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Houston County, GA Garage & Yard Sales: Frequency, Duration & Permits (2026)

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

Key Facts

Frequency limit
2 sales per 12-month period
Duration limit
2 days per sale
Commercial property
Allowed only inside an enclosed building
Governing section
Code § 42-5
Penalty
Up to $500 fine and/or 90 days jail

Summary

Houston County limits residential yard sales and garage sales to two sales per year, capped at two days each, under section 42-5 of the general code. Commercial-zoned property can host sales only if held entirely inside an enclosed building. Violating the limit is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $500.00, up to 90 days in jail, or both.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Houston County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

(a)For the purpose of this section, the term yard sale/garage sale shall mean the sale or trading of used clothing, furniture, household items, food, dishes, antiques or similar goods or merchandise on a residentially zoned lot or parcel of land within the county.(b)Said yard sales/garage sales shall be allowed on a residential lot or parcel for not more than two sales not to exceed two days each during a 12-month period.(c)Said yard sales/garage sales shall be allowed on commercially zoned property within the county when conducted completely within an enclosed building.(d)Any person convicted of a violation of any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500.00 or by imprisonment for not more than 90 days or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Full Breakdown

" That means a household gets a maximum of four sale-days a year, split across two separate events, before it exceeds the ordinance. Subsection (c) extends the privilege to commercially zoned property, but only "when conducted completely within an enclosed building," so an outdoor sale in a commercial parking lot doesn't qualify. " The ordinance dates to a March 27, 1990 amendment and has not been revised since, so the two-sale, two-day structure remains the operative standard as codified.

Violations & Fines

Exceeding two yard sales per residential lot in a 12-month period, running a sale longer than two days, or holding an uncontained sale on commercial property all violate section 42-5. A conviction carries a fine of up to $500.00, up to 90 days in jail, or both, under the section's own penalty clause.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many yard sales can I hold at my Houston County home each year?
Section 42-5(b) allows no more than two yard sales or garage sales per residential lot in any 12-month period, and each of those sales can run no longer than two days, for a maximum of four total sale-days a year.
Can a business hold a yard sale on commercial property?
Yes, but only if it's "conducted completely within an enclosed building," under section 42-5(c). An outdoor sale set up in a parking lot or other open commercial space doesn't meet that requirement and isn't authorized under this section.
What's the penalty for holding too many yard sales?
Section 42-5(d) makes a violation a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500.00, imprisonment for up to 90 days, or both, separate from the Code's general $1,000.00 penalty schedule used for most other ordinance violations.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Houston County

All Houston County rules

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