Estate Sales in Hermosa: A Simple Compliance Checklist

Planning an estate sale in Hermosa Beach can feel overwhelming. One missed permit or sign can lead to a visit from Code Enforcement or an early shutdown. You want a smooth, respectful sale that follows city and state rules. This simple checklist walks you through permits, signage, taxes, authority to sell, and clean-up so you can stay compliant and focused. Let’s dive in.

What counts as an estate sale

Most family-run estate sales in Hermosa Beach are treated like garage or yard sales when you are selling the household’s own items. That means local garage/yard-sale rules apply, including getting a permit and following sign limits. You can review the city’s rules on the Hermosa Beach garage and yard sale permit page.

If a professional company runs the sale or brings in outside inventory, it is considered business activity. In that case, the operator may need a Hermosa Beach business license, a state seller’s permit for sales tax, and possibly secondhand-dealer licensing. The City’s business license page, the California DOJ secondhand dealer program, and CDTFA seller’s permit guidance explain those obligations.

• Review Hermosa’s permit rules: Hermosa Beach garage and yard sale permits
• Business licensing: Hermosa Beach business licenses
• Secondhand dealer overview: California DOJ program
• Sales tax and permits: CDTFA seller’s permit guidance

Quick compliance checklist

1. Confirm your legal authority

• If you are handling a decedent’s belongings, make sure you have the right to sell. Executors or administrators typically need Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration. Learn more about probate authority at this California court self-help page: About probate and how it works.

2. Decide if it is household or business

• Selling the home’s own items usually falls under garage/yard-sale rules. If a company runs sales regularly or brings inventory, treat it as business and follow the steps below. See: Hermosa Beach garage and yard sale permits.

3. Apply for the Hermosa permit

• Hermosa requires a garage/yard-sale permit. You are limited to three sales per address in any 12 months, and each permit covers up to three consecutive days. Display the permit during your sale. See: Hermosa Beach garage and yard sale permits.

4. If you are a business, register

• Get a Hermosa Beach business license, a CDTFA seller’s permit if you are selling taxable goods, and check with the Police Department about secondhand-dealer requirements. Resources: Business licenses, CDTFA registration, and Police permits plus DOJ secondhand dealer.

5. Follow sign and placement rules

• Only one double-faced on-site sign is allowed and it cannot exceed five square feet, generally 24 inches by 30 inches. Do not place signs on utility poles, trees, sidewalks, or streets. Details: Hermosa Beach garage and yard sale permits.

6. Keep sidewalks and streets clear

• Do not block sidewalks or streets with tables or merchandise. Maintain access for emergency vehicles. If you plan to use the public right of way or need a closure, contact the City about special permits: Police permits.

7. Plan bulky-item and hazardous disposal

• Arrange donation or bulky-item pickup for leftovers. For e-waste and household hazardous waste, use LA County collection options. Check local resources for Hermosa: Hermosa bulky and disposal support and South Bay HHW events.

8. Check HOA rules

• If the home is in an HOA, confirm CC&R restrictions on signs, parking, and sales.

9. Document items and sales

• Keep an inventory and receipts for each item sold. For high-value items like jewelry, art, or collectibles, consider an appraisal. Probate resources: About probate and how it works.

10. Be a good neighbor

• Share dates and times with neighbors and keep sale hours within local quiet expectations. Promptly remove signs and clean up after the sale.

Permit rules and signs

Hermosa Beach requires a permit before you hold a garage or yard sale. You can have up to three sales per address in a 12-month period, and each sale can run up to three consecutive days. Keep a copy of the permit visible on-site during the sale.

For signs, only one double-faced sign is allowed at the sale location. The sign may not exceed five square feet, typically 24 inches by 30 inches. Do not attach directional signs to utility poles, trees, or any public property, and do not place merchandise on sidewalks or in the street. City staff or police can inspect the sale, and violations can lead to the sale being shut down. Get complete rules on the city’s page: Hermosa Beach garage and yard sale permits.

If you need to use the public right of way, request the appropriate permit in advance. Start with the Police Department permits page: Police permits.

Taxes, records, and receipts

In California, retail sales of tangible goods are generally taxable. A one-time, family-run estate sale that liquidates household items is often treated as an occasional sale that does not require registration. A professional seller, or anyone who buys items to resell or conducts recurring sales, typically must register for a seller’s permit and collect and remit tax. For clear guidance, review CDTFA’s pages on what’s taxable and doing business.

Keep detailed records for the estate. Save your inventory list, item prices, and receipts. Good records support probate accounting and tax reporting.

Probate authority in California

If you are the executor or administrator of a decedent’s estate, confirm your authority before selling items. After the court issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, you can manage and liquidate assets. Whether you need court confirmation for a particular sale depends on your authority under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. For a plain-language overview, see the California court self-help guide: About probate and how it works.

Remember your fiduciary duty to beneficiaries. For high-value property, seek appraisals and keep transparent records.

Waste and hazardous items

Plan ahead for leftovers. For bulky items, arrange donation or pickup. For e-waste, paint, chemicals, and other hazardous material, use approved programs rather than regular trash. Local options include Hermosa disposal and bulky-item resources and South Bay HHW and e-waste events.

HOA and neighbor tips

If the property is in an HOA, review CC&Rs for any restrictions on signs, traffic, and sale days. Give neighbors a heads up about dates and hours. Keep walkways open and remove signs as soon as the sale ends.

If you are preparing to sell the home as part of an estate, you do not have to do it alone. For local guidance on timing, preparation, and full-service marketing, connect with Adela Randazzo for a quick plan that fits your goals.

FAQs

Do I need a permit for an estate sale in Hermosa Beach?

• Yes. Hermosa Beach requires a garage/yard-sale permit, limits you to three sales per address in 12 months, and each sale can run up to three consecutive days.

What signs are allowed for my Hermosa estate sale?

• Only one double-faced sign at the sale site is allowed, up to five square feet, and you cannot place signs on utility poles, trees, sidewalks, or streets.

When does an estate sale count as a business in California?

• If a company runs the sale, brings in outside inventory, or you regularly buy items to resell, you likely need a city business license, a CDTFA seller’s permit, and possibly secondhand-dealer licensing.

Do I need to collect sales tax at a family-run estate sale?

• Many one-time household estate sales are treated as occasional sales, but business activity usually requires tax collection and reporting to CDTFA.

What authority do I need to sell a decedent’s belongings?

• Executors or administrators typically need Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, and your level of authority under the IAEA determines whether court confirmation is required.

How do I dispose of hazardous or bulky leftovers?

• Use LA County HHW and e-waste programs and schedule bulky-item pickup or donation through local providers that serve Hermosa Beach.