Garage-sale rules in Oakland County are set by each city or township, and the pattern varies sharply. Royal Oak requires no permit but bans sign placement in the right-of-way and on utility poles. Oak Park requires a $10 permit from the City Clerk, limits each sale to a maximum of 5 consecutive days, and caps residents at 2 permitted sales per year (with monthly Free Garage Sale Weekends from March–October that waive the permit). Most Oakland County communities also limit duration to 3–5 days, restrict hours to daylight only, and require all signs removed within 24 hours of the sale. Selling new merchandise or operating a continuous business from a residence is treated as an unlicensed home occupation, not a garage sale, and is prohibited.
Oak Park's rules are the most explicit in Oakland County: a homeowner or occupant must obtain a $10 permit from the City Clerk; sales are limited to 5 consecutive days and 2 permitted sales per year; merchandise must be displayed on the homeowner's personal property at least 3 feet back from the sidewalk. The City Council has authorized 'Free Garage Sale Weekends' once a month from March through October, during which permits and fees are waived. Royal Oak does not require a garage-sale permit but restricts signs: no placement in the public right-of-way (between sidewalk and curb), no placement on utility poles, and signs on private property only with the property owner's permission — all signs must be removed after the sale. Troy and Bloomfield Township limit residential rummage sales to 3 in any calendar year, with each sale capped at 3 consecutive days and daylight hours only. Farmington Hills caps sales at 4 per calendar year, 3 days each. Charter Township of Oakland and Orion Township require a clerk's permit and limit sales to 4 days. Selling regularly stocked new merchandise from a residence is treated as an unlicensed home occupation in every Oakland County municipality and is barred under residential zoning.
Sign violations are the most-cited offense: improperly placed garage-sale signs are removed by city DPW or code enforcement and the resident may be fined $50–$100 per sign in Royal Oak, Troy, and Farmington Hills. Operating without a required permit (where required) is a municipal civil infraction with fines $50–$250 per day. Exceeding the annual cap (e.g., a 4th sale in Bloomfield Township or a 3rd Oak Park sale outside Free Sale Weekends) is treated as operating an unlicensed home business and can be cited under the zoning code, with fines up to $500 per day plus an order to cease. Selling new merchandise or operating as a continuous resale shop converts the activity to an unlicensed home occupation prohibited in residential districts.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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