If you’re planning on having a garage sale, expect to pay a little more: The cost of a city sales license is going up for the first time since 1985.
The $1 increase—up from $1.50—will be used to cover administrative costs. In the past, residents could only pick up a license at City Hall or the Wichita Eagle. The City of Wichita now allows garage sales to be licensed online.
The Wichita City Council approved the new price at their meeting on Tuesday. Some members say the added cost will make it harder for people to get a permit—a requirement the city already struggles to enforce.
Bryan Frye was one of two council members to vote against the measure.
“It seems every inconvenient now for people that want to do and follow the law and go and get the permit. We’re just creating more obstacles for people that want to abide, which is going to mean we’re going to have less abiding it, and we're just going to continue in this circle," he said.
Wichita residents are allowed two garage sales per year, for up to three days each. Council member James Clendenin, who also voted against the cost increase, said the city now needs to work on educating the public about the permitting requirement and resolve issues related to enforcement.
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