You want to hold multiple garage sales throughout the year — one in spring, one in fall, maybe one to clear space before the holidays. Is that allowed? In most cities, yes. But most cities also have an annual limit, and exceeding it can turn your weekend hobby into a code violation.
Why Annual Limits Exist
Garage sale ordinances are designed to permit the casual, occasional sale of personal household property. The theory is that if you're selling that frequently and at that volume, you're functionally operating a retail business from a residential address — something that requires a business license, a vendor permit, and potentially a sales tax permit.
Annual limits are the line between "cleaning out the garage" and "running an unlicensed store." Most cities set that line at 2–4 sales per year.
Annual Limits by City
| City | State | Annual Limit | Max Days Each | Permit Required? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas | TX | 2/yr | 3 days | Yes (free) |
| Fort Worth | TX | 2/yr | 3 days | Yes (free) |
| Garland | TX | 3/yr | 3 days | Yes (free) |
| Grand Prairie | TX | 2/yr | 3 days | Yes (free) |
| San Antonio | TX | 4/yr | 2 days | Yes (~$16) |
| Houston | TX | 2/yr | No limit | No |
| Austin | TX | 4/yr | 3 days | No |
| Oklahoma City | OK | 2/yr | 3 days | Yes (free) |
| West Hollywood | CA | 4/yr | 2 days | Yes (free) |
| Los Angeles | CA | 2/yr | 2 days | Yes (~$23) |
| Corona | CA | 3/yr | 3 days | Yes (free) |
| Douglas County | GA | 4/yr | 3 days | Yes (free) |
| Louisville | KY | 3/yr | 3 days | Yes (free) |
| Baltimore | MD | 4/yr | 3 days | Yes (free) |
| Chicago | IL | 2/yr | No limit | No |
| Columbus | OH | No limit | No limit | No |
| Phoenix | AZ | No limit | No limit | No |
| Denver | CO | No limit | No limit | No |
| Seattle | WA | ~3/yr (informal) | No limit | No |
| Nashville | TN | No limit | No limit | No |
Click column headers to sort. Rules as of 2025 — verify with your city before your sale.
What Happens If You Exceed the Limit?
In cities with hard annual limits, exceeding the limit can result in:
- A code enforcement citation (treated as operating without a permit)
- A requirement to obtain a commercial vendor permit or temporary business license
- In some cities, a requirement to collect and remit state sales tax
The IRS and state revenue departments generally exempt occasional sales of used personal property from income and sales tax. But "occasional" typically means the 2–4 sales a city allows — not 10 sales a year. If you're holding more than your city's limit, you're potentially in commercial territory for both local code and tax purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most US cities that regulate garage sales allow 2–4 per year per residential address. The most common limit is 2 per year.
Exceeding the annual limit can result in a code enforcement citation, a requirement to obtain a commercial vendor permit, and potentially state sales tax obligations. The city may classify your home as an unlicensed retail operation.
Yes — limits apply to the address, not the person. If you move during the year, your new address starts fresh. If two families share an address, their combined sales count toward the same limit.
It depends on the city. Some cities count estate sales in the same annual limit. Others treat professionally conducted estate sales separately. Check with your city clerk.
Yes — limits are per calendar year (January 1 – December 31) in most cities. A sale in December uses up one permit; a sale in January of the following year starts a fresh count.