Fountain Valley, CA Garage & Yard Sales: Frequency, Duration & Permits (2026)

Fountain Valley Municipal Code § 21.48.040(3) sets the numbers. Estate, garage or yard sale events are exempt from the temporary use permit requirement with no more than four events within a twelve-month period, and for no longer than three consecutive days for each event. The count runs on a rolling twelve months rather than a calendar year, so the fifth sale inside any twelve-month window is outside the exemption, and a sale that runs into a fourth consecutive day is too.

The exemption matters because § 21.48.030(b) says temporary land uses shall not be established, operated or conducted in any manner without a valid temporary use permit. The exempt list in § 21.48.040 is the exception. The section itself says uses that do not fall within the categories it defines shall comply with § 21.48.050, the list of allowed temporary uses that need a permit issued by the director. That list includes rummage sales, second hand sales and swap meets, but for eighteen consecutive days or less or six two-day weekends within a twelve-month period, and it is written for events on the property outside a private structure. Chapter 21.48 describes itself as covering temporary uses conducted on privately owned property outside of a private structure, such as outside displays and sales.

The director approves, approves with conditions or disapproves temporary use permit applications under § 21.48.020, and imposes conditions needed to keep the use compatible with surrounding uses. Applications are filed with the department before the temporary use starts (§ 21.48.060). Exempt events in the City of Fountain Valley need no application, so a household that stays within four sales a year of three days or fewer does not file anything with the city under this chapter.