Running a vendor market in Arlington County.
In Arlington County, VA, a public event needs a Special Event application to the County's Special Events office at least 90 days ahead, plus fire, inspection and park approvals as needed. Food vendors need Arlington Public Health temporary food licensing, the sponsor holds a county business license, and vendors report Virginia sales tax. Confirm with each office.
Updated
Event permit.
Special Event application
The Special Events Committee reviews applications, and an approved application does not by itself approve facility reservations, staff support or the other requirements on the county checklist. Neighbors should be notified, and weak outreach can delay or sink an application.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- Arlington County Special Events Office
- When
- Events open to the public that are broadly promoted, affect nearby infrastructure, have live entertainment or alcohol sales, or are likely to draw a crowd; the Special Events page says private events not open to the public do not need an application
- Fee
- No fee for the Arlington County Special Event application
- Timing
- At least 90 days before the event date; applications with less notice risk denial
Parks and public space.
Park, community center and public space reservations
A separate facility rental request is required in addition to the Special Event application, and approval depends on availability. Do not advertise the event until the Parks and Recreation permit is issued. Private or school facilities are arranged with their owners.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation, Facilities Scheduling Office
- When
- Events in a county park, field, community center, plaza, trail or other county-owned facility
- Fee
- Fees vary by facility; payment is due within 72 hours of invoice
Special Event Permit (Street Closure)
After the Special Event application, the organizer contacts the Police Special Operations officer about the closure, and the Department of Environmental Services processes a Transportation Right of Way permit. Full payment of associated special event fees is due before the permit is issued, per the DES fee schedule.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- Arlington County Department of Environmental Services (Transportation Right of Way) and Police Special Operations
- When
- Events that close a street after Special Events Committee approval
- Timing
- Special event applications must be submitted at least 90 days prior to the event date
Fire safety, tents and cooking.
Special Events fire code permit
The application needs the event name, location, date, time and expected attendance, a site plan, a vendor list showing cooking, LP-gas, generator and open-flame equipment, and a tent inventory. A tent permit is required for structures over 900 square feet or with more than 50 occupants, and cooking is not allowed under tents or membrane structures.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- Arlington County Office of the Fire Marshal
- When
- Events with cooking, LP-gas, generators, open flame, tents or temporary structures
- Fee
- $150 for up to 50 people; $200 for 51 to 500; $300 for over 500
Inspection Services permits for tents and amusement devices
The checklist says a permit from Inspection Services is required for tents over 10 by 10 feet, and every tent must be made of fire-retardant material. Amusement devices need a permit and inspection with fees set by the state, and electrical or generator use may need a permit. Inspection Services lists 703-228-3800.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- Arlington County Inspection Services Division
- When
- Tents larger than 10 by 10 feet, amusement devices such as rides and inflatables, and larger electrical or generator use
Other rules.
Recycling plan, noise rules and certificate of insurance
The checklist requires a detailed trash and recycling plan for all events, says amplified sound must follow the county noise ordinance, and lists a certificate of insurance and any ABC license as items to submit. It does not state a minimum insurance amount.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- Arlington County (Solid Waste Bureau, Inspection Services and Special Events Office)
- When
- Events approved through the Special Events process
Vendor and business licenses.
County business license for the event sponsor and food vendors
The checklist says the sponsor needs a business license under Arlington County Code section 11-38.1. Food vendors must have a business license and collect the county's 5% meals tax on prepared food, and vendors without an active county meals tax account file a meals tax return for the event.
- Who
- Organizer and vendors
- From
- Arlington County Commissioner of the Revenue, Business License Division
- When
- Special event sponsors for events at public places; food vendors selling prepared food at special events
- Fee
- $30 flat fee per year for the event sponsor
Sales tax.
Temporary Sales Tax Certificate/Return (Form ST-50)
Occasional sellers report and pay the sales tax they collected at an event on Form ST-50, due by the 20th of the month after the event. The form tells sellers who attend 3 or more shows a year to register for a permanent Virginia sales tax account. The rate is 6% in the Northern Virginia localities it lists, and the extra regional 0.7% is not charged on food bought for human consumption.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Virginia Department of Taxation
- When
- Vendors without a permanent Virginia sales tax account who sell taxable goods at an event
Food vendors.
Temporary food establishment license and coordinator application
The event coordinator submits a Coordinator Application with the list of proposed food vendors, and every food vendor submits a temporary food establishment license application. Mobile food vendors not on the county's pre-approved list need an inspection before the event. A license fee may be required; contact the Environmental Health Office, 703-228-7444 x4, EHTFE@arlingtonva.us.
- Who
- Organizer and vendors
- From
- Arlington County Public Health Division, Environmental Health Program
- When
- Food or drink given away or sold to the public at an event
- Timing
- At least 10 business days before the event
What the rules ask of organizers about vendors.
For events with food vendors, the event sponsor must give the Commissioner of the Revenue each food vendor's name, mailing address, phone number and email address. The sponsor also needs a county business license, and participating vendors are expected to file the Virginia Temporary Sales Tax Certificate/Return.
When to apply.
- Special Event application: At least 90 days before the event date; applications with less notice risk denial
- Special Event Permit (Street Closure): Special event applications must be submitted at least 90 days prior to the event date
- Temporary food establishment license and coordinator application: At least 10 business days before the event
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 Arlington County, VA?
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 checklist PDF is undated. Special Events phone numbers differ between county pages: the Special Events page lists 571-220-1281, and the street closure page lists 703-228-1876. Confirm the current number.
- The Special Events page mentions a separate Permit Arlington application for block parties under 150 attendees without alcohol sales, and a Special Events Fee Reduction Program for public safety costs; neither was researched further.
- Event-count threshold: the ST-50 form says sellers at 3 or more shows a year must register for a permanent account, while Virginia Tax's festival-season vendor tips page (https://www.tax.virginia.gov/news/vendor-tips-fall-festival-season) says sellers at 3 or fewer events can use ST-50 and sellers at more than 3 events must register. Confirm with Virginia Tax at (804) 367-8037.
- A 1992 Virginia Tax Commissioner ruling (https://www.tax.virginia.gov/laws-rules-decisions/rulings-tax-commissioner/92-91) says an event organizer may obtain a single temporary sales tax registration covering all sellers at the event; this is an option, not a requirement, and the ruling is old, so confirm with Virginia Tax.
Common questions.
Do I need a permit to host a vendor market in Arlington County?
Special Event application (Arlington County Special Events Office): The Special Events Committee reviews applications, and an approved application does not by itself approve facility reservations, staff support or the other requirements on the county checklist. Neighbors should be notified, and weak outreach can delay or sink an application. Park, community center and public space reservations (Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation, Facilities Scheduling Office): A separate facility rental request is required in addition to the Special Event application, and approval depends on availability. Do not advertise the event until the Parks and Recreation permit is issued. Private or school facilities are arranged with their owners.
Do vendors need a license to sell at events in Arlington County?
County business license for the event sponsor and food vendors (Arlington County Commissioner of the Revenue, Business License Division): The checklist says the sponsor needs a business license under Arlington County Code section 11-38.1. Food vendors must have a business license and collect the county's 5% meals tax on prepared food, and vendors without an active county meals tax account file a meals tax return for the event.
Who handles sales tax at a market in Arlington County?
Temporary Sales Tax Certificate/Return (Form ST-50) (Virginia Department of Taxation): Occasional sellers report and pay the sales tax they collected at an event on Form ST-50, due by the 20th of the month after the event. The form tells sellers who attend 3 or more shows a year to register for a permanent Virginia sales tax account. The rate is 6% in the Northern Virginia localities it lists, and the extra regional 0.7% is not charged on food bought for human consumption. For organizers: For events with food vendors, the event sponsor must give the Commissioner of the Revenue each food vendor's name, mailing address, phone number and email address. The sponsor also needs a county business license, and participating vendors are expected to file the Virginia Temporary Sales Tax Certificate/Return.
Do food vendors need a separate permit in Arlington County?
Temporary food establishment license and coordinator application (Arlington County Public Health Division, Environmental Health Program): The event coordinator submits a Coordinator Application with the list of proposed food vendors, and every food vendor submits a temporary food establishment license application. Mobile food vendors not on the county's pre-approved list need an inspection before the event. A license fee may be required; contact the Environmental Health Office, 703-228-7444 x4, EHTFE@arlingtonva.us.
How far ahead should I apply in Arlington County?
Special Event application: At least 90 days before the event date; applications with less notice risk denial Special Event Permit (Street Closure): Special event applications must be submitted at least 90 days prior to the event date Temporary food establishment license and coordinator application: At least 10 business days before the event
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: specialevents@arlingtonva.us, 571-220-1281
Every fact on this page comes from these official pages, checked on 2026-10-10. Details change; tell us at hello@bzar.app if something here is out of date.
- https://www.arlingtonva.us/files/sharedassets/public/v/2/parks-recreation/documents/special-events/special-event-checklist.pdf
- https://arlingtonva.us/Government/Programs/Building/Permits/Special-Event-Permit-Street-Closure
- https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Departments/Fire/Office-of-the-Fire-Marshal/Inspections-Permits/Special-Events-Permits
- https://www.tax.virginia.gov/sites/default/files/taxforms/retail-sales-and-use/any/st-50-any.pdf
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