McAllen Garage Sale Permit Guide

Last reviewed: September 2026

The City of McAllen requires a permit for every residential garage sale. This page is the short, current version of the rules — we review it periodically and update it when the city's process changes. For the step-by-step story of getting your first permit, see our permit walkthrough on the blog.

How to apply

Apply online through the City of McAllen's permit portal. It's the fastest option and the one we recommend.

Apply at onlinepermits.mcallen.net

Prefer in person? Visit the McAllen Development Center at 311 N. 15th Street, McAllen, TX 78501 (Monday–Friday, 8 AM–5 PM). Bring a valid ID and a payment method.

Processing time: Typically 1–2 business days. Apply at least 3–5 business days before your planned sale date so you're not cutting it close.

The rules, at a glance

• Frequency: Up to two permits per calendar year, per address.
• Duration: Each permit covers up to three consecutive days.
• Signs: Allowed on your own property only, during your permitted dates. Not allowed on utility poles, traffic control devices, street medians, or sidewalks — code compliance can remove non-compliant signs and issue fines.
• Location: The permit covers your residential address, whether you're selling from the garage, driveway, or front yard.

Want more than two sales a year?

You can't get a third permit at the same address in a calendar year, but a coordinated multi-family sale with neighbors — each getting their own permit — is a great way to run a bigger event more often without breaking the rule. See our guide to organizing a neighborhood sale.

After your permit is approved

Once the city issues your permit, McAllenGarageSales.com imports it automatically — our system checks the city's permit records at least twice a day. Your sale typically appears on the map within hours. From there:

1. Create a free account (or log in) on McAllenGarageSales.com.
2. Go to My Listings and claim your auto-imported sale.
3. Add photos, a description, and tags — and set your actual open days if they don't match all three permit days.

Sellers can't create a listing manually — a valid city permit always comes first. If your permit is approved but your listing hasn't appeared after a day, let us know.

Why McAllen requires permits

The permit system keeps garage sales from turning into ongoing retail operations at residential addresses, controls sign clutter around the city, and keeps the rules the same for every seller. Following it is also what makes your listing show up as a verified, city-permitted sale on this site — that's the trust signal shoppers are looking for.