Property maintenance codes in Bristol County cities require organized display and same-day cleanup for yard sales. Fall River, New Bedford, and Taunton enforce blight citations for abandoned items.
Bristol County municipal property maintenance codes — adopted under MGL c. 143 and 105 CMR 410 — apply to garage and yard sales to prevent blight. Merchandise must be displayed in organized fashion, not scattered across the yard. Tables, racks, and display items must be removed or stored out of public view by the end of each sale day. Unsold items cannot be abandoned at the curb or front yard between sale days or after the sale ends. Signs must come down within 24 hours. Chronic hoarding-style displays in Fall River, New Bedford, and Taunton trigger blight enforcement with escalating penalties. 105 CMR 410 (State Sanitary Code) applies to rental properties. Repeat violators may face property receivership under MGL c. 111 §§127A-127L.
Items left curbside after sale: $50 to $200 blight citation. Signs not removed within 24 hours: $25 to $50 per sign. Chronic violations: escalating fines and possible receivership.
Bristol County, MA
Amplified music in Bristol County cities requires entertainment licenses from the local licensing board. Fall River, New Bedford, and Taunton each regulate o...
Bristol County, MA
New Bedford and Fall River ban on-street overnight parking during declared winter snow emergencies. Taunton has no blanket overnight ban but enforces posted ...
Bristol County, MA
EV charger installations in Bristol County require electrical permit under 527 CMR 12. Massachusetts Stretch Code and Specialized Code (780 CMR Appendix 115....
Bristol County, MA
Fence materials in Bristol County cities follow local zoning bylaws. Wood, vinyl, and wrought iron are standard. Historic districts in New Bedford and Taunto...
Bristol County, MA
MassWildlife (MGL ch. 131 §5A as amended) prohibits intentional feeding of black bears statewide. Bristol County cities restrict feeding of deer, turkeys, an...
Bristol County, MA
Bristol County is not in a high wildfire-hazard zone like western states, but DCR Bureau of Forest Fire Control enforces MGL ch. 48 §13 open-burning rules. F...
See how Bristol County's garage sale rules rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.