Palm Desert, CA Garage & Yard Sales: Frequency, Duration & Permits (2026)

Chapter 5.82 of the Palm Desert Municipal Code regulates special event sales, a term that includes garage sales, yard sales, patio sales and other similar event sales in residential districts. The definition in § 5.82.010 ties the category to offering household or personal goods of the occupant of the premises where the sale is permitted, and it excludes commercial sale of goods purchased elsewhere for such special event sales.

No person can conduct a special event sale within a residential district without first obtaining a permit from the city and paying a fee of $10 for each special event sale (§ 5.82.020). Section 5.82.040 then sets the two limits that matter: any permit granted under the chapter is limited to seventy-two consecutive hours and two such special event sales in any calendar year. The code states the duration in consecutive hours rather than days, and it states the frequency per calendar year.

A permit holder must also follow the city's sign rules. Section 5.82.030 provides that failure to comply with the sign provisions results in the permit being revoked and gives cause to deny future requests for a permit. Garage sale signs are among the signs barred from public property, the public right-of-way and public utility poles under § 25.56.050(L), so advertising for a Palm Desert sale has to stay off the street right-of-way and utility poles to protect the permit.

Enforcement is by infraction. Section 5.82.050 deems any person who violates any provision of Chapter 5.82 guilty of an infraction, and Chapter 1.12 caps the general-penalty fine at $1,000 where no specific penalty is provided.