# Vendor event permits in Aurora, CO

To run a vendor market in Aurora, Colorado, an organizer needs a city Temporary Use Permit for events on private property or city streets, and registers the event on the city's licensing portal so vendors get free temporary licenses. Food vendors are cleared by the county health department where the event is held.

_Sources checked 2026-10-10. Not legal or tax advice; confirm with each agency._

## For the organizer: Event permit

### Temporary Use Permit
Applications are filed through the city's DevPortal. Applicants provide liability insurance with the city as additional insured, plus a site plan and property owner permission for private sites. Block parties use a separate application unless the organizer lives off the block or vendors are present.
- Who: organizer
- From: City of Aurora Development Services, Permit Center
- When: Events that interfere with traffic on city streets or rights-of-way, or that take place on private property; arts and craft shows and street fairs are listed examples
- Fee: $85.25 application fee
- Official page: https://www.auroragov.org/tup

## For the organizer: Parks and public space

### Parks Special Event Proposal
A Special Event Proposal must be filed and approved before the Temporary Use Permit is applied for. A signed site use agreement and certificate of insurance are required.
- Who: organizer
- From: City of Aurora Parks, Recreation and Open Space
- When: Events in a city park or city facility
- Timing: File at least 30 days in advance
- Official page: https://www.auroragov.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_1881137/File/Business%20Services/Forms/Temporary%20Use%20Permit%20Requirements%20List.pdf

## For the organizer: Fire safety, tents and cooking

### Aurora Fire Rescue operational permit and inspection
These events are assumed to need a special fire inspection. Large events need advance notice to the fire department.
- Who: organizer
- From: Aurora Fire Rescue
- When: Large tents over 400 sq ft, canopies without sides over 700 sq ft, events with more than 1,000 people at one time, carnivals with rides, fireworks and similar
- Timing: Large events require a 30-day advance notice
- Official page: https://www.auroragov.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_1881137/File/Business%20Services/Forms/Temporary%20Use%20Permit%20Requirements%20List.pdf

## For the organizer: Other rules

### Temporary Use Permit insurance
Applicants provide a certificate of insurance naming the City of Aurora as certificate holder and additional insured, issued no more than 30 days before the event.
- Who: organizer
- From: City of Aurora Risk Management
- When: All Temporary Use Permit applicants
- Fee: Minimum $1 million per occurrence and $2 million general aggregate
- Official page: https://www.auroragov.org/tup

## For vendors: Vendor and business licenses

### Free temporary business license (Register to Attend a Special Event)
The organizer registers the event on the city's Online Business License portal under Host Special Event, and vendors register to attend. This gives vendors a free temporary business license and access to file the Aurora sales tax return. A Colorado sales tax license is not a city business license.
- Who: vendors
- From: City of Aurora Tax and Licensing
- When: Temporary vendors at events with multiple vendors who do not already hold an Aurora General Business License; limited to five events in any 12 months
- Fee: No fee (the city describes the registration and temporary license as free)
- Official page: https://www.auroragov.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_1881137/File/Business%20Services/Forms/Temporary%20Use%20Permit%20Requirements%20List.pdf

## For vendors: Sales tax

### Aurora Special Event Tax Return
Temporary vendors file and pay Aurora sales tax for event sales through the city's tax portal. Regular Aurora businesses report on their normal returns. A vendor may attend no more than five events in 12 months before needing a city business license.
- Who: vendors
- From: City of Aurora Tax and Licensing
- When: Temporary vendors making retail sales at an Aurora event of up to seven consecutive days
- Official page: https://www.auroragov.org/business_services/taxes/special_event_tax_return

### Colorado Special Event License
Sellers need a special event license unless the event organizer has a license to collect tax for participating sellers. Apply with form DR 0589 plus ID by mail, and keep the copy as a temporary license until the official one arrives.
- Who: organizer and vendors
- From: Colorado Department of Revenue
- When: Retail sales at a special sales event: more than three sellers at a location other than their normal business location, held no more than three times a year at the same location. Events held three or more times a year need a regular Retail Sales Tax License instead. Aurora is a city, so its own tax return above applies in addition to the state license.
- Fee: Single event license $8.00 per event; multiple event license $16.00 for a 2-year cycle
- Official page: https://tax.colorado.gov/special-event-license

## For vendors: Food vendors

### Special Event Coordinator application and temporary food vendor licenses (Arapahoe County)
Coordinators submit a Special Event Coordinator application; temporary food vendors, including cottage food, apply separately with a commissary agreement, menu and booth layout. The county does not accept special event licenses from other counties but does accept Colorado mobile licenses.
- Who: organizer and vendors
- From: Arapahoe County Public Health
- When: Events in the Arapahoe County part of Aurora with food vendors other than licensed mobile food units
- Timing: Vendors apply at least 10 business days before the event to avoid late fees
- Official page: https://www.arapahoegov.com/your_county/county_departments/public_health_department/health_protection___response/environmental_health/food/special_food_events.php

### Special Event Coordinator Application and Special Event Vendor Application (Adams County)
Event coordinators and vendors apply separately to the county. Vendors need a signed commissary agreement and a certified food protection manager certificate, and fees are paid before operating.
- Who: organizer and vendors
- From: Adams County Public Health Department
- When: Events in the Adams County part of Aurora
- Fee: Coordinator $160 ($50 late fee); vendor license $165; inspection $80 per hour
- Timing: Coordinator at least 30 days before the event; vendors at least two weeks before
- Official page: https://adamscountyhealthdepartment.org/licensing-inspections/retail-food/special-events/

## What the rules ask of organizers about vendors

Colorado requires an event organizer to tell each participating seller which taxes and rates apply, and to give the Department of Revenue the names, addresses and special event license numbers of the sellers within 10 days after the event. An organizer with its own special event license can collect and remit tax for vendors. Denver's guide also makes the organizer responsible for checking that vendors hold the required Denver licenses. (https://tax.colorado.gov/special-event-sales-tax)

## Where the sources are unclear

- Aurora's Temporary Use Permit page does not state a general lead time; the requirements list is dated 09/2025 (Form A100).
- Aurora spans Arapahoe, Adams and Douglas counties: the city's requirements list tells organizers to confirm food vendors with the county health department where the event is held and gives Douglas County Health Department as 303-451-0123; no Douglas County page was read.
- Aurora's requirements list says event promoters must make good-faith efforts to ensure vendors comply with applicable laws or risk the permit being revoked or denied.
- The Adams County special events page was read through a summarizing fetch tool; check the fee figures on the county page before relying on them.

## Questions

**Do I need a permit to host a vendor market in Aurora?**

Temporary Use Permit (City of Aurora Development Services, Permit Center): Applications are filed through the city's DevPortal. Applicants provide liability insurance with the city as additional insured, plus a site plan and property owner permission for private sites. Block parties use a separate application unless the organizer lives off the block or vendors are present. Parks Special Event Proposal (City of Aurora Parks, Recreation and Open Space): A Special Event Proposal must be filed and approved before the Temporary Use Permit is applied for. A signed site use agreement and certificate of insurance are required.

**Do vendors need a license to sell at events in Aurora?**

Free temporary business license (Register to Attend a Special Event) (City of Aurora Tax and Licensing): The organizer registers the event on the city's Online Business License portal under Host Special Event, and vendors register to attend. This gives vendors a free temporary business license and access to file the Aurora sales tax return. A Colorado sales tax license is not a city business license.

**Who handles sales tax at a market in Aurora?**

Aurora Special Event Tax Return (City of Aurora Tax and Licensing): Temporary vendors file and pay Aurora sales tax for event sales through the city's tax portal. Regular Aurora businesses report on their normal returns. A vendor may attend no more than five events in 12 months before needing a city business license. Colorado Special Event License (Colorado Department of Revenue): Sellers need a special event license unless the event organizer has a license to collect tax for participating sellers. Apply with form DR 0589 plus ID by mail, and keep the copy as a temporary license until the official one arrives. For organizers: Colorado requires an event organizer to tell each participating seller which taxes and rates apply, and to give the Department of Revenue the names, addresses and special event license numbers of the sellers within 10 days after the event. An organizer with its own special event license can collect and remit tax for vendors. Denver's guide also makes the organizer responsible for checking that vendors hold the required Denver licenses.

**Do food vendors need a separate permit in Aurora?**

Special Event Coordinator application and temporary food vendor licenses (Arapahoe County) (Arapahoe County Public Health): Coordinators submit a Special Event Coordinator application; temporary food vendors, including cottage food, apply separately with a commissary agreement, menu and booth layout. The county does not accept special event licenses from other counties but does accept Colorado mobile licenses. Special Event Coordinator Application and Special Event Vendor Application (Adams County) (Adams County Public Health Department): Event coordinators and vendors apply separately to the county. Vendors need a signed commissary agreement and a certified food protection manager certificate, and fees are paid before operating.

**How far ahead should I apply in Aurora?**

Parks Special Event Proposal: File at least 30 days in advance Aurora Fire Rescue operational permit and inspection: Large events require a 30-day advance notice Special Event Coordinator application and temporary food vendor licenses (Arapahoe County): Vendors apply at least 10 business days before the event to avoid late fees Special Event Coordinator Application and Special Event Vendor Application (Adams County): Coordinator at least 30 days before the event; vendors at least two weeks before

## Sources

- https://www.auroragov.org/tup
- https://www.auroragov.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_1881137/File/Business%20Services/Forms/Temporary%20Use%20Permit%20Requirements%20List.pdf
- https://www.auroragov.org/business_services/taxes/special_event_tax_return
- https://tax.colorado.gov/special-event-license
- https://www.arapahoegov.com/your_county/county_departments/public_health_department/health_protection___response/environmental_health/food/special_food_events.php
- https://adamscountyhealthdepartment.org/licensing-inspections/retail-food/special-events/
- https://tax.colorado.gov/special-event-sales-tax

All cities: https://bzar.app/permits