Temecula, CA Garage & Yard Sales: Frequency Limits (2026)

To distinguish casual personal-property sales from de facto commercial retail, Temecula limits residential garage sales to typically four per calendar year per address, with each sale running no more than three consecutive days (TMC Chapter 5.04). The frequency cap applies to the address rather than the individual resident, so multiple households at the same property share the allowance. Sales must be at least 30 days apart in most cases. The intent is to allow legitimate decluttering, estate downsizing, and seasonal cleanouts while preventing residential properties from operating as unlicensed retail outlets that strain parking, attract traffic, and undermine the surrounding neighborhood. When the limit is exceeded — common patterns include weekly weekend sales, sales of new or wholesale merchandise, or sales at a property the resident does not own or occupy — Code Compliance treats the activity as a home occupation or retail business requiring: a Business License under TMC Title 5, a Home Occupation Permit under TMC 17.04 if conducted from a residence (with strict customer and signage limits), and proper zoning for retail in commercial zones. Citations carry escalating fines.