Merced, CA Sign Regulations: Garage Sale Signs (2026)

Garage sale signs in the City of Merced are governed by Chapter 9.54 (Garage Sales) of the Municipal Code (Ord. No. 2024, 1999), in addition to the content-neutral sign standards of Zoning Ordinance Chapter 20.62. Section 9.54.020.C sets the signage rules: a garage sale sign may, with the property owner's permission, be posted on property other than the sale site; no garage sale sign may be placed in the public right-of-way or on public property, including electrical poles and traffic signals; and all signs must be removed within 24 hours after the sale concludes. If the City has to remove non-compliant garage sale signs, the responsible person is charged the cost of cleanup and removal. The same chapter limits the sales themselves: under Section 9.54.020.A, a maximum of four garage sales per year are allowed on any lot, with no more than one per three-month period, each lasting no more than three consecutive days, and none held between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Items may not be displayed or stored in the public right-of-way and must be removed from any yard visible from the street after the sale. Because the citywide sign code is content-neutral, a garage sale message also benefits from the temporary residential sign allowances in Chapter 20.62 (a temporary freestanding sign up to 4 square feet in residential zones). Violating Chapter 9.54 is a misdemeanor under Section 9.54.030.