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

Lake County's Zoning Ordinance addresses rummage sales — defined as the sale of second-hand goods by individuals or non-profit organizations, including garage and yard sales open to the public — as a permitted use category, with frequency thresholds that distinguish occasional sales from an ongoing commercial use. Lake County publishes a 'How do I get a garage sale permit?' FAQ on its website, but the public answer field is not populated, and we could not confirm a specific countywide permit requirement, set number of allowed sales per year, mandated hours, or fee for the unincorporated area. In practice, occasional residential garage sales are a customary accessory use; turning a property into a near-continuous sales operation can cross into an unpermitted commercial use that requires planning approval. Because the rules are tied to a parcel's zoning, the County directs residents to confirm specifics with the Lake County Planning Division (707-263-2221) before holding repeated sales. These rules apply only in the unincorporated county — the cities of Lakeport and Clearlake set their own garage-sale rules.