Richmond, CA Garage & Yard Sales: Garage Sale Permits (2026)

Under Richmond Municipal Code Chapter 6.42 (Garage Sales) and the general business license exemption for casual sales, residents may hold garage, yard, moving, or estate sales on their property without a business license or Special Event Permit, provided the sale is a genuine disposition of household personal property — not inventory acquired for resale. A typical casual garage sale runs 1-3 days and may operate from sunrise to sunset. Sales held repeatedly (e.g., every weekend) or offering significant quantities of new/wholesale merchandise are considered retail operations and require a Richmond Business License (tax certificate) and compliance with zoning (which generally prohibits retail in residential zones). Signs must comply with RMC Chapter 15.06 (see garage-sale-signs entry): on private property only, no utility poles, removed within 24 hours after the sale. Parking and traffic congestion must not create hazards; neighbors may complain to Code Enforcement if a sale causes recurring blockages or noise. Moving sales and estate sales follow the same rules; professional estate sale companies operating on the property should have a city business license. Sale of certain items requires additional compliance: firearms must go through a licensed FFL dealer (federal and CA Penal Code §§27545, 28050), used car sales beyond 4 per year require a DMV dealer license (Vehicle Code §285), and mattresses sold used must display California law labels. Richmond's Rent Program exempts garage sale income from rent calculations.