Elizabeth, NJ Garage & Yard Sales: Garage Sale Permits (2026)

Garage and yard sale regulation across Union County is administered municipally with generally modest permit requirements. Elizabeth Revised Ordinances Chapter 5.44 requires a free permit from the City Clerk's office; residents are limited to 2 sales per calendar year of up to 3 consecutive days each. Westfield Code §11-14 requires a permit through the Town Clerk with a $5 administrative fee, limit 2 sales per year. Summit Code Chapter 155 requires free permit through Municipal Clerk, 2 sales per year. Cranford Code §4-13 requires registration (free) with Town Clerk, limit 2 sales per year of 2 consecutive days each. Scotch Plains Township Code similarly requires permit. Plainfield requires free permit through City Clerk. Linden Code §72 requires permit with small fee. Roselle, Rahway, and Union Township operate similar permit systems. Religious organizations, schools, and charitable nonprofits are typically exempt from permit requirements or fall under separate charitable sale provisions. Items offered must be personal property; commercial retail sales from a residence require home business zoning approval. Multi-family or neighborhood-wide sales (block sales) may be permitted as a single event with one permit if coordinated. Estate sales following a death or house sale are typically handled under estate sale-specific provisions and may not count toward the annual limit.