Winston-Salem, NC Garage & Yard Sales: Frequency, Duration & Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Sales allowed
- 2 per year
- Max length
- 7 days each
- Items allowed
- household items only
- No resale goods
- prohibited
- Penalty
- up to $500 fine
Summary
Winston-Salem caps residential garage and yard sales at two per year, with each sale limited to no more than seven days.
It shall be unlawful for residents of residential districts to conduct more than two garage/yard sales per year, neither one of which shall exceed seven days in length. Such sales are to be exclusively of residential household items and not items purchased for resale.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 102 | Personnel: Supplement 96 | Water and Sewer: Supplement 56 | Solid Waste: Supplement 15).
Full Breakdown
City code allows residents of residential districts to hold garage or yard sales, but restricts them to two per calendar year, with neither sale running longer than seven days. Sales must consist exclusively of household items belonging to the resident: goods bought for resale are not permitted. There is no separate clock-hours provision; the restriction is on frequency and duration. A violation is a class 3 misdemeanor under G.S. 14-4, punishable by a fine of up to $500.00.
Violations & Fines
Class 3 misdemeanor under G.S. 14-4; fine up to $500.00 for exceeding the two-sales-per-year or seven-day limits, or selling resale merchandise.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many garage sales can I hold per year in Winston-Salem?
Can I sell items I bought to resell at my garage sale?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Winston-Salem
Compare Winston-Salem to another location·View the North Carolina garage & yard sales overview
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