Yard sales get the green light in Hamilton under new gathering limits

Thestar.com
June 2, 2021

Bargain hunters rejoice!

Yard sales are allowed -- but city officials say it's up to homeowners to ensure they’re following COVID-19 rules.

Paul Johnson, director of Hamilton’s Emergency Operations Centre, said Monday that residents can host yard sales, but they must ensure there are no more than five people coming by at a time.

Outdoor gatherings of up to five people were allowed as of May 22, just days after the Ontario government announced its latest three-step provincewide reopening plan.

There are currently no provincial guidelines on how Ontarians should go about hosting a yard sale amid the pandemic.

Johnson said the city understands that thrifty Hamiltonians come out of hibernation in the spring and summer as people line their lawns and driveways with stuff they hope to sell.

“If people do try and have one privately, they need to keep the numbers down and they need to keep people safely distanced while they’re doing their business,” he said. “That’s the way we’ve looked at this throughout the pandemic.”

Johnson said the only stipulation around yard sales is that they are not allowed to be hosted in public spaces, such as a park or a city-owned parking lot. Community-wide sales are also discouraged, he added.

Attendance at yard sales could grow as early as June 14 -- the tentative date at which the province will move into step one of reopening -- when outdoor gatherings grow to a limit of 10 people.

It’s unclear if this year’s Beach Strip Garage Sale will be cancelled once again. The annual sale, which is usually held in mid-July and attracts hundreds of bargain hunters, was called off during the first wave.

For those hoping to host a yard sale, Southwestern Public Health, which covers St. Thomas, Elgin and Oxford counties, offered the following tips last September.

For sellers:

Position tables as far apart as possible to allow for physical distancing;
Have hand sanitizer available for customer use;
Wear a mask when physical distancing is not possible.

For buyers:

Do not go out if you feel sick;
Wash and sanitize your hands often;
Stay physically distanced from other shoppers;
Wear a mask when physical distancing is not possible;
Limit the handling of items as much as possible.