Fairfax, VA Garage & Yard Sales: Frequency Limits (2026)

Frequency caps on garage sales exist to preserve the residential character of neighborhoods and prevent de facto retail operations from running out of homes without the zoning, parking, and tax obligations that apply to commercial uses. Fairfax City's zoning ordinance treats garage sales as a permitted accessory use up to a modest number of events per year (three or four is the common Virginia standard), with each event lasting no more than a short window of consecutive days. Sales at apartments or condos are typically limited further and may be restricted to common areas only by HOA rules. Estate sales following a death or move are usually counted within the annual limit, though some jurisdictions exempt a one-time estate liquidation on sufficient documentation. Exceeding the annual cap triggers a determination by Zoning that the activity is a home business subject to home occupation rules, including a limit on customer visits, no outside employees, no external signage beyond the sign rules, and a Commissioner of the Revenue business license. Consignment or resale activities purchased for the purpose of resale are not residential garage sales regardless of frequency and require business licensing from the start. Code Administration investigates complaints, and repeat violations can lead to civil penalties and a cease-and-desist order.