Southfield, MI Garage & Yard Sales: Frequency, Duration & Permits (2026)

The rule sits in Chapter 70, Article XII of the Southfield City Code, Sections 7.421 through 7.426. Southfield defines a garage sale broadly: it covers a "basement sale," "attic sale" or any residential sale of used personal property such as clothing, household effects, tools, garden implements, toys and recreation equipment that is advertised so the public at large can find out about it (Sec. 7.421). Before the sale, the homeowner or occupant of the premises must obtain a permit from the city clerk, and the application must state the applicant's name and the sale's duration; the fee is one dollar (Sec.

7.422). Southfield will not issue a second permit for the same premises until six months have passed since the prior permit expired, which is the city's real frequency cap. Once issued, the sale cannot run past five consecutive days, and the hours are fixed at 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Sec. 7.423). The sale must be run by the homeowner or occupant personally, with no merchandise brought in from outside sources, though churches, schools, veterans' organizations, fraternal or religious societies and other civic or charitable nonprofits are exempt from that restriction, and from the permit and duration rules, when they hold the sale themselves (Sec.

7.425, Sec. 7.426). A resident simply selling an individual piece of furniture or a replaced appliance during ordinary housekeeping does not need a permit under this chapter at all (Sec. 7.426).