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Colonie, NY Garage & Yard Sales: Frequency, Duration & Permits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Max sales per year
3 per premises/person, 12 months
Max duration
3 consecutive days
Allowed hours
8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Resident requirement
1 seller must live there
Enforcing agency
Building Department

Summary

Town of Colonie Code § 190-50 limits garage sales to three per premises or per seller in any twelve-month period, each running no more than three consecutive days between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., and restricts sales to goods the resident-seller actually owns.

A. Garage sales must be conducted on the premises of a single-family or multifamily dwelling. B. At least one seller shall be a resident of the premises or an authorized agent of the estate at which the garage sale is conducted... Garage sales shall not include goods, new or used, specifically acquired by the seller for resale. C. No more than three garage sales shall be conducted at the same premises or by the same person in any one twelve-month period. D. Garage sales shall be no longer than three consecutive days. E. Garage sales shall only be conducted between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4902401; v37 updated 2026-05-28; through 05-28-2026).

Full Breakdown

Section 190-50, Garage sales, ties every sale to a residence: subsection A requires that garage sales 'be conducted on the premises of a single-family or multifamily dwelling,' and subsection B requires that at least one seller be a resident of the premises or an authorized agent of the estate holding the sale. The goods offered are restricted to items belonging to the seller that were acquired for the seller's own use, whether or not actually used, and the code expressly excludes 'goods, new or used, specifically acquired by the seller for resale,' which bars using a garage sale as an unlicensed retail operation.

m. Subsection F places responsibility for order during the sale on the person conducting it. Enforcement of § 190-50 sits with the Building Department under § 190-54B, which administers Christmas tree sales, garage sales, adult use and home occupation standards and has the power to make necessary inspections.

Violations & Fines

Exceeding three sales per premises or per seller in a twelve-month span, running a sale longer than three consecutive days, opening before 8 a.m. or staying open past 6 p.m., or selling goods bought specifically for resale all violate § 190-50 and are enforced by the Building Department, which can order the sale shut down and pursue the Town's standard zoning violation penalties for repeat or willful noncompliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many garage sales can I hold at my Colonie home each year?
No more than three, whether counted by the same premises or the same person, in any rolling twelve-month period, per § 190-50C. Each of those sales is also capped at three consecutive days and must run only between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Can I sell items I bought just to resell at a garage sale?
No. Section 190-50B limits sales to items the seller personally acquired for their own use, even if never actually used, and expressly excludes goods, new or used, that were specifically acquired for resale. That bars turning a garage sale into an informal retail stand.
Does someone need to live at the house holding the sale?
Yes. Section 190-50B requires that at least one seller be a resident of the premises, or an authorized agent of the estate if the sale involves an estate's belongings, and the sale must take place on the premises of a single-family or multifamily dwelling.

Sources & Official References

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