Indianapolis-Marion County does not require a permit for residential garage sales. Garage sales are exempt from the Transient Merchant license under Marion County Code of Ordinances Chapter 987 (Transient Merchant Activities and Garage Sales) and the state Home Rule Act, provided the sale is at the seller's residence and occurs on no more than three occasions per calendar year.
Marion County Code of Ordinances §987-101 defines a 'garage sale' (also yard sale, lawn sale, rummage sale, attic sale) as the sale of personal household goods at a residential property. §987-102 limits each household to three sales per calendar year, with each sale lasting no more than 3 consecutive days, and no sale starting before 7:00 a.m. or running past 9:00 p.m. Selling new merchandise, items purchased for resale, or anything outside the personal-property exemption converts the activity into a Transient Merchant operation requiring an annual license under Chapter 987 Article I ($75 fee). Signs advertising the sale must be removed within 24 hours of the close and may not be placed in the public right-of-way (Marion County Code §621-127) or on utility poles.
Operating without complying with §987 (exceeding 3 sales/year, running past time limits, or selling new merchandise without a Transient Merchant license) is a Class C ordinance violation, fined $50 first offense, $100 second offense, and $200 each subsequent offense within 12 months. Illegal signs may be removed by the city with a $25 sign-impoundment fee per sign.
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