.
"Its more than a sale. It is Goodwill all over the front yard. This is moving trucks and vehicles dropping items off, everything from clothing to furniture," Stebbins said.
Orange County Code Enforcement hit Stebbin's neighbors with a violation notice.
They weren't the only ones to get one. In the past year, Orange County has issued nearly three dozen notices to people who have violated the county's garage sale ordinance, including for "excessive or frequency of garage sales."
The county has rules that govern garage sales. You can have them no more than once every 6 months, and "the delivery of products, equipment or articles to the sale site" is prohibited, according to the ordinance.
Unless it's a community sale-- it has to be stuff from your home, and you have to have a permit.
"If you don't have a permit and you're having yard sales without a permit, now you're actually operating a business in a residential area," Kurt Fasnacht said.
Fasnacht is Orange County's chief code enforcement officer.
Not having a permit can come with a fine up to $1,000 for those who don't come into compliance according to Fasnacht.
Paul Daubert says he stopped his excessive sales after the county slapped him with a violation notice.
"Because I can not financially give out a thousand dollars," Daubert said.
Stebbins is hoping her neighbor will stop too.
It's just inconsiderate," she said.
If you see a violation in Orange County you can call the county's 311 call center. The operators will forward the complaint to code enforcement officers.
Make sure you give them a specific time when the activity is taking place if you have it.
Ordinances vary from county to county so be sure and check your county's website.