Garage Sale Rules by City (2026)
Permits, Frequency Limits & Sign Rules
Find the rules for your area:
Find out if you need a permit for a garage sale, how many you can hold per year, and where you can post signs in your city.
The table below breaks down the rules across 45 states and 465 cities and counties. Every entry is based on the actual municipal code for that location, not a guess or a generic template. Click any location to see the full ordinance details, including fines, exceptions, and local FAQs.
Rules by State
Each state is colored by the most common local rule. Click a state to see the cities and counties we cover there.
| State | Locations | Strict | Moderate | Permissive | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 103 | - | 21 | 82 | Few Restrictions |
| Texas | 49 | 1 | 20 | 28 | Few Restrictions |
| Florida | 47 | 1 | 19 | 27 | Few Restrictions |
| New York | 29 | - | 6 | 23 | Few Restrictions |
| New Jersey | 19 | - | 6 | 13 | Few Restrictions |
| Illinois | 17 | - | 3 | 14 | Few Restrictions |
| Arizona | 15 | - | - | 15 | Few Restrictions |
| Ohio | 15 | - | 2 | 13 | Few Restrictions |
| Washington | 11 | - | - | 11 | Few Restrictions |
| Massachusetts | 11 | - | - | 11 | Few Restrictions |
| Hawaii | 11 | - | - | 11 | Few Restrictions |
| Pennsylvania | 11 | - | - | 11 | Few Restrictions |
| Georgia | 11 | - | - | 11 | Few Restrictions |
| Colorado | 10 | - | - | 10 | Few Restrictions |
| Virginia | 9 | - | 1 | 8 | Few Restrictions |
| North Carolina | 9 | - | 1 | 8 | Few Restrictions |
| Michigan | 8 | - | 3 | 5 | Few Restrictions |
| Utah | 6 | - | - | 6 | Few Restrictions |
| Oklahoma | 5 | - | 1 | 4 | Few Restrictions |
| Nevada | 5 | - | 1 | 4 | Few Restrictions |
| Missouri | 5 | - | - | 5 | Few Restrictions |
| Mississippi | 5 | - | - | 5 | Few Restrictions |
| Iowa | 4 | - | 1 | 3 | Few Restrictions |
| Oregon | 4 | - | 1 | 3 | Few Restrictions |
| Tennessee | 4 | - | - | 4 | Few Restrictions |
| Connecticut | 4 | - | - | 4 | Few Restrictions |
| Indiana | 4 | - | - | 4 | Few Restrictions |
| Kentucky | 3 | - | - | 3 | Few Restrictions |
| Maryland | 3 | - | - | 3 | Few Restrictions |
| Nebraska | 3 | - | - | 3 | Few Restrictions |
| Wisconsin | 3 | - | - | 3 | Few Restrictions |
| Louisiana | 3 | - | - | 3 | Few Restrictions |
| Arkansas | 2 | - | 2 | - | Some Restrictions |
| New Mexico | 2 | - | - | 2 | Few Restrictions |
| Alabama | 2 | - | - | 2 | Few Restrictions |
| District of Columbia | 2 | - | - | 2 | Few Restrictions |
| Kansas | 2 | - | - | 2 | Few Restrictions |
| Minnesota | 2 | - | - | 2 | Few Restrictions |
| South Carolina | 1 | - | 1 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Delaware | 1 | - | - | 1 | Few Restrictions |
| Rhode Island | 1 | - | - | 1 | Few Restrictions |
| South Dakota | 1 | - | - | 1 | Few Restrictions |
| New Hampshire | 1 | - | - | 1 | Few Restrictions |
| Idaho | 1 | - | - | 1 | Few Restrictions |
| Alaska | 1 | - | - | 1 | Few Restrictions |
How Cities Compare
These rankings are based on verified municipal code data, not opinion. A "strict" rating means the city has heavy restrictions, high fines, or outright bans. "Permissive" means few or no local restrictions beyond state law.
Most Restrictive
- 1Coral Gables, FLYes, for all garage sales
Coral Gables requires a permit for all garage sales. The Garage Sale Permit Application must be obtained from the city before conducting any residential sale. Code Enforcement Officers may enter the property during the sale to verify compliance. The city's strict residential character standards apply to all garage sale operations.
- 2Conroe, TXYes
Conroe requires a garage sale permit for residential sales. Applications must be submitted to the Permits Division at 700 Metcalf St. or emailed to permits@cityofconroe.org. Sales may not exceed 72 consecutive hours (3 days) and are limited to one per year per residence.
Fewest Restrictions
- 1Winter Park, FLNot required
Winter Park does not require permits for residential garage sales. Sales limited to 3 per household per calendar year, maximum 2 consecutive days. Signs and parking must comply with city regulations.
- 2Rockland County, NYNone
No countywide garage sale permit in Rockland. Some villages (notably Nyack, Suffern) require a low-cost permit from the Village Clerk; most towns (Ramapo, Clarkstown, Orangetown, Stony Point) do not require a permit but cap sales at 2-4 per year.
- 3Rancho Cordova, CANot required
Rancho Cordova does not require a permit for residential garage sales but limits each household to a small number per year, each lasting a few days, with signage restrictions on public property.
- 4Montgomery County, TXNot required
Montgomery County does not require garage sale permits. Conroe and Willis also require no permit. The Woodlands allows garage sales with deed restrictions governing frequency and signage placement.
- 5Salt Lake City, UT
Salt Lake City does not require a permit for occasional residential garage sales, but frequent sales cross the line into retail and trigger business licensing.
- 6Arapahoe County, CONot required countywide
Aurora, Centennial, and most Arapahoe County cities do NOT require permits for residential garage sales if within frequency and signage limits. No permit needed in unincorporated county. Sales must be personal property only—not commercially purchased inventory. HOAs may impose additional rules.
- 7Colonie, NYNone for personal sales
The Town of Colonie does not require a permit to hold an occasional personal garage sale. Sales are governed by the Land Use Law (Chapter 190) and Building Department FAQ, which limit operators to noncommercial sales of personally owned items, and bar the importing of merchandise for resale, which would constitute an unlawful home business.
- 8Fillmore, CANo for standard sales
Fillmore does not require a formal permit for standard residential garage and yard sales conducted within frequency limits. However, sales must comply with sign regulations and neighborhood standards. Multi-family or community-wide sales may need coordination with the city.
- 9Oneida County, NYNot required
Most Oneida County municipalities do not require garage sale permits. Utica allows 4 sales per year and Rome 2, typically 3 consecutive days, at the permit holder's residence only. Town of New Hartford allows 3 per year without permit.
- 10Tulsa County, OKNone required
Tulsa County does not require garage sale permits in unincorporated areas. City of Tulsa requires no permit but regulates signs under TRO § 60-204. Occasional sales are exempt from sales tax under OK Tax Commission rules.
All 465 Locations
Every city and county below has verified ordinance data for this topic. Click any location for the full breakdown including fines, exceptions, and local FAQs.
Frequently Asked Questions
These questions come from the most common things people ask about this topic across different cities.