Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Stanislaus County, CA Garage & Yard Sales: Frequency, Duration & Permits (2026)

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

Key Facts

Max duration
3 consecutive days per sale
Max frequency
2 sales per calendar year
Applies to
unincorporated Stanislaus County only
Permit
none required for a garage sale
Violation
infraction under §6.64.040 / §1.36.020

Summary

Stanislaus County caps garage, yard, moving, and patio sales in the unincorporated area to three consecutive days per event, held no more than twice within any calendar year on the same premises. Code Section 6.64.020 sets this frequency ceiling directly, with no permit required: the count and duration limits are the entire compliance bar for a lawful sale.

City-specific rules exist: Modesto has its own frequency, duration & permits rules that differ from Stanislaus County's county-level regulations. If you live in Modesto, check the city-specific page instead.

No garage sale shall be conducted upon the same premises for more than three consecutive days or on more than two separate occasions within one calendar year.

Full Breakdown

64 governs garage sales in the unincorporated area, the incorporated cities of Modesto, Turlock, Ceres, Riverbank, Oakdale, Patterson, Newman, Waterford, and Hughson set their own rules. 010 defines a 'garage sale' broadly to include yard sales, moving sales, patio sales, and any similar sale, barter, or exchange of new, used, or secondhand goods connected with a dwelling unit. 020 then sets the operative limit: no garage sale may run more than three consecutive days on the same premises, and no more than two separate occasions are allowed within one calendar year at that address.

The limit attaches to the property, not the resident, so a change of household member hosting the sale does not reset the annual count. 68's itinerant vendor permit, which applies to commercial sellers operating from carts, stalls, or door-to-door routes rather than a private residence clearing out its own belongings. 020 is self-contained and enforceable on its own. 020 of the county code.

Violations & Fines

Violating any provision of Chapter 6.64, including exceeding three consecutive days or two sales a calendar year on the same premises, is an infraction under Section 6.64.040, punishable per County Code Section 1.36.020. Because the chapter sets no advance-notice or permit-application step, once a fourth day or a third event is confirmed on one property, the violation exists on its face, independent of the size or profit of the sale.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days can a garage sale run in unincorporated Stanislaus County?
County Code Section 6.64.020 caps a garage, yard, moving, or patio sale at three consecutive days on the same premises. There's no separate application or fee: the calendar itself is the rule. Run a fourth day and the sale becomes a code violation regardless of how the first three days were conducted.
How many garage sales can I hold per year at my Stanislaus County home?
Two. Section 6.64.020 limits any single property in the unincorporated county to two separate garage-sale occasions within one calendar year, each capped at three consecutive days. A third event on the same premises in the same year violates the chapter even if each individual sale stayed within the three-day limit.
Do I need a permit for a garage sale in Stanislaus County?
No. Chapter 6.64 sets only a duration and frequency ceiling, three days, twice a year, plus a two-sign limit under Section 6.64.030. Unlike the itinerant vendor permit required of commercial sellers under Chapter 6.68, a private residential garage sale needs no application, fee, or tax collector sign-off.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Stanislaus County

All Stanislaus County rules

California rules heatmap·Compare Stanislaus County to another location·View the California garage & yard sales overview

Get notified when Frequency, Duration & Permits in Stanislaus County, CA changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.

Frequency, Duration & Permits in Cities Across Stanislaus County