Washington, DC Garage & Yard Sales: Frequency, Duration & Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Sales allowed by right
- 5 per dwelling per 12-month period
- 6th sale
- Requires Board of Zoning Adjustment approval
- Retail sales
- General retail sales to walk-ins are barred
- Cross-referenced rule
- §250.1(g) folds in 1 accessory yard sale
Summary
The District treats a yard sale, garage sale, or home sales party as a home occupation activity capped by zoning, not an open-ended right. 11 DCMR-U § 251.1(l) allows five such sales per dwelling in any rolling twelve-month period as a matter of right, with a sixth available only through Board of Zoning Adjustment approval.
(2) Five (5) sales in the nature of yard sales, garage sales, or home sales parties may be held at a dwelling as a matter of right during a twelve-month (12-month) period; one (1) additional sale for a total of six (6) may be permitted if approved by the Board of Zoning Adjustment pursuant to Subtitle U § 251.6; (3) General retail sales or sales to customers without appointments shall not be permitted;
Full Breakdown
1(l). The rule ties the exemption to the home occupation framework: items sold must be directly associated with the home occupation under subsection (l)(1), and general retail sales or sales to walk-up customers without appointments remain barred under subsection (l)(3), so a homeowner can't run a standing weekend retail operation under the yard-sale label. The frequency cap itself sits in subsection (l)(2): a dwelling may hold five sales in the nature of yard sales, garage sales, or home sales parties as a matter of right during any twelve-month period.
6, the special-exception process that also governs other departures from the home occupation standards. 1(g), which folds one yard sale into the accessory uses permitted as a matter of right in all residential zones, confirming the sale is treated as incidental to residential use rather than as commercial retail activity needing a separate business license.
Violations & Fines
Holding more than five yard, garage, or home sales at one dwelling in a twelve-month period without Board of Zoning Adjustment approval is a zoning violation. Under 11 DCMR § 305.1, that exposes the owner or person maintaining the property to a fine of up to $100 per day the violation continues, and the Attorney General or an affected neighbor can seek an injunction under § 305.2 to stop additional sales.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many garage sales can I hold at my DC home each year?
Can I sell anything at a DC yard sale, or just household items?
Do I need a permit for a single yard sale?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Washington
Compare Washington to another location·View the District of Columbia garage & yard sales overview
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