Providence, RI Garage & Yard Sales: Frequency Limits (2026)

Providence County municipalities enforce frequency limits to prevent residential properties from operating as de-facto retail businesses. Providence generally accepts 2-4 yard sales per household per calendar year; repeated sales may be cited under home business zoning rules (Ch. 27) or nuisance (Ch. 14). Cranston, Warwick, Pawtucket, Woonsocket, East Providence, Smithfield, Johnston, and North Providence follow similar 2-4 sale annual caps, with each individual sale limited to 2-3 consecutive days. Multi-family or neighborhood-wide sales typically count as a single event when coordinated and properly advertised. Moving sales, estate sales following death, and charity/community sales usually do not count against the limit. Excessive frequency signals unlicensed retail and can trigger home business zoning violations — residential zones (R-1, R-2) in Providence County do not permit retail use without special permit. Commercially purchased inventory (new items purchased for resale) is always prohibited from yard sales regardless of frequency.