Redding's Garage & Yard Sales: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles garage & yard sales a little differently. In Redding, California, there are 2 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Frequency Limits

Redding Zoning Ordinance Section 18.17.020(D) caps residential garage and yard sales at three (3) sales in any twelve-month period, with each sale not exceeding three (3) consecutive days. Sales in excess of that limit are prohibited in all residential zones — no temporary use permit can be issued to exceed the cap on residential property. Sales held in commercial zones (rummage, secondhand, swap-meet style) are subject to a separate temporary use permit framework under Section 18.17.030.

Key details: Frequency Cap: 3 sales per 12-month period. Duration Cap: 3 consecutive days per sale. Code Section: Redding Zoning Ord. 18.17.020(D). Excess Sales: Prohibited in residential zones (no permit path). Commercial Zones: Rummage/secondhand allowed by TUP (18.17.030).

Holding a fourth or later garage or yard sale in any twelve-month period in a Redding residential zone is a direct violation of Section 18.17.020(D), enforceable as a zoning violation under RMC Chapter 1.13 with administrative citations and daily continuing-violation fines. The Director has no authority to issue a temporary use permit to exceed the residential-zone cap because Section 18.17.030 does not list residential garage sales as a permitable temporary use. Recurring sales that become a continuing retail business also draw Redding business-license enforcement and CDTFA sales-tax registration requirements.

Garage Sale Permits

No garage sale permit is required in Redding for ordinary residential sales. Redding Zoning Ordinance Section 18.17.020(D) lists garage and yard sales in residential zones as a temporary use exempt from any permit requirement — up to three (3) garage or yard sales in any twelve-month period, not exceeding three (3) consecutive days each, are deemed a use incidental to the residential use of the property. Garage or yard sales in excess of that limit are prohibited in all residential zones.

Key details: Permit Required: No — exempt under Section 18.17.020(D). Per Year Cap: 3 sales per 12-month period. Per Sale Duration: 3 consecutive days max. Above Threshold: Prohibited in all residential zones. Signage: On-property only; not in right-of-way.

Holding a fourth (or later) garage or yard sale within any twelve-month period in a residential zone is a violation of Section 18.17.020(D), enforceable as a zoning violation under RMC Chapter 1.13 with administrative citations and abatement orders. Signs posted in the public right-of-way are subject to removal without notice plus fines. Operating a continuing retail activity without a Redding business license is enforced by the City Finance Department with back-tax assessment and penalties. State-level sales-tax assessment for repeated sales beyond the California Revenue & Taxation Code Section 6006.5 occasional-sale window is enforced by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA).

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Redding gives residents more flexibility on garage sale permits.

The Bottom Line

Redding's garage & yard sales rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Redding is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Redding can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.