San Bernardino, CA Property Maintenance: Garage Sale Rules (2026)

San Bernardino Municipal Code Chapter 8.60 and zoning rules permit occasional yard and garage sales as a minor residential accessory use without a business license, provided the activity is incidental and does not rise to a retail business. Residents may hold up to three garage sales per calendar year at a single address, each lasting no more than three consecutive days, generally Friday through Sunday. Hours are 8:00 AM to sunset, with amplified music and sound limited by the city noise ordinance. Items sold must be the personal property of the household, such as used furniture, clothing, books, tools, and hobby items. Buying inventory from liquidators, flea markets, or estate sales and reselling from home is not a garage sale; it is an unlicensed retail business and requires a business registration under Chapter 5.04 plus a home occupation permit, which most residential zones do not allow for retail. Signs advertising the sale are limited under the sign rules and are covered in more detail in the garage sale signs subcategory. Sales that block sidewalks, spill into the public right-of-way, or create parking or traffic problems can be shut down by the Police Department, and profits above the casual garage sale threshold are subject to state sales tax collection requirements if recurring.