Austin garage sale rules

Short answer

Austin does not require or issue permits for a residential garage or yard sale. City code limits sales to four days per calendar year at the same property; more than that is treated as a home-based business. Signs may advertise the sale only on the property where it happens, for no more than three consecutive days. Signs on utility poles, medians, or any public right-of-way are prohibited bandit signs, with minimum fines of $50 for a first offense and city removal without notice.

Who this is for

Austin residents planning a garage, yard, or estate sale at their home.

The steps, in order

1. Skip the permit hunt: Austin does not require or issue garage sale permits.
2. Pick your days: up to four garage sale days per calendar year at the same property.
3. Put signs only on the property where the sale happens, and keep them up no more than three consecutive days.
4. Keep signs off utility poles, medians, and street corners: those are illegal bandit signs with fines starting at $50.
5. Selling more often? Past four sale days a year the city treats it as a home-based business, which follows different rules.

Have this ready

• A sale date within your four days per calendar year
• Signs that stay on your own property
• A plan to take every sign down within three consecutive days

Common mistakes to avoid

• Paying a third-party site for a garage sale permit. Austin requires none.
• Posting signs on poles, medians, or corners. Off-premise signs are prohibited and the city can remove them without notice.
• Leaving signs up past three consecutive days.
• Running sales every month. More than four sale days a year counts as a home-based business, not a garage sale.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a garage sale in Austin?

No. Austin does not require or issue permits for residential garage, yard, or estate sales.

How many garage sales can I hold each year?

Up to four sale days per calendar year at the same property. Beyond that the city code treats the activity as a home-based business.

Where can I put garage sale signs?

Only on the property where the sale is happening, for no more than three consecutive days. Signs in the public right-of-way are bandit signs: fines start at $50 and rise to $400 for repeat offenses, plus $200 per day if you ignore a written removal notice.

Official source

• Common Austin Code violations

Checked August 26, 2026. Recheck the official page monthly and when the official page changes.

Related

• Get a block party permit in Austin
• Report a code violation in Austin