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

What counts as a garage sale

The code says a garage sale is "the offering for sale of 20 or more items of used personal property from a residence." Yard sales, patio sales, porch sales and driveway sales count too. An estate sale is a sale run by a professional estate sale company or consultant to sell a large part of the belongings of a person who has recently died or who must sell things to move.

Selling fewer than 20 used items from your home does not fit the code's definition of a garage sale. Rule: City Code Sec. 15-2.

Permit

The code says "No person shall have either a garage sale or an estate sale within the city limits of Bellaire without first obtaining a permit." The city must receive your application at least two days before the sale. The code names the community development department as the office that receives applications; the city's fee schedule lists these permits under Development Services. Rule: City Code Sec. 15-3.

How many sales and how long

"Each residence shall be allowed two garage or estate sales per calendar year." Each sale can last no more than "three consecutive days." Rule: City Code Sec. 15-3.

Fee

You must pay the fee before the city gives you the permit. The code leaves the amount to the city manager, who sets "a reasonable fee to cover the costs" of the permits. The city's Master Fee Schedule for Development Services lists a flat $17 for "Garage Sales" and a flat $74 for "Estate Sales." The same schedule says its general permit processing fee "is not applicable to garage sale permits, estate sale permits, and parking permits." Fees can change from year to year, so check the current schedule. Rule: City Code Secs. 15-3 and 15-4.

Signs

You get three signs per sale. Each sign must show the permit number the city gives you. Rules for signs: - No signs "in public rights-of-way, attached to utility poles, trees, public buildings, or any street/traffic control signs." - Put signs up no earlier than 5:00 a.m. on the first day. Take them down by 8:00 p.m. on the last day. - For a garage sale, at least one of the provided signs must be on the property where the sale is held. The other two may go in a private yard with the property owner's permission, which "will be presumed to be given by the property owner by the affixing of his signature to the sign." - For an estate sale, the sign you are given must be on the property where the sale is held. - "Signs found to be illegal or posted in violation of this chapter shall be impounded."

Rule: City Code Secs. 15-3 and 15-5.

Cleanup

When the sale ends, "all items displayed for sale and all display tables and other display items, shall be removed from the yard." This must be done "by 8:00 p.m. the last day of the sale." Rule: City Code Sec. 15-3.

Traffic and safety

Even with a permit, a garage sale that creates "an adverse traffic condition, or safety hazard as determined by the city's police department may be required to immediately cease operations by the city." Rule: City Code Sec. 15-6.

What the code does not say

Chapter 15 does not set hours for the sale itself. The only hours it sets are for signs and cleanup. If you live in a neighborhood with deed restrictions or an HOA, check those too, because they can be stricter.

What happens if you don't

Chapter 15 has no penalty of its own. The general penalty applies: a fine of up to $500, and each day counts as a new offense (Sec. 1-10).

Who to call

Development Services (the code calls it the community development department).

Sources

• City of Bellaire Code of Ordinances, Secs. 15-1 to 15-6 (garage and estate sales) and Sec. 1-10 (general penalty). library.municode.com/tx/bellaire
• City of Bellaire FY 2026 Master Fee Schedule, Development Services (garage sale and estate sale permit fees). https://www.bellairetx.gov/DocumentCenter/View/34482/FY-2026---Master-Fee-Schedule-DS

En español

Sí, usted necesita un permiso de la ciudad antes de cada venta de garaje o venta de propiedad (estate sale) en Bellaire. Una venta de garaje es ofrecer 20 o más artículos usados de una residencia. Cada casa puede tener dos ventas por año calendario, y cada venta puede durar un máximo de tres días seguidos. La ciudad debe recibir su solicitud al menos dos días antes de la venta. La tarifa se paga antes de recibir el permiso. El código deja el monto al administrador de la ciudad, y la lista de tarifas vigente de Servicios de Desarrollo indica $17 para una venta de garaje y $74 para una venta de propiedad; las tarifas pueden cambiar cada año. Usted puede usar tres letreros que muestren el número de permiso. No se permiten letreros en la vía pública, en postes de servicios, árboles, edificios públicos ni señales de tránsito. Los letreros que no cumplan las reglas pueden ser confiscados. Los letreros pueden ponerse desde las 5:00 a.m. del primer día y deben retirarse a las 8:00 p.m. del último día. Al terminar la venta, usted debe quitar del jardín todos los artículos y mesas a más tardar a las 8:00 p.m. del último día. Si la policía de la ciudad determina que una venta causa un problema de tránsito o de seguridad, la ciudad puede exigir que se detenga de inmediato. El capítulo no tiene multa propia, así que se aplica la multa general de hasta $500, y cada día cuenta como una nueva infracción. Si su vecindario tiene reglas de HOA o restricciones de escritura, revíselas también.