The short answer: permits are city or county level in nearly every state.
There is no federal garage sale permit. There is no state-issued garage sale permit in any US state. Whether you need one — and how much it costs — is decided by your city, town, or county government.
Most US cities take one of three approaches: no permit required, a simple free or low-fee registration (typically $5 to $25), or a per-year sale limit (most commonly 2 to 4 sales per household per year). HOA rules in planned communities and subdivisions are often more restrictive than city rules and should be checked separately.
Use the state directory below to jump straight to a site:.gov search for your area. Pick your state, then narrow by city name in the search results.
Universal rules that apply almost everywhere
Check your HOA first
If you're in an HOA or planned community, the HOA covenants often restrict sale days, signage, and total sales per year — sometimes more strictly than the city itself.
Sales tax is rarely required
Most states exempt occasional household sales (typically 2 or 3 per year) from sales tax. Cross that threshold and the IRS and state revenue department may treat you as a business.
Watch the time-of-day limits
Cities commonly restrict sales to daytime hours (typically 7 AM to 7 PM or 8 AM to 6 PM). Setting up before sunrise can trigger noise-ordinance complaints.
Signs are usually regulated
Many cities prohibit signs in public right-of-way (median, telephone poles, traffic-control posts) and require removal within 24 hours of the sale. Stake signs in private yards stay safe.
Some items can't be resold
Recalled products (especially baby gear, car seats, cribs), prescription drugs, and certain food items have federal resale restrictions. CPSC publishes the recall list.
Multi-family sales help
Joining a neighborhood, church, or city-wide sale often bypasses the per-household sale-count limits and the permit fee — the sponsoring organization handles registration.
Find your state's permit rules
Each link runs a site:.gov Google search scoped to your state — drilling into your specific city or county takes seconds. Tip: add your city name to the search to narrow further.