The Aberdeen City Council voted Wednesday to reduce the number of allowable garage sales from 10 a year to four.

Before the final vote, the council debated the effectiveness of any set limit without having some sort of permit system so the city could track sales at specific addresses. Councilman Denny Lawrence proposed an amendment to the ordinance, calling for an online registration system where, for $1, those holding garage sales would register with the city. After some debate about the cost and manpower a registration system would have attached to it, the council voted 8-4 against the amendment, with Councilwoman Tawni Andrews, Councilman James Cook, Lawrence and Councilman Alan Richrod voting in favor of the amendment.

The final vote to limit the number of garage sales to four was 9-3 in favor, with Andrews, James Cook and Councilwoman Alice Phelps accounting for the no votes. The ordinance goes into effect Jan. 1, 2018.