Garage/Yard Sales Permit Program

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. 

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

Permit Limitations

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 Sale Sign rules

• You are allowed three signs to advertise your garage sale. One sign can be placed at the location of the garage sale and two signs can be placed off premise. You must place the two sign decals included with this permit on the signs located off premise. All signs cannot be larger than 6 square feet.
• Garage sale signs can be posted two days before the date of the garage sale.
• Garage sale signs posted without the decals in a public right-of-way are not allowed and may be removed and discarded without notice.
• ​Signs posted on City right-of-way objects such as utility poles, street signs, traffic signs, street light standards, etc. are strictly prohibited  and are considered a misdemeanor offense. 
• All signs must be removed upon expiration of the garage sale permit. 

Ordinance Info

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.

COVID-19:
Though mobile living parks have been registering with DSD for a couple of years, we understand this year is especially unique and difficult for both operators and residents that call these neighborhoods home. Where possible, the logistical and economic challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic have been factored into certain registration requirements, including postponing new background checks and hosting virtual trainings. 

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 2021 ends Sept. 30, 2020. 

Applicants are required to provide the following information to register for their annual license: 
1. Application (link below under "Resources")
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).
- If either document was submitted for the FY 2020 license registration, this document can be used up to five (5) years and will expire on Sept. 30, 2024.
3. National criminal background history checks of owner(s) and operator(s) POSTPONED until after local fingerprint services and federal processing resume service. New background checks do not need to be submitted for the Sept. 30 deadline.
- Background checks are accepted for two years, meaning operators registered in FY 2019 and 2020 need an updated background check for FY 2021. 
- When background checks and fingerprinting services can be obtained, licensed properties that have not fulfilled this requirement will be notified. A timeline to complete this requirement will be provided at that time. National background checks can be obtained via the following means: 
- Digital application to the FBI (recommended)
- Written application to the FBI
Note: Only national background checks issued directly from the FBI will be accepted for background check requirements. Other licenses or permits, such as firearm or real estate licenses that have a background check review, will not be accepted. Due to the time required to receive results, it is recommended that applicants submit a digital application (results typically received 3 to 5 business days upon receipt of the required fingerprint card), instead of the written application (14 to 16 weeks to receive results). 
4. If a septic system is in use, a letter from Bexar County Environmental Services must state all operating requirements have been met.
5. License fee - There is an annual license fee of $35 for each usable mobile living park site, occupied or unoccupied, as of Oct. 1, 2020. In addition to the license fee, other costs may be associated with obtaining the zoning verification letter, national background check, etc. 

Registration Submittal:
For Fiscal Year 2021, the registration period runs from Aug. 1 to Sept. 30, 2020. Applicants may submit their application material for processing in the following ways:
- email all materials to Phil Laney, Senior Special Projects Manager, at phil.laney@sanantonio.gov
- submit all materials by mail to 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

Annual Training:
A representative from all registering mobile living parks is required to participate in one of the three scheduled health and safety training classes. All health and safety trainings will take place virtually through a phone conference call by dialing 1-415-655-0001, entering the appropriate access code (provided below) and entering # for participant ID number. Each training is one hour; the training schedule and access information is as follows: 
- Aug. 28 at 9 a.m. Enter access code 133 618 9359
- Sept. 2 at 1 p.m. Enter access code 133 356 1079
- Sept. 18 at 1 p.m. Enter access code 133 644 4787  

The presentation materials will be posted to the mobile living park website no later than Aug. 25. Participants will confirm their attendance by emailing a keyword shared during the training. 

Resources

Mobile Living Park License Application (PDF)
Mobile Living Park Training Presentation - Aug/Sept 2020
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 Complaint/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

• To improve the overall health and safety at mobile home parks
• Proposed changes to current City Code provisions could include dedication of staff to conduct proactive inspections to ensure that the density of mobile homes does not increase over time
• Regular inspections of electrical, sewer and water connections
• Confirmation that the parks are in compliance with the City’s Property Maintenance Code.
• To improve the overall health and safety at mobile home parks
• Regular inspections of electrical, sewer and water connections
• Confirmation that the parks are in compliance with the City’s Property Maintenance Code.

PROPOSED/POTENTIAL CHANGES FROM ORIGINAL CHAPTER 18 MAY INCLUDE

• DSD and Health will lead program
• Revised and streamlined application process
• Possible modification to registration fees
• Additional proactive inspections for code compliance
• Clarification of suspension/revoking of licenses for failure to comply
• Clarification of appeals process
• Additional violations/penalties for failure to comply

DOCUMENTS

• Chapter 18 - Mobile Living Parks Proposed Revisions
• Ordinance – 9/15/1970
• Ordinance – 2/13/1997
• Ordinance – 9/20/2001
• Ordinance – 9/11/2008
• Presentation - 8/16/17

MEETINGS

• May 15, 2017: Presented to Neighborhood & Livability Committee
• July 7, 2017: First stakeholder meeting, 2:00 p.m.
• August 16, 2017: Development Services Dept. Boardroom, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
• September 20, 2017: Development Services Dept. Boardroom, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
• October 25, 2017: Development Services Dept. Boardroom, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
• November 28, 2017: Present Recommendations to Community Health and Equity
• December 14, 2017: Present revised amendments to City Council for consideration and approval