A Citywide Garage Sale In Elmhurst? It May Happen

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst may go ahead with a plan to coordinate a citywide garage sale, as other towns have done.

It is seen as a way to help residents and reduce the amount of garbage going to landfills.

This week, a City Council committee approved a proposal to hold the sale from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. the weekend of Oct. 3-4.

The plan will now go before the full council for a vote.

Residents wishing to participate would register through a city-managed online portal. Registered addresses would be included on a publicly available digital map and a printable participant list.

Promotion of the event would start in August.

"To help maintain a consistent community appearance, temporary garage sale signage may only be installed on private property and not on the public right-of-way," a city memo said.

Participation in the sale would not count toward the twice-annual limit on the number of garage sales permitted under the local code.

The city says it would serve as a coordinator and promoter, but not assume responsibility for individual sales, transactions, merchandise, property conditions, personal injuries or disputes.

The sale is considered a pilot program. Afteward, officials plan to evaluate it.

Towns such as Franklin Park, Geneva, Roselle and St. Charles have coordinated such sales.

Last August, Aldermen Michael Bram, Mike Baker and James Nudera asked for a council committee to consider the sale.