How many yard sales can you hold in California before needing a permit? See rules

Are you finished with spring cleaning? Want to turn those unwanted items into some extra cash?

With warmer weather coinciding with the appearance of more “For Sale” signs, it’s important to know how many yard sales you can hold in California before you need a permit.

Here’s what you should know before you start selling:

Can I have a yard, garage or estate sale at my California home?

In California, you can usually have yard, garage or estate sales on private property as long as you follow local regulations, according to Lawyers.com, a website designed to help people find qualifies attorneys and legal information.

When do I need to get a seller’s permit to hold a yard sale?

In California, you can typically hold up to two yard or garage sales within a 12-month period without needing a seller’s permit, as long as you’re selling personal items that were originally purchased for your own use, according to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.

However, local rules can vary.

For example, in Sacramento County, residents can hold up to three garage sales per year at their home without a permit, but each sale can last no more than two consecutive days.

In Stanislaus County, residents are allowed two yard sales per year without a permit, with each sale lasting up to three consecutive days.

These occasional sales are generally not considered running a business.

“When you have a garage sale and sell used items, you are generally not required to hold a seller’s permit,” the state Tax and Fee Administration Department said.

How can I apply for a yard sale permit in California?

If your sale goes beyond local limits, you’ll need to apply for a temporary seller’s permit via the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration website.

“Obtaining a temporary seller’s permit is easy and free,” the state department said.

This permit is for people who don’t have a permanent business location and want to sell at one or more places for 90 days or less.

You can apply up to 90 days before your sales start.

When registering, you’ll need to give the exact start and end dates for when you’ll be selling at each location.

You can include multiple locations as long as the sale dates all fall within the same 90-day period, but you cannot add new locations after the permit is issued.

Once registered, you can print your permit for each sale location.

What are penalties for selling stuff without a permit?

Selling things in California without a valid seller’s permit can get you into legal trouble, according to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.

If you don’t get a permit within five days of being contacted by the department’s Investigations Division, an investigator might return to issue a criminal citation.

Once you are cited, you will need to appear in court.

“If you do not appear, the court may issue a warrant for your arrest,” the state Tax and Fee Administration Department said.

In court, you could face a fine of up to $5,000 and up to a year in county jail, and you’d still be responsible for paying any outstanding taxes, interest or penalties.

“The city or district attorney’s office could (also) seek to impose additional penalties pursuant to the Unfair Business Practices Act,” the state department said.

This could include penalties tied to fraudulent business acts and misleading advertising.

This story was originally published May 21, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "How many yard sales can you hold in California before needing a permit? See rules."

Angela Rodriguez

The Modesto Bee

279-386-2738

Angela Rodriguez is a service journalism reporter for The Bee. She is a graduate of Sacramento State with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. During her time there, she worked on the State Hornet covering arts and entertainment.