When Is That Illegal?

No Cage fighting,thanks,I'd be more into mud wrestling Sorry to hear about your break ins..anything recognisably distinctive taken?So this is an ongoing thing with new inventory appearing? I don't know about business licenses or what might be required for regular/ongoing garage/yard sales.. I don't think there's any harm in a one off sale,but if it was continuing,it could be causing traffic disruption over time..

Hi gtargirl....I think you should go over and meet your new neighbour if it bothers you that much, Maybe he has something for sale that you want.....Then again maybe hes selling something you dont want. As long as hes a good neighbour, I wouldnt worry about what he does. I hardly have time to worry about what I do!!

Depending on local zoning laws I'd say yes it is illegal. If the area is not tagged as "commercial" running a business which is open to the public is illegal. Then there is the business license angle. Most local and state governments require a business license to operate. It would also be illegal if he is not reporting the income on his taxes. The police probably wouldn't get involved unless someone got hurt on the property or someone turned him in. I've seen that happen here only once. Someone who lived up the street held a "yard sale" every weekend for 6 months until the neighbors turned them in. They probably would have gotten away with it except some of the neighbors were getting tired of cars blocking their driveways every weekend. When the police went in to check on the situation they discovered that some of the merchandise turned out to be stolen! Not too smart!

I wouldn't worry about it until/unless your stuff starts to come up missing LOL

In America, it's usually not illegal to hold a yard sale. However, I have lived in several places where you were required to purchase a temporary business license so that the state and community would at least have something for sales taxes.

Where I live in the county and not in the town, you can open a business in your garage. In one town I am close to you can only have two yard sales a year, I do not know about the other. It depends on your location.

Whether or not this is illegal depends on whether or not your city has an ordinance against perpetual yard sales. Is it possible he buys and re sells? It is possible the cops look the other way because of his friendship with them?

I don't see anything illegal about a yard sale. If the posessions being sold are all legally owned by your neighbour, I don't see what the problem is. It would be different if he was selling exotic animals, or stolen goods. These items sound pretty big for a yard sale, but I don't see a problem with the act itsself.

I have no clue if it is illegal or not, you can always call the police station not give your name and just enquire about it.

yard sale not illeagle. Even if they have it every day of the week!

It would seem kinda weird, but I see from the other discussions that you've eased your mind a bit about it. There are so many things that people do out of their house any more that it's really hard to tell what's legal and what's not. Hopefully he's talked to the right people about any zoning and licensing because it can be expensive if he's not going by the book.

Legal or illegal, news flash, if he is buddies with the local cop, you are barking up the wrong tree. If it's not interferring with your property, and the street is not blocked to traffic..........you'd probably be just as well off just ignoring it. Even if he is into something illegal, if he's got the cops on his side, you won't get anywhere by complaining. Just keep things locked up on your property. However, if you are just curious about having a garage business, then by all means check into it.

People are into all sorts of things. I say, live and let live as long as no one imposes their views on you, or treats you any less than you expect to be treated. Just remember to treat them with the same respect in-kind. If you are really curious, ask, don't assume stuff. Then be honest about how you feel about it. Maybe the two of you will end up being better neighbors afterwards, even if you don't see eye-to-eye.

That depends on the city and it's zoning laws. In some towns, you can have an ongoing "garage sale" all the time, and in others you're limited to so many weekends per year. If the zoning laws permit it he may very well be operating a "home business" out of his garage legally.

Well before we could finally say its illegal you have to show some proof first that what he has in his house is illegal. I think this guy has some kind of money making business to afford this things and sell them if he feels so.

Maybe they used to have a lot of money and with the financial issues, they need to sell it all. While, it is only allowed a few yard sales a year, it isnt illegal to sell in newspapers or trading papers, or online...so maybe he is doing that and people are coming over to look at and buy what he is selling on one of those things? Maybe, just trying to look on the good side =)

Most of the time you would need some kind of permit to conduct that sort of business. At least if he is selling items for profit, he would need to collect tax and remit that and have some kind of occupational license, along with proper documentation, etc etc. I'm sure he has none of it. My neighbor was fixing old cars in his driveway and then reselling them. It didn't bothe me, but I guess someone reported it and now he has a fence and parks the cars inside on the grass where it's not in plain view. I'm sure he would be subject to some kind of fine if reported and it continued.

I am pretty sure it's okay to open a business in your garage. It's the same as a home business. As long as he has a business license. Which I beleive is required for everyone no matter where you live. I'd be curiouse to know what he does! It does sound very fishy!! He seems to be living a pretty good life for a business out of his garage. Maybe you should just chat him up and ask what his business is. Just be neighborly. I think curiousity would've got me a long time ago! But if he's friends with the police...and obviously friends It's probably legit. If it wasn't and they were friends...you wouldn't know they were friends..and the guy would probably not stay living accross the street from a cop!

There are some legit business you can do at home, that don't have anything to do with being illegal. But who knows, in this day and age anything is possible.