I Asked the City About That Garage Sale Permit Rumor. Here's the Real Answer.

Nextdoor has been arguing about garage sale permits for weeks, possibly longer. So I emailed City Hall directly and got a straight answer.

I don't post on Nextdoor myself, but I watch it from a respectful distance, and lately it's been a lot of fun to lurk on. Half the threads are the ongoing should-cats-go-outside debate, which at this point is basically Ridgefield's longest-running soap opera. If you know, you know.

The other thread has been garage sale permits — specifically, whether the city requires one. It's the kind of rumor that spreads fast because everyone's heard a version of it secondhand, but nobody can point to where the actual rule lives. So instead of guessing, I emailed the City of Ridgefield directly and asked. Megan DeMoss, the city's Communications Program Manager, sent back a clear answer:

So that settles the main question. No city permit, no city approval process, nothing to fill out before you set up your tables. If your HOA has its own rules about which days are allowed, that's a separate, neighborhood-specific thing worth checking your covenants for, but it has nothing to do with the city.

Where the Confusion Actually Comes From

Here's the part that may help explain the rumor. The city does run into confusion around garage sale signs placed in the public right-of-way, the strip of land between the edge of the road and private property lines. Temporary signs placed there are regulated under Ridgefield Municipal Code 18.710.270, and they do require a free permit, shown as a small sticker the city provides for the sign itself.

According to the city, Code Enforcement removes signs found in the right-of-way without that sticker. Some residents have understandably assumed that means their garage sale itself needed a permit, when really the permit requirement is for the sign's location, not the sale.

If you want to put a sign out by the road - and you know we love our signs here - the process is simple and free: apply online through the city's permit portal, wait for approval, then pick up your permit sticker at the Community Development office at 510-B Pioneer Street. Signs in the right-of-way are capped at four square feet and three feet tall, and you need permission from the adjacent property owner before placing one near their frontage.

Not Up for Running Your Own? There's a Bigger Option Twice a Year

If hauling tables into your own driveway sounds like too much work, there's always: NW's Largest Garage Sale & Vintage Sale, held twice a year at the Clark County Event Center right here in Ridgefield. If you haven't been there it is exactly what it sounds like, hundreds of indoor vendor spaces under one roof, with sellers keeping 100 percent of what they make.

The next one is the Fall Sale on Saturday, November 7th, 2026, from 8am to 5pm at the Clark County Event Center, 17402 NE Delfel Road. Vendor set-up is the day before, Friday November 6th, with check-in required before 5pm that day. Spaces are 10x10 feet, indoors, and currently run from $105 to $315 depending on the space type and building.

They're actively looking for sellers for the fall sale right now, and spaces tend to sell out, so if this sounds easier than a driveway sale, it's worth registering early. Details and registration are on their fall sale page, or you can call them directly at (360) 907-5919 with space questions.

Garage Sale FAQ