Minneapolis, MN Garage & Yard Sales: Frequency, Duration & Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Max sale length
- 72 consecutive hours
- Max frequency
- 2 sales per 12 months
- Permit needed
- None, if exempt
- Governing chapter
- City Code Ch. 321
Summary
Garage, yard, and estate sales are exempt from the secondhand dealer license as long as they run no more than 72 hours and no more than two are held per residential dwelling each year.
The sale of secondhand or antique goods at events commonly known as "garage sales," "yard sales" or "estate sales" where all of the following are present: (1) The sale is held on property occupied as a dwelling by the seller... (4) No sale exceeds a period of seventy-two (72) consecutive hours. No more than two (2) sales are held in any twelve (12) month period at any residential dwelling.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72).
Full Breakdown
Minneapolis regulates secondhand goods dealing under City Code Chapter 321, but exempts garage, yard, and estate sales entirely from licensing if the seller occupies the dwelling (or the sale is run by a charitable/political organization there), the seller owns the items and didn't buy them for resale, the owner runs the sale and keeps the proceeds, no single sale runs longer than 72 consecutive hours, and no more than two sales happen at the same residential dwelling in any 12-month period. Exceed the frequency or duration limits and the activity falls under the secondhand goods dealer licensing requirements in Section 321.20 instead.
Violations & Fines
Running a sale longer than 72 hours or holding a third sale at the same address within 12 months forfeits the exemption, exposing the seller to the licensing requirement under Section 321.20 for operating as an unlicensed secondhand goods dealer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a garage sale in Minneapolis?
How many garage sales can I hold per year in Minneapolis?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Minneapolis
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