In South Carolina, the Spartanburg County Council is considering new regulations on flea markets and yard sales. The flea market business is evidently doing well there, and county officials say they have been getting complaints about yard sales that are becoming like flea markets, and flea markets that are so crowded with cars and shoppers that there is some danger to life and limb.
A news report at GoUpstate.com, a site published by the Spartanburg Herald-Journal, says that the county is considering a number of new regulations. Flea markets could not take place on less than two acres. They could not be located within 200 feet of a residence. And they would have to meet setbacks of 60 feet from the front of the property and 30 feet on the other sides. Yard sales would also be regulated: no yard sale items could be left out overnight.
According to the news article, Spartanburg deputy county administrator Jim Hipp says:
“It’s a reaction to some complaints or some concerns that have been expressed that some yard sales have been continuing to expand and beginning to expand pretty much the majority of a piece of property, and looking more like flea markets than yard sales.”
The county council land use committee will meet to discuss these issues tonight, according to an official agenda posted on the county Web site.
Photo credit, with thanks: GoUpstate.com.
Nov. 16 Update: At the scheduled meeting last night, the County Council did take the first step towards implementing the expected regulations, per a new report on GoUpstate.com.