Winston-Salem allows up to 4 garage or yard sales per household per calendar year. Each sale may last no more than 3 consecutive days and cannot start before 7:00 AM or continue past sunset.
Garage sales are regulated under Winston-Salem Code Chapter 30 (Licenses) and the Unified Development Ordinances. Each household is allowed 4 sales per calendar year, each limited to 3 consecutive days. Sale hours run from 7:00 AM to sunset. Sales must take place on the homeowners property, not on vacant lots or in public right-of-way. No permit or business license is required for bona fide occasional garage sales, but operating more than 4 sales per year or holding continuous multi-weekend sales is considered a commercial retail activity requiring a home occupation permit and zoning review. Only household goods, personal belongings, and items produced by the household may be sold. Sales cannot include new merchandise purchased for resale. Estate sales conducted within 6 months of a death or move are permitted without counting against the limit. Winston-Salem HOAs in neighborhoods like Sherwood Forest, Ardmore, and West End may have additional restrictions or annual neighborhood sale events.
Exceeding the 4-sale limit or running sales outside allowed hours can result in $100 civil penalties. Operating as a retail business without a home occupation permit can trigger additional zoning enforcement.
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