Running a vendor market in Ann Arbor.
To run a vendor market in Ann Arbor, the organizer needs a special event permit, with applications submitted 60 working days ahead and a $34 application fee, plus a park reservation through Parks & Recreation for city parks. Food vendors need a Washtenaw County temporary food license, and vendors need a Michigan sales tax license.
Updated
Event permit.
Non-competitive Special Event Permit
The application needs a detailed map with a traffic control plan, plans for parking, restrooms and refuse, and proof of insurance for events with 50 or more participants. Closing a street needs City Council approval, and some permits require Council approval anyway.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Ann Arbor Community Services (Special Events Coordinator)
- When
- Festivals, carnivals, parades and similar events with 25 or more people or vehicles in city streets, or more than 50 people using city parks or sidewalks
- Fee
- $34.00 non-refundable application fee; additional city service fees may apply
- Timing
- Submit at least 60 working days (12 weeks) before the event
Parks and public space.
City park special event reservation
The organizer first contacts Parks & Recreation to put a date and park on hold, then applies in the online portal. Special events often need at least 60 days for review and can only be requested for the current calendar year.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation
- When
- Events in a city park, especially with large attendance, ticket sales, large tents, food trucks, amplified sound or street closures, or at downtown parks such as Liberty Plaza and the Farmers Market
- Timing
- Special Events often need at least 60 days for review
Fire safety, tents and cooking.
Tent inspection and permit
The special event rules say tents may need an inspection and a permit from the Building Department, which should be contacted for the procedure. The page read does not state a tent size threshold.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Ann Arbor Building Department
- When
- Tents at a special event
Other rules.
Insurance, banners and amplified sound
Events expecting 50 or more participants need liability insurance naming the city, at least $500,000 if any part is in a street open to traffic. Banners need a Clerk banner permit, and a temporary exemption from sound limits needs at least 5 business days for review.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Ann Arbor (Community Services; City Clerk)
- When
- Events with 50 or more participants, banners, or louder-than-allowed sound
Vendor and business licenses.
Solicitation and Peddlers License (for-profit)
Peddlers and solicitors must hold a city license, applied for through the city's online portal, with proof of liability insurance and a passport-size photo. Licenses cover a six-month period (May 1 to October 31 or November 1 to April 30), and sales of food need a certificate from the County Health Officer first. Peddling is barred near the University of Michigan stadium on football Saturdays and near the Art Fair in July.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- City of Ann Arbor City Clerk
- When
- For-profit persons who solicit or peddle in Ann Arbor. The page does not say whether vendors with booths at a permitted special event are covered, and the city lists no general business license; ask the City Clerk before assuming either way.
- Fee
- $45.00 per licensure period (6 months), not prorated
- Timing
- Applications need a minimum of 24 hours for processing
Sales tax.
Michigan sales tax license or Concessionaire's Sales Tax Return (Form 5089)
Retailers collect 6% sales tax, and Michigan has no city, local or county sales tax. Vendors at more than two events a year must hold a sales tax license, registered online through Michigan Treasury Online or on Form 518. Sellers may begin selling before the license arrives but must remit tax from their first sale.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Michigan Department of Treasury
- When
- Anyone selling tangible goods to final consumers, including at events. Vendors at only one or two Michigan events a year can use Form 5089 instead of a license.
- Fee
- No fee for a sales tax license
Food vendors.
Temporary food establishment license (issued by local health departments)
Washtenaw County's Health Department issues temporary food establishment licenses and defines one as a fixed-location food operation lasting no more than 14 consecutive days. The county's detail pages did not load in static form, so confirm the application steps and fee with Environmental Health.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Washtenaw County Health Department, Environmental Health (MDARD sets licensing rules)
- When
- Food vendors at an event in Ann Arbor or elsewhere in Washtenaw County, operating at a fixed location for no more than 14 consecutive days
When to apply.
- Non-competitive Special Event Permit: Submit at least 60 working days (12 weeks) before the event
- City park special event reservation: Special Events often need at least 60 days for review
- Solicitation and Peddlers License (for-profit): Applications need a minimum of 24 hours 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 Ann Arbor, MI?
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 City Clerk's Licenses and Permits page lists no general business license; the Solicitors and Peddlers page (City Code Chapter 79) licenses peddling but does not say whether booth vendors at a permitted special event need it. Ask the City Clerk (the special event rules list the Clerk at 734-794-6140).
- The special event rules PDF is marked Rev 8/16/2021 and its application header says more than 25 participants in streets or more than 50 in parks; confirm the current fee and thresholds with Community Services.
- Blocked: the Washtenaw County Temporary Food Establishment pages (washtenaw.org/1500 and /1501) render their body text with JavaScript, so only the page's definition of a temporary food establishment was readable; fee, lead time and application steps were not read.
- Washtenaw County's temporary food page loads by script; its lead time could not be read, so none is listed.
Common questions.
Do I need a permit to host a vendor market in Ann Arbor?
Non-competitive Special Event Permit (City of Ann Arbor Community Services (Special Events Coordinator)): The application needs a detailed map with a traffic control plan, plans for parking, restrooms and refuse, and proof of insurance for events with 50 or more participants. Closing a street needs City Council approval, and some permits require Council approval anyway. City park special event reservation (City of Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation): The organizer first contacts Parks & Recreation to put a date and park on hold, then applies in the online portal. Special events often need at least 60 days for review and can only be requested for the current calendar year.
Do vendors need a license to sell at events in Ann Arbor?
Solicitation and Peddlers License (for-profit) (City of Ann Arbor City Clerk): Peddlers and solicitors must hold a city license, applied for through the city's online portal, with proof of liability insurance and a passport-size photo. Licenses cover a six-month period (May 1 to October 31 or November 1 to April 30), and sales of food need a certificate from the County Health Officer first. Peddling is barred near the University of Michigan stadium on football Saturdays and near the Art Fair in July.
Who handles sales tax at a market in Ann Arbor?
Michigan sales tax license or Concessionaire's Sales Tax Return (Form 5089) (Michigan Department of Treasury): Retailers collect 6% sales tax, and Michigan has no city, local or county sales tax. Vendors at more than two events a year must hold a sales tax license, registered online through Michigan Treasury Online or on Form 518. Sellers may begin selling before the license arrives but must remit tax from their first sale.
Do food vendors need a separate permit in Ann Arbor?
Temporary food establishment license (issued by local health departments) (Washtenaw County Health Department, Environmental Health (MDARD sets licensing rules)): Washtenaw County's Health Department issues temporary food establishment licenses and defines one as a fixed-location food operation lasting no more than 14 consecutive days. The county's detail pages did not load in static form, so confirm the application steps and fee with Environmental Health.
How far ahead should I apply in Ann Arbor?
Non-competitive Special Event Permit: Submit at least 60 working days (12 weeks) before the event City park special event reservation: Special Events often need at least 60 days for review Solicitation and Peddlers License (for-profit): Applications need a minimum of 24 hours 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: Parks & Recreation park rentals, 734-794-6230 x0, parkrentals@a2gov.org
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://www.a2gov.org/media/ltcnwnr2/special20events20-20non-competitive20app2020rules202021.pdf
- https://www.a2gov.org/parks-and-recreation/park-rentals/special-events/
- https://www.michigan.gov/taxes/business-taxes/sales-use-tax/information/sales-tax-license-faq
- https://www.washtenaw.org/1500/Temporary-Food-Establishment-Licenses
- https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/licensing/food/service
- https://www.a2gov.org/city-clerk/licenses-and-permits/
- https://www.a2gov.org/services/solicitors-and-peddlers/
Collect every vendor permit in one place.
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