Phone: 311
Permits and licenses are available for various properties. To explore the regulations and rules for each section, select a tab below.
An absentee property owner is a person with legal possession of a one-family or two-family (duplex) dwelling, who resides outside of Bexar County, Texas. Post Office Boxes are not accepted as proof of residency. An absentee property owner is subject to the registration requirement when a second code violation is identified on the subject property within a 12-month period. Absentee property owners without code violations or with only one code violation per 12-month period are not affected.
List of properties identified (PDF)
Registration requirements (for each property) include:
A garage sale permit is required within San Antonio city limits for all residents and non-profit organizations holding a garage/yard sale and estate sale on premises zoned or used for residential purposes.
A permit must be obtained before the start of the sale.
For your convenience, you can obtain your permit using our online system. Customers are not required to create a BuildSA portal account. Once permit is purchased, customers receive an email with their garage sale permit and sign decals.
Garage Sale Permits Online
For assistance, please review our Garage Sale Tutorial or Garage Sale Permits How To Video.
You can also visit us in person at the following location:
Development Services Department (One Stop) 1901 South Alamo Street, San Antonio, TX 78204
Development Services will issue one (1) permit for each garage/yard sale.
A garage sale permit is issued after an applicant pays a garage sale permit fee of sixteen dollars ($16).
Each residence is allowed four (4) garage sales per calendar year per location not to exceed one (1) garage sale per quarter. The fourth garage sale held by the same applicant at the same residence during a calendar year is free.
Non-profit organizations must purchase a garage sale permit. A church, charitable, or non-profit organization can hold a maximum of twelve (12) garage sales per year. For non-profit organizations, additional documentation may be required.
Garage / Yard sales are regulated by Ordinance #67681 and #98184 of the City of San Antonio Municipal Code. Violations of such rules are subject to a fine of up to $50 for the first two convictions not to exceed $500 for each thereafter.
Questions regarding garage / yard sales may be directed Customer Service /311 System by dialing 311 within San Antonio city limits. You can also contact Development Services Monday-Friday from 7:45-4:30 by calling 210.207.1111 or by email.
On Dec. 14, 2017 the City of San Antonio revised the Mobile Living Park Ordinance to address property maintenance issues within Mobile Living Parks through annual and proactive inspections by dedicated staff. Annual and proactive inspections will seek to minimize major health and safety issues that can potentially occur at these locations. The Development Services Department now oversees the multi-department inspection effort and the annual registration of Mobile Living Parks. There is no fee change with this update. Annual Registration: Development Services Code Enforcement is the department responsible for issuing licenses for mobile living parks operating within the City of San Antonio. Annual registration for Fiscal Year 2020 ends Sept. 30, 2019. You must schedule your registration and training session.
New Training Dates:
- Nov. 6, 2019 at 9 a.m., 1st Floor Boardroom, 1901 S. Alamo St. - Nov. 14, 2019 at 2 p.m., 1st Floor Boardroom, 1901 S. Alamo St.
Applicants are required to provide the following information to register for their annual license: 1. Application 2. Confirmation from the Zoning Section of DSD Land Development that the mobile living park is permitted (i.e. a Zoning Verification Letter or Nonconforming Use Registration). 3. If septic system in use, a letter from Bexar County Development Services that licensed plumber affirms system in sound condition. 4. National criminal background history checks of owner(s) and operator(s). National background checks can be obtained via the following means: - Digital application to the FBI – Recommended. - Written application to the FBI Note: Due to the time required to receive results, it is recommended that applicants submit a digital application (3 to 5 business days upon receipt of the required fingerprint card), instead of the written application (14 to 16 weeks to receive results). If an applicant is pending the results of national background checks, a conditional license may be issued with the submission of a local background check issued by the San Antonio Police Department identification office. Once the national background check has been reviewed, a full license may be issued. 5. License fee - There is an annual license fee of $35.00 for each usable mobile living park site, occupied or unoccupied, as of Oct. 1. In addition to the license fee, other costs may be associated with obtaining the zoning verification letter, national background check, etc.
For the Fiscal Year 2020, the registration period runs from Aug. 1 to Sept. 30, 2019. Applicants may submit their application material for processing during designated one-hour health and safety training classes offered in August and September 2019. All health and safety training will take place in the first floor Board Room at the Cliff Morton Business Development Center at 1901 S. Alamo St., San Antonio, TX, 78204. In addition, applicants have the option to deliver application materials or submit by mail to the same address. Please include ATTN: Code Enforcement Services - MLP on the envelope of submitted materials.
Resources
FY 2020 Registration & Training Session Schedule – August & September 2019 (PDF) Mobile Living Park License Application (PDF) Zoning Verification Letter (DSD Land Development) FBI National Background Check Application – Digital (Preferred) FBI National Background Check Application – Written Mobile Living Park Ordinance - updated December 14, 2017 (PDF)
helpful links
Mobile Living Park Program Fact Sheet (PDF) Check Status of Complain/Case What to do when you receive a Notice of Violation
On May 15, 2017 the Neighborhoods & Livability Committee approved City staff to begin meeting with impacted stakeholders to develop appropriate amendments to City Code Chapter 18 - Mobile Living Parks