Chicago, IL Garage Sale Guide
Checked against the city's official source
The rules
| Permit required? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Fee | Free ($0) |
| Sales allowed per year | 2 |
| Max days per sale | 3 |
| Allowed hours | 9 a.m. to sunset |
| Sign rules | Signs only on the property where the sale is held. None anywhere else. |
| How to apply | Get the permit at your alderman's ward office, or mail the city's application at least 2 weeks before the sale. Each household in a joint sale needs its own permit. |
| Permit page | City permit page |
Last checked: 2026-10-27
Official source: www.chicago.gov
Pricing and checkout
Color stickers plus one price per color is the fastest way to run a garage sale: buyers know the price at a glance and you add up colors instead of haggling over every tag.
Best time to hold a sale
Late Spring and Summer (May-September) (our general guidance, not a city rule; not yet backed by a source)
Setting up
Where to post your sale
We haven't yet confirmed each of these is still active.
- Craigslist Chicago
- Nextdoor Cook County
- Chicago Garage Sales Facebook Groups