Permits: Asheville, NC

Running a vendor market in Asheville.

To run a vendor market in Asheville, an organizer works with the City Office of Special Events: public property starts with an invitation-only inquiry, while private-property events with over 49 people, tents or mobile vendors need a Temporary Use Permit 21 days ahead. Food vendors need Buncombe County temporary food permits.

Updated October 11, 2026

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For the organizer

Event permit.

Outdoor Special Event Permit (public property)

Applications are by invitation only, so organizers first submit the free Public Space Inquiry Form. A complete package needs the application, fee and site plan, reviewed by Parks, Police, Fire and other departments; certificates of insurance are due at least 3 weeks before the event, and food and beverage vendor lists three weeks before.

Who: Organizer
From: City of Asheville Office of Special Events
When: Organized activities on public property, especially with a reserved area, street or sidewalk closures, tents, alcohol, open flame, business activity, or attendance over 49 beyond normal use
Timing: Deadlines vary by event type and scale; missing one can cancel the process. Insurance certificates due at least 3 weeks before the event

Official page

Temporary Use Permit (private property)

Applicants submit electronically with a site plan, proof of ownership or the owner's permission, a list of contractors and food and beverage vendors, and an Emergency Action Plan. Fees depend on peak attendance and carry a 4% technology fee, sales must be at least ten feet from public rights-of-way, and the event should not be publicized until permits issue.

Who: Organizer
From: City of Asheville Office of Special Events
When: Events on private, non-residentially zoned property with more than 49 people beyond normal use, or with tents, generators, mobile vending units, stages, inflatables or open flame; limited to 180 days per calendar year
Timing: Submit no later than 21 days before the event

Official page

For the organizer

Parks and public space.

Temporary Street and Sidewalk Closure permit

A closure permit needs a traffic control plan and a sketch of the closed area; fees are set after review. Most DOT-maintained roads are generally not approved for closure, and event closures are arranged through the Office of Special Events.

Who: Organizer
From: City of Asheville Transportation Department
When: Outdoor special events on city streets or sidewalks, such as festivals and block parties
Fee: $100 application fee for all temporary closure permits (effective July 1, 2022); meter bagging $22 per day per space

Official page

For the organizer

Fire safety, tents and cooking.

Operational fire review and electrical permits

The organizer secures the Operational Fire Permit that authorizes open-flame food preparation by vendors. Gasoline generators are prohibited in the Downtown fire districts and Biltmore Village Historic District, generators over 6500 watts need a licensed electrician, and the Fire Department has final say on medical and fire support after reviewing the Emergency Action Plan.

Who: Organizer
From: City of Asheville Fire Department and Development Services
When: Open-flame cooking, portable grills and certain propane heaters; temporary power, generators and power poles. Tents must be flame-certified for temporary food vendors.

Official page

For the organizer

Other rules.

Alcohol, sound and crowd manager requirements

Alcohol on public property needs an NC ABC Special One-Time Permit and a City Council resolution, with a 10:00 p.m. consumption curfew. A Sound Exceedance Permit is only needed if decibel limits will be exceeded, and events of 1,000 or more people need one crowd manager per 250 people.

Who: Organizer
From: City of Asheville Office of Special Events
When: Events serving alcohol on public property, events exceeding sound limits, and events with 1,000 or more people

Official page

For your vendors

Vendor and business licenses.

No general city business license (privilege license)

Asheville says it no longer collects a general business tax, also called a privilege license, following a 2015 state law change. A vendor still needs the state sales tax registration listed separately and any activity-specific permits, such as for food.

Who: Vendors
From: City of Asheville Development Services
When: Vendors selling at a market in Asheville. The city still taxes beer and wine businesses, and the page says some businesses may owe a privilege tax to the State of North Carolina.

Official page

For your vendors

Sales tax.

Sales and use tax Certificate of Registration (specialty markets and events)

Vendors register with the Department and must collect and remit sales and use tax. They give the market operator their name, permanent address and certificate number and must display a copy of the certificate. Selling without one can lead to onsite collection of tax by the Department.

Who: Vendors
From: North Carolina Department of Revenue
When: Anyone selling taxable items at a flea market, specialty market or other event, including a one-time seller, unless an exemption applies (own household property, or farmers selling their own farm products in original state)
Fee: No fee to apply for a Certificate of Registration

Official page

For your vendors

Food vendors.

Temporary Food Establishment Permit

Vendors apply individually, are inspected, must hold the permit before preparing food, and must display it at the booth. The City asks organizers to contact county Environmental Health at least 4 weeks ahead, give the City the food and beverage vendor list three weeks ahead, and give copies of truck and pushcart permits one week ahead.

Who: Vendors
From: Buncombe County Health and Human Services, Environmental Health
When: Each temporary tent food vendor at an event. Mobile food trucks and pushcarts keep their own county operational permits and need no TFE permit unless they cannot return to their commissary daily.
Timing: Vendors apply no later than 15 days before the event

Official page

Organizer duty

What the rules ask of organizers about vendors.

North Carolina requires the operator of a specialty market or event to keep a daily list of every vendor selling there, showing each vendor's name, permanent address and certificate of registration number, and to keep those lists and vendor documents for at least two years. Operators must also require each vendor to show a valid certificate for inspection and to keep it displayed.

Official page

Timeline

When to apply.

Outdoor Special Event Permit (public property): Deadlines vary by event type and scale; missing one can cancel the process. Insurance certificates due at least 3 weeks before the event
Temporary Use Permit (private property): Submit no later than 21 days before the event
Temporary Food Establishment Permit: Vendors apply no later than 15 days before the event

On bzar

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.

For vendors

Selling at markets in Asheville, NC?

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.

Check with the agency

Where the sources are unclear.

Blocked: https://www.buncombenc.gov (Buncombe County, HTTP 403). The county's TFE fee and application page were not read; the City pages describe the county permit.
The City's public- and private-property outdoor special event guides, which hold the full fee schedule, are Google documents and were not read, so application and permit fee amounts are not stated here.
The City's commercial permit page says Asheville no longer collects a general business tax (privilege license); the City's commercial use of public space page covers pushcarts, outdoor merchandise and food trucks, with food trucks in association with special events handled through the event/temporary use permit.
North Carolina's temporary food rule (15A NCAC 18A .2665) says farmers markets, flea markets, auctions and yard sales are not eligible for a temporary food establishment permit, so a craft or flea-style market should ask its county environmental health office how food vendors are permitted.

Questions

Common questions.

Do I need a permit to host a vendor market in Asheville?

Outdoor Special Event Permit (public property) (City of Asheville Office of Special Events): Applications are by invitation only, so organizers first submit the free Public Space Inquiry Form. A complete package needs the application, fee and site plan, reviewed by Parks, Police, Fire and other departments; certificates of insurance are due at least 3 weeks before the event, and food and beverage vendor lists three weeks before. Temporary Use Permit (private property) (City of Asheville Office of Special Events): Applicants submit electronically with a site plan, proof of ownership or the owner's permission, a list of contractors and food and beverage vendors, and an Emergency Action Plan. Fees depend on peak attendance and carry a 4% technology fee, sales must be at least ten feet from public rights-of-way, and the event should not be publicized until permits issue.

Do vendors need a license to sell at events in Asheville?

No general city business license (privilege license) (City of Asheville Development Services): Asheville says it no longer collects a general business tax, also called a privilege license, following a 2015 state law change. A vendor still needs the state sales tax registration listed separately and any activity-specific permits, such as for food.

Who handles sales tax at a market in Asheville?

Sales and use tax Certificate of Registration (specialty markets and events) (North Carolina Department of Revenue): Vendors register with the Department and must collect and remit sales and use tax. They give the market operator their name, permanent address and certificate number and must display a copy of the certificate. Selling without one can lead to onsite collection of tax by the Department. For organizers: North Carolina requires the operator of a specialty market or event to keep a daily list of every vendor selling there, showing each vendor's name, permanent address and certificate of registration number, and to keep those lists and vendor documents for at least two years. Operators must also require each vendor to show a valid certificate for inspection and to keep it displayed.

Do food vendors need a separate permit in Asheville?

Temporary Food Establishment Permit (Buncombe County Health and Human Services, Environmental Health): Vendors apply individually, are inspected, must hold the permit before preparing food, and must display it at the booth. The City asks organizers to contact county Environmental Health at least 4 weeks ahead, give the City the food and beverage vendor list three weeks ahead, and give copies of truck and pushcart permits one week ahead.

How far ahead should I apply in Asheville?

Outdoor Special Event Permit (public property): Deadlines vary by event type and scale; missing one can cancel the process. Insurance certificates due at least 3 weeks before the event Temporary Use Permit (private property): Submit no later than 21 days before the event Temporary Food Establishment Permit: Vendors apply no later than 15 days before the event

Keep reading.

Permits in Cary, NCPermits in Charlotte, NCPermits in Durham, NCPermits in Fayetteville, NCPermits in Greensboro, NCPermits in Raleigh, NCNorth Carolina state rules: sales tax and cottage foodPermit checklist for AshevilleWhat event permits cost across US citiesCollecting vendor insurance and permitsHow to host a vendor eventVendor application form template

Sources

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: https://www.ashevillenc.gov/department/community-and-regional-entertainment-facilities/outdoor-special-events/contact/

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.

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