Saturday, July 25, 2009

Garage Sales and Home-Based Businesses

It appears that a home on Kensington Park Ave. is hosting the world's longest moving sale. Each of the last several weekends you might have noticed signs at our community's entrances advertising the event.

One minor problem: It violates county codes. According to the Hillsborough County Code Enforcement Department:
Garage sales are allowed in residential districts. However, there should be only one sale in a six-month period and each garage sale should be no more than three days long.

You can read this information from its source on the county website. Click here to download the PDF document, which answers other common questions, including several about home-based businesses, which this marathon moving sale appears to be. Again from the county code enforcers:
Only small home businesses are allowed in residential areas. They must be unobtrusive with very little impact on surrounding properties and must be permitted by Hillsborough County. A few examples of this use would be sewing, ironing, private tutoring, domestic crafts and professional services. Examples of what would not be allowed as a home occupation would be auto repair, kennels, catering or a physician’s office. Additional conditions placed on a home-based business include:

  • Noise levels, traffic and property appearance must remain normal

  • Employees, other than occupants, are not allowed

  • Warehousing of goods is not allowed
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