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San Rafael, CA Garage & Yard Sales: Frequency, Duration & Permits (2026)

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

Key Facts

Permit required
None (exempt)
Governing exemption
SRMC § 10.48.020.C
Applies to
Private-property garage/yard sales
General permit chapter
10.48 (peddlers)

Summary

San Rafael exempts garage and yard sales on private property entirely from its peddler, solicitor, and itinerant merchant permit chapter, so no city permit is required to hold one.

C.Garage or yard sales on private property shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter.D.Peddlers or solicitors engaging in door-to-door peddling or solicitation shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter, except that the provisions of Section 10.48.030 shall apply to any such activities. (Ord. 1811 § 3 (part), 2003).

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 37).

Full Breakdown

SRMC Chapter 10.48 requires peddlers, solicitors, and itinerant merchants to obtain a police-issued permit before doing business in San Rafael. Section 10.48.020.C specifically exempts garage or yard sales on private property from every provision of that chapter, alongside exemptions for newspaper vendors, permitted special events, and door-to-door solicitors covered by Section 10.48.030. No other section in the code found sets a frequency, duration, or hours limit on private-property garage sales.

Violations & Fines

A private-property garage or yard sale itself carries no permit violation. But conducting sales that go beyond an occasional private sale and instead function as ongoing peddling can trigger the permit requirement in Section 10.48.040, unlawful without a police-issued permit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a city permit to hold a garage sale in San Rafael?
No. SRMC Section 10.48.020.C exempts garage and yard sales on private property from the entire peddler, solicitor, and itinerant merchant permit chapter.
Is there a limit on how many garage sales I can hold per year in San Rafael?
The municipal code text located does not set a frequency, duration, or hours limit specifically for exempt private-property garage and yard sales.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in San Rafael

Parking Rules: Overnight ParkingSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Construction HoursSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: EV ChargingSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome Restrictions

All San Rafael rules

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