3 rules for unincorporated Union County, New Jersey.
Verified from official government sources
Most Union County municipalities require free or low-cost garage sale permits. Elizabeth Chapter 5.44 requires permit from City Clerk, no fee, limit 2 sales per year. Westfield permits through Town Clerk, $5 fee. Summit requires free permit. Cranford and Scotch Plains require registration. Plainfield free permit through Clerk. Permits enforce signage and frequency limits. Religious and charitable sales may be exempt. Items must be personal property, not commercially purchased for resale.
Union County municipalities limit garage sales to 2-4 per household per year. Elizabeth Chapter 5.44 caps at 2 sales per year, 3 consecutive days each. Westfield, Cranford, and Summit each cap at 2 per year. Plainfield allows 3 per year. Limits prevent residential properties from operating as retail businesses. Estate sales following death or property sale typically exempt. Neighborhood-wide block sales often count as single event. Exceeding limits may trigger home business zoning violation.
Union County municipalities restrict garage sale hours to daytime. Elizabeth Chapter 5.44 allows 8 AM-6 PM. Westfield 8 AM-5 PM. Summit and Cranford 9 AM-5 PM. No Sunday-morning early starts before 9 AM. Sales must conclude and signs removed daily. Items left at curb after hours may trigger property maintenance citation. Adequate off-street parking for shoppers recommended to avoid neighbor complaints. Multiple-day sales must observe hours each day.
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