Alpine County, CA Property Maintenance: Garage Sale Rules (2026)

Alpine County, the smallest county in California by population and entirely unincorporated, does not regulate garage, yard or rummage sales through its County Code. Title 5 (Business Taxes, Licenses and Regulations) contains only two chapters, 5.04 Business Licenses and 5.08 Bingo, and neither establishes a garage-sale permit, a cap on the number of sales per year, hours, or temporary-sign rules of the kind some larger California cities impose. There is no separate chapter elsewhere in the code addressing residential resale events. As a practical matter, a resident holding an occasional garage sale in Markleeville, Woodfords, Bear Valley, Kirkwood or elsewhere in the county is not subject to a local garage-sale licensing scheme. Two general limits still bear on such events: temporary signage placed in the public right-of-way is subject to the County's streets and zoning provisions (Title 12 and Title 18), and a person who holds sales frequently enough to be 'doing business' could fall under the Chapter 5.04 business-license framework. Anyone planning a large or recurring sale, or wishing to post directional signs, should confirm current requirements with the County's Community Development Department, since the absence of a dedicated ordinance does not override sign or zoning rules.