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Garage & Yard Sales in Houston, TX (2026)

3 verified garage & yard sales rules for Houston, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Garage Sale Permits

Houston requires a $10 garage sale permit from the Administration and Regulatory Affairs (ARA) department before holding a sale. Each address is limited to two permits per calendar year, with each sale lasting up to three consecutive days. Applications must be submitted at least three business days in advance. Signs on public property are prohibited.

Houston Garage Sale Permit ($10, Max 2/Year)

Some Restrictions

Frequency Limits

Houston does not limit how often you can hold a garage sale. Texas state law limits the occasional sales tax exemption to two sales per 12-month period or $3,000 in annual sales. Exceeding these triggers business sales tax requirements.

Houston Garage Sale Frequency Limits

Few Restrictions

Tex. Tax Code § 151.304

Sec. 151.304. OCCASIONAL SALES. (a) An occasional sale of a taxable item and the storage, use, or consumption of a taxable item the sale or transfer of which to a consumer is made by an occasional sale are exempted from the taxes imposed by this chapter.(b) In this section, "occasional sale" means:(1) one or two sales of taxable items, other than an amusement service, at retail during a 12-mont...

Time Restrictions

Houston does not impose specific time restrictions on garage or yard sales. General noise limits under Chapter 30 apply (quiet hours 10 PM to 7 AM with 58 dB residential limit). Deed restrictions may impose neighborhood-specific hours.

Houston Garage Sale Time Restrictions

Few Restrictions

Looking for Harris County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Houston city rules.

Garage & Yard Sales in Harris County