City of Blackwell anchors garage sailors with permit

The City of Blackwell raised eyebrows on social media earlier this month when officials published a post reminding Blackwell residents of the city’s newly revamped garage sale ordinance.

People planning to host garage sales within the city limits must obtain a permit, which will be good for three days. That means the permit holder must host the garage sale within the three-day window. Permits are issued at no charge.

The Blackwell Journal-Tribune’s annual Citywide Garage Sale, which takes place each summer, will not be impacted by the ordinance. No permit will be required from the City of Blackwell, and those who wish to participate will do so as usual through The Journal-Tribune.

Other garage sales, under the ordinance, will be limited to one per month, with a new permit required for each sale. If an individual were to host a sale one month and again the next, the person would need a permit for each sale.

According to the ordinance, sale times can be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. No merchandise is to be sold before or after.

No signs may be posted for more than two days prior to the sale, and they must be removed on the last day of the sale.

Signs are limited to four, and they cannot be larger than 2 square feet each. Two signs are allowed on the seller’s property, and two signs are allowed off the property if the person has permission from the property owners.

No signs can be attached to utility poles or placed in the right-of-way of city easements.

Signs must include the garage sale permit number and the garage sale date.

The ordinance turned heads on social media, with many residents claiming it is unnecessary. Others said it would help clean up areas that seem to host “perpetual” sales in their yards, causing certain areas to be clogged by visitors.

Blackwell Code Enforcement Officer Cindy Gaddis declined to comment.