Detroit, MI Garage & Yard Sales: Frequency, Duration & Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Hours allowed
- Daylight hours only
- Max duration
- 3 consecutive days per sale
- Frequency cap
- 1 sale per 90 days
- Permit needed
- None if limits are followed
Summary
Detroit caps yard and garage sales to daylight hours only, three consecutive days per sale, and one sale per property every 90 days under the zoning code's accessory-use rules.
(1)A maximum of one yard or garage sale accessory to a dwelling may be held within any 90-day period without need for a permit. In no instance may another yard or garage sale be permitted until 90 days shall have elapsed since the previous sale.(2)All yard and garage sales shall be conducted so that no goods offered for sale are located on any public street or sidewalk, and so that vehicle and pedestrian traffic on public streets and sidewalks is not obstructed.(3)Only goods of the property owner or tenant shall be sold.(4)Yard or garage sales shall be limited to daylight hours and shall last for no longer than three consecutive days. (Code 1984, § 61-12-438; Ord. No. 11-05, § 1(61-12-438), eff. 5-28-2005; Ord. No. 08-12, § 1(61-12-438), eff. 6-5-2012; Ord. No. 2020-12, § 1, eff. 12-9-2020)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 4).
Full Breakdown
Detroit City Code § 50-12-558 treats a yard or garage sale as an accessory use to a dwelling and limits it to daylight hours only, running no more than three consecutive days. A property gets one sale per 90-day period without needing a temporary-use permit; hold a second sale before that window closes and it isn't allowed. Goods must belong to the property owner or tenant, and nothing can be displayed on a public street or sidewalk or block foot and vehicle traffic. The rule sits in the zoning code's temporary-uses article, enforced by the Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department.
Violations & Fines
Running a sale after dark, beyond three days, or before the 90-day window resets is a zoning violation the Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department can cite and require the sale to stop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run a garage sale at night in Detroit?
How often can I hold a garage sale at my Detroit home?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Detroit
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Frequency, Duration & Permits in Nearby Cities
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