Garage Sales

Garage sales are permitted in the City of Wheaton with some limitations to help maintain the character of residential neighborhoods. The City’s garage sale ordinance defines “garage sales” to include sales, bartering, trading or giveaways conducted outdoors or partially outdoors. 

The City’s ordinance prohibits residents from operating a garage sale at a single address:

  • Before 8 a.m. or after 5 p.m.
  • On more than two consecutive days
  • More than two times in any calendar year
  • On the public right-of-way (such as the parkway).

In addition, the ordinance establishes rules for the number and type of signs allowed:

  • Residents may display one sign, sized 3 square feet or less, on their lawn.
  • Residents can also use no more than two directional signs, each a size of 3 square feet or less, at other locations, providing permission is received from the property owners.
  • All signs must be on private property, not in the public right-of-way (such as the parkway or sidewalk).
  • Residents may put out garage sale signs no more than two days before the sale and must remove all signs on the final day of the sale.

Violating any terms of the ordinance can result in a minimum fine of $100.

A link to the entire ordinance can be found here