AUBURN — A change to city rules could draw a line between flea markets and charity rummage sales.

“If you pay $50 per table for a spot at a flea market for an entire year, that’s not that great of a cost,” said Eric Cousens, Auburn’s deputy director of planning. “But if you do that for a two- to three-day charity sale, that cost is huge. So we want to hear if people will accept an amendment that will exempt nonprofit charity sales at existing event centers or churches or gyms from the flea market ordinance.”

It’s one of three changes the city is considering. The city is hosting a special meeting to discuss city rules for yard sales and flea markets at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Auburn Hall.

Cousens said the city is also considering a rule change to let local businesses host charity garage sales on their property.

“As long as it is less than twice in a six-month period, we could treat that like a yard sale — if the council and the public want to make that change,” Cousens said.

Cousens said a local farmer is asking to be allowed to sell items he’s collected on his property once each month.

“I think there is going to be a lot of concern with that, but he wants us to consider it, so we’ll hear from the public before we bring it to the council,” he said.

Cousens said he expects to present changes to the City Council later this spring.

“Obviously, the text is not written but these are the ideas we want to hear about before we take the time to write these,” he said.

staylor@sunjournal.com