How can you tell it's spring in Woodstock?
All the tacky (and illegal) garage sale signs are starting to spring up faster than May flowers. This sign -at Route 47 and Country Club Road - is more than three miles away from the site of the sale. (Click on the photo to enlarge it.)
What's the rule on garage sale signs in Woodstock? Try - at the end of the block where the sale is. Not blocks away; not miles away. One block!
And it's tough as nails to enforce. The existence of a sign on a telephone pole more than a block away should be prima facie evidence of a violation, but it seems not to be.
And don't even think about taking down an illegal sign from a tree or utility pole in the right-of-way that is off your own property. That would seem to be something that would help out the City; right? You know - save sending a $30.00/hour City worker (maybe two) in a City truck to take down the signs. But no! You risk getting charged with a crime for removing someone else's sign from someone else's property.
Tired of looking at signs a few weeks after a sale? Send an email to CodeEnforcement@woodstockil.gov and ask for the signs to be removed.
Planning to have a garage sale? Be sure to get your Garage Sale Kit at City Hall.
© 2008 GUS PHILPOTT
5 comments:
That's funny, I thought garage sale signs are not permitted at all in Woodstock. Why tell people there allowed a block away when there not? When i got my garage sale permit there was a note attached to it stating signs are only allowed on the property where the sale is being held. Once again you have misinformed all 6 of your readers. I also did not receive a garage sale kit when I picked up my $2 permit. The City doesn't supply kits. Any why would anyone wait 3 weeks to call the City to have the sign removed? This doesn't sound like the old Gussy that is usually ranting on this website. Compassion for garage salers? I would hope so since it's the best way to spend a weekend.
Chapter 13, Sign Controls, does indeed change the previous sign code regarding garage sale signs. Under 13.4 Prohibited Signs and Practices, there is an Exemption at 13.5 D reading, "Residential and Garage/Yard Sale Signs - Signs announcing a garage sale or yard sale may not be installed prior to twelve (12) hours before the sale; and shall not exceed six (6) square feet in area. Such signage must be installed on premise."
Thank you for the corrected info. Where did you get that info? You stated Chapter 13, but chapter 13 of what? Is it online? Thanks for the help.
The City Code can be found on the City's website at www.woodstockil.gov
Click on City Code on the left side.
And from there? Who knows? Now I cannot find the section that I copied exactly from the City Code. The search engine in the City Code is next to worthless. It is maddening not to be able to find easily such a reference; I've experienced this previously. I tried searches for signs, sign control, prohibited signs, garage/yard sale.
Sorry that tonight I cannot find it. As soon as I do, I'll post the path to it.
Nevermind, I found it. Under the Uniform Development Ordinance. Not the city code. You might want to check in the right book first next time.
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