Running a vendor market in Akron.
To run a vendor market on city property in Akron, the organizer files a Community Event Application through the city's Eproval system at least 60 days ahead and carries $1,000,000 in liability insurance. Food vendors need a Summit County Public Health temporary food license, and vendors need an Ohio vendor's license from the Department of Taxation.
Updated
Event permit.
Community Event Application
The organizer applies through Eproval, and a committee with Fire, Police, Neighborhood Assistance and the Service Director's office reviews it. Written city approval is needed before the event is publicly announced.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Akron Recreation & Parks, Community Events Division
- When
- Any event open to the public that uses City of Akron property, including streets, sidewalks and parks
- Fee
- $200 site fee for any city site used (Cascade Plaza $250; Lock 3 has its own rates)
- Timing
- Submit at least 60 days before the event; major events six months before
Parks and public space.
Park shelter rental
Shelter requests go through the department's online RecDesk system and must be approved by Recreation & Parks. The handbook also says alcohol is not allowed in city parks and commercial advertising or solicitation is prohibited at shelters.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Akron Recreation & Parks
- When
- Events using a community park shelter
- Timing
- At least 30 days before the event
Fire safety, tents and cooking.
Fire Prevention approval for tents and cooking
Tents over 120 sq ft need a tent permit from the Fire Department, and cooking vendors cannot start until Fire Prevention inspects and approves. Cooking vendors need a K-Class extinguisher, and propane is limited to 100 pounds per appliance. The handbook says promoters must give these rules to every vendor.
- Who
- Organizer and vendors
- From
- Akron Fire Department, Fire Prevention Bureau
- When
- Tents larger than 10 x 12 ft (120 sq ft) and any public cooking at an event
Other rules.
Insurance minimums for events
The handbook requires commercial general liability of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $1,000,000 general aggregate, plus $1,000,000 commercial auto liability, with the city named as additional insured. Vendors and contractors must carry the same coverage, with certificates approved 14 days before the event.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Akron
- When
- All community events
Vendor and business licenses.
City licenses issued by the Treasury Division (Itinerant Retailer, Door to Door Peddlers)
The Treasury Division issues licenses as provided by ordinance and posts applications for Itinerant Retailer and Door to Door Peddlers licenses. The event handbook lists the License Division (330-375-2484) for carnival and sidewalk vendor licenses, so ask it whether market vendors are covered.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- City of Akron Treasurer's Office, Assessments & Licenses
- When
- Peddling or itinerant retail in the city; whether a booth vendor inside a permitted community event needs one is not stated on the pages read
Sales tax.
Vendor's license (regular or transient vendor's license)
A transient vendor's license is issued by the Department of Taxation, while a regular vendor's license comes from the county auditor. Licensed vendors file sales tax returns on the schedule the department assigns them, even when no tax is due, and selling without a license can bring penalties.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Ohio Department of Taxation
- When
- Anyone making taxable retail sales in Ohio. Sellers who bring goods to a temporary place of business, such as a fair or exhibit, in a county where they have no fixed place of business use the transient vendor's license.
- Fee
- Application Fee $50
Food vendors.
Temporary food service operation or retail food establishment license
Each vendor applies for a license that is valid for one event, one location and up to five consecutive days. Allow ten business days or more for processing; it cannot be refunded or transferred if the event is cancelled.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Summit County Public Health
- When
- Food vendors at an event lasting no more than five consecutive days
- Fee
- $160.00 commercial; $80.00 non-commercial (per event)
- Timing
- Allow ten business days or more for processing
What the rules ask of organizers about vendors.
Ohio law requires the owner, organizer or promoter of a fair, flea market, show or similar event with transient vendors to keep a record of each vendor's name, permanent address, vendor's license number and type of goods sold. Records must be kept four years and be open to the Tax Commissioner.
When to apply.
- Community Event Application: Submit at least 60 days before the event; major events six months before
- Park shelter rental: At least 30 days before the event
- Temporary food service operation or retail food establishment license: Allow ten business days or more for processing
Collect the paperwork with each application.
Ask vendors for their sales tax registration, business license, food permit and insurance certificate as required documents on your application form, so you can check them before you approve anyone. Booth fees, tickets and day-of check-in run from the same dashboard.
Selling at markets in Akron, OH?
The vendor license, sales tax and food permits above are yours to get before the event; the organizer will usually ask for copies with your application. On bzar you apply to markets and pay booth fees by card in one place, and keep your licenses, permits and insurance certificates on file to reuse on every application. Free for vendors. Join bzar free or read how to become a market vendor.
Where the sources are unclear.
- The Community Event Guide, fee list and Lock 3 documents are linked from the City of Akron's community events site but are hosted on the city's Eproval file host (assets.eprovalcloud.com), not an akronohio.gov domain.
- Blocked/unreadable: the Itinerant Retailer License application PDF linked from the Treasury page redirected to a cms2.revize.com host and was not read, so its fee and scope are not recorded.
- The community events page says applications are reviewed by Fire, Police, Neighborhood Assistance and the Service Director; an older page also lists Economic Development.
Common questions.
Do I need a permit to host a vendor market in Akron?
Community Event Application (City of Akron Recreation & Parks, Community Events Division): The organizer applies through Eproval, and a committee with Fire, Police, Neighborhood Assistance and the Service Director's office reviews it. Written city approval is needed before the event is publicly announced. Park shelter rental (City of Akron Recreation & Parks): Shelter requests go through the department's online RecDesk system and must be approved by Recreation & Parks. The handbook also says alcohol is not allowed in city parks and commercial advertising or solicitation is prohibited at shelters.
Do vendors need a license to sell at events in Akron?
City licenses issued by the Treasury Division (Itinerant Retailer, Door to Door Peddlers) (City of Akron Treasurer's Office, Assessments & Licenses): The Treasury Division issues licenses as provided by ordinance and posts applications for Itinerant Retailer and Door to Door Peddlers licenses. The event handbook lists the License Division (330-375-2484) for carnival and sidewalk vendor licenses, so ask it whether market vendors are covered.
Who handles sales tax at a market in Akron?
Vendor's license (regular or transient vendor's license) (Ohio Department of Taxation): A transient vendor's license is issued by the Department of Taxation, while a regular vendor's license comes from the county auditor. Licensed vendors file sales tax returns on the schedule the department assigns them, even when no tax is due, and selling without a license can bring penalties. For organizers: Ohio law requires the owner, organizer or promoter of a fair, flea market, show or similar event with transient vendors to keep a record of each vendor's name, permanent address, vendor's license number and type of goods sold. Records must be kept four years and be open to the Tax Commissioner.
Do food vendors need a separate permit in Akron?
Temporary food service operation or retail food establishment license (Summit County Public Health): Each vendor applies for a license that is valid for one event, one location and up to five consecutive days. Allow ten business days or more for processing; it cannot be refunded or transferred if the event is cancelled.
How far ahead should I apply in Akron?
Community Event Application: Submit at least 60 days before the event; major events six months before Park shelter rental: At least 30 days before the event Temporary food service operation or retail food establishment license: Allow ten business days or more for processing
Keep reading.
Sources.
This page summarizes official government sources and isn't legal or tax advice. Rules, fees and forms change; confirm with each agency before you apply.
Special events contact: Recreation & Parks Community Events, (330) 375-2854
Every fact on this page comes from these official pages, checked on 2026-10-11. Details change; tell us at hello@bzar.app if something here is out of date.
- https://communityevents.akronohio.gov/
- https://www.akronohio.gov/business_detail_T10_R44.php
- https://assets.eprovalcloud.com/akron/Community%20Event%20Handbook%202026.pdf
- https://www.akronohio.gov/departments/finance/licenses_and_assessments.php
- https://tax.ohio.gov/help-center/faqs/sales-and-use-information-for-vendors-licensing-and-filing/
- https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-5739.17
- https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/tax.ohio.gov/sales_and_use/vendors_sales_tax_laws.pdf
- https://www.scph.org/sites/default/files/editor/EH/FOOD/Temporary%20Food%20License%20Requirements%20and%20%20Application%202026.pdf
- https://www.scph.org/food-safety/licensing
- https://codes.ohio.gov/orc/5739.17
Collect every vendor permit in one place.
bzar is free for organizers: vendor applications with required documents, booth payments, tickets and check-in in one dashboard.