Do I need a permit for a garage sale in Baytown?
Short answer: No. Baytown dropped its garage-sale permit in December 2021. You can hold one sale per location every six months, with up to seven signs. "A garage sale shall be allowed at one location only once within a six-month period," for either three days in a row, or two days within an eight-day period.
Do I need a permit for a garage sale in Baytown?
Layer twoWhat the code actually says, word for wordTap to open
"A garage sale shall be allowed at one location only once within a six-month period,"
Layer threeWho handles it: Neighborhood Protection (code enforcement)Map
Short answer: No. Baytown dropped its garage-sale permit in December 2021. You can hold one sale per location every six months, with up to seven signs.
How often and how long
"A garage sale shall be allowed at one location only once within a six-month period," for either three days in a row, or two days within an eight-day period. The same rules cover lawn, attic, rummage, flea market, moving and estate sales, and similar casual sales. (City Code Sec. 82-202; definition in Sec. 82-201.)
Signs
- No more than seven signs.
- Put them up no earlier than one day before the sale, and take them down on the last day of the sale.
- No sign can stay up in a public place longer than four calendar days.
(Sec. 82-202.)
What isn't a garage sale
You can't use a garage sale to sell inventory, stock in trade or goods on consignment (Sec. 82-206). Some sales are exempt from these rules, including selling or advertising five or fewer specifically named items, and sales on property in certain commercial and industrial zoning districts (NSC, LC or ACE; or MU, GC, LI or HI if the property isn't used as a home) (Sec. 82-204).
What happens if you don't
A fine of up to $500 under the general city penalty (Sec. 1-14). A conviction also bars you from holding a garage sale for a year (Sec. 82-207).
Older advice you may see
Older news stories and websites describe a garage-sale permit. That permit system was repealed by Ordinance No. 14,967 on Dec. 9, 2021.
Who to call
Neighborhood Protection (code enforcement).
Sources
- City of Baytown Code of Ordinances, Chapter 82, Article IV, Secs. 82-201 to 82-207; Ordinance No. 14,967 (Dec. 9, 2021). library.municode.com/tx/baytown
En español
En Baytown ya no se necesita permiso para una venta de garaje desde diciembre de 2021. Se permite una venta por domicilio cada seis meses, por tres días seguidos o dos días dentro de un periodo de ocho días, con un máximo de siete letreros. Los letreros pueden ponerse un día antes y deben quitarse el último día de la venta. No se puede vender mercancía de inventario ni a consignación.