The Roanoke Times | File June

Before the city's new yard sale rules took effect in August, yard sale signs sprouted like flowers at busy intersections, such as this one at the corner of Wadsworth and Eighth streets. Now, people hosting yard sales are allowed one sign to advertise it, and it can only be displayed on their property.

Then: The Radford City Council voted in June to regulate yard sales.

Residents had complained that some yard sales were evolving from occasional events to get rid of surplus stuff into regular ongoing businesses. As the ordinance puts it, "There are a number of citizens of Radford who conduct yard sales ... on such a frequent basis as to abuse the right."

So the city decided to require permits for yard sales, to limit sales to no more than three days and to limit residents to three yard sales per year. The ordinance prohibits signs advertising yard sales except for one sign on the property during the sale. A permit allowing the yard sale must be displayed at the site during the sale.

A violation of the ordinance is a Class 3 misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine of up to $500.

Several communities in the Roanoke and New River valleys regulate yard sales one way or another, but no one else has a sign limit as strict as Radford.

Christiansburg allows two two-day yard sales a year. Signs aren't allowed on rights of way.

Pulaski requires a permit and allows three two-day sales a year. Signs can be in rights of way, but they have to be removed within 24 hours.

Councilman Bruce Brown cast the only "no" vote on the ordinance.

"I'm just worried that we tried to fix something, and we used a cannon to kill an ant," he said then. "I hope that doesn't come back to haunt us."

Now: Radford eased into enforcement. The ordinance was supposed to go into effect July 23, but the commissioner of revenue's office started handing out permits in August. Between then and Nov. 16, when the most recent permit was picked up, the office issued 42 permits.

There's been no problem with the permits, no complaints about the process or the limited number of sales, Commissioner Cathy Flinchum said. But one thing has caused people heartburn.

"It's the signs," Flinchum said, "being able to advertise. How do you get people there?

"One man came in, sat down in the chair over there and said, 'I put all my stuff out. I put my sign in my yard. And nobody came.' "

There are two community bulletin boards where people can post signs promoting their yard sales, but not everyone knows where they are. That leaves sellers with only one option -- paid advertising. Not a good option, in Flinchum's opinion.

"That takes a lot of yard sale items to get your money back," she said.