Winston-Salem, NC Garage & Yard Sales: Garage Sale Permits (2026)

Garage sales in Winston-Salem operate under Code Chapter 30 (Licenses) and the Unified Development Ordinances. Bona fide occasional garage sales are exempt from permit and business license requirements provided they comply with the 4 sales per calendar year limit, each lasting no more than 3 consecutive days, during the 7 AM to sunset window. Sales must take place on the propertys principal residence lot, not on vacant land or public right-of-way. Only household goods and personal property may be sold; items acquired for resale purposes convert the event into a retail operation. Estate sales conducted within 6 months of a death or residential move are generally permitted without counting against the 4-sale limit. Residents wishing to exceed the 4-sale limit must apply for a Home Occupation Permit from the Planning and Development Services Department and meet UDO home occupation standards (no external signage, no more than one non-resident employee, no customer parking on street, sales limited to products produced in the home or personal goods). Neighborhood-wide annual sales in HOAs like Ardmore, Buena Vista, and Sherwood Forest typically use an HOA-coordinated blanket approach.