Contra Costa County, CA Garage & Yard Sales: Frequency Limits (2026)

Contra Costa County Code does not impose an explicit numeric cap on garage sale frequency in unincorporated areas. However, sales held too frequently can be recharacterized by Code Enforcement as an unpermitted home business or unlicensed retail operation under Zoning Code Title 88, particularly if the resident is selling newly acquired merchandise or the property shows signs of being a storefront. The informal industry and code-enforcement threshold across Bay Area counties is two to four sales per residential property per calendar year, each lasting up to three consecutive days. California Board of Equalization (now CDTFA) treats sellers who hold three or more sales of tangible personal property in a 12-month period as engaged in business, potentially requiring a seller's permit and sales tax collection. Sales in HOA-governed neighborhoods may have additional restrictions set by CC&Rs.