Running a vendor market in Boulder.
To run a vendor market in Boulder, an organizer applies for a city Special Event Permit for events on public property, filed with the Office of Special Events. Vendors from outside the city get a free Special Event License and file a Boulder sales tax return, and food booths need a Boulder County Public Health temporary event license.
Updated
Event permit.
Special Event Permit
The application is filed with the city's Office of Special Events, and incomplete or late applications can be denied. Facility fees and a performance deposit vary with the event.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Boulder Office of Special Events
- When
- Planned, promoted activity on public property with 50 or more people, tents, structures or amplified sound, food or alcohol for the public, or use of public rights-of-way. Private-property events need no Special Event Permit, though other permits can apply.
- Fee
- No application fee (facility fees and a deposit vary)
- Timing
- At least 120 days before the event; at least 60 days for alcohol service or road closures
Temporary Event application for private property (tents, generators, indoor occupancy)
The city's guide says a Temporary Event Conditional Use application is required for outdoor structures on private property. Indoor events in assembly or mercantile occupancies have their own rules, and other occupancy types need a tenant improvement permit.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Boulder Planning and Development Services
- When
- Events on private property with outdoor tents or structures or generators, or indoor events that change the building's occupancy use
Fire safety, tents and cooking.
Tents, canopies, cooking and generators
Tents over 400 sq ft with walls, or over 700 sq ft without, need extra permits and inspections. Tents must be flame-retardant and anchored, each food vendor needs a 40-B rated ABC extinguisher, and generators sit at least 10 feet from tents and combustibles.
- Who
- Organizer and vendors
- From
- City of Boulder Planning and Development Services and Boulder Fire-Rescue
- When
- Tents and canopies, open-flame cooking and generators at special events
Other rules.
Event liability insurance
The city must be listed as certificate holder and additional insured, with subrogation waived.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Boulder Office of Special Events
- When
- Special Event Permit events
- Fee
- $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate general liability
Vendor and business licenses.
Special Event License (business license for event vendors)
Out-of-city vendors register for each event they attend through Boulder's online tax system under the special event vendor option. The license is event-specific.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- City of Boulder Finance, Tax and License
- When
- Organizations and businesses coming into Boulder to sell at a special event; Boulder-based businesses hold a standard business license instead
- Fee
- Free for out-of-city vendors
Sales tax.
Boulder special event sales and use tax return
A return is due for each event registered for. Late filings carry penalties and interest.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- City of Boulder Finance, Tax and License
- When
- Every vendor registered for a Boulder special event, even if no sales are made
- Timing
- Return due by the 20th of the month after the event
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 government-issued photo 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. Boulder is a home-rule city, so its own tax rules apply in addition to the state special event license above.
- Fee
- Single event license $8.00 per event; multiple event license $16.00 for a 2-year cycle
Food vendors.
Temporary event license and coordinator application
Event coordinators file an application with a fee, and each food vendor applies for a temporary event license. Vendors serving non-prepackaged food need a food safety training, and coordinators can estimate roughly 30 minutes of inspection per vendor and pass that cost on.
- Who
- Organizer and vendors
- From
- Boulder County Public Health
- When
- Food vendors at temporary events (up to 14 consecutive days) in Boulder County; some vendors may be exempt
- Fee
- Coordinator application $155 (may be waived case by case for non-profits); inspection $156 per hour
- Timing
- Coordinators at least 14 days before the event; vendors at least 10 days before
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.
When to apply.
- Special Event Permit: At least 120 days before the event; at least 60 days for alcohol service or road closures
- Boulder special event sales and use tax return: Return due by the 20th of the month after the event
- Temporary event license and coordinator application: Coordinators at least 14 days before the event; vendors at least 10 days before
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 Boulder, CO?
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 Colorado Department of Revenue site returned an access challenge to command-line fetches; the special event license and organizer pages were read through a fetch tool on 2026-10-11. Reconfirm fees at tax.colorado.gov before publishing.
- The Boulder special events handbook says mobile food vehicles need a Boulder MFV license and must apply at least 60 days ahead if not already licensed.
Common questions.
Do I need a permit to host a vendor market in Boulder?
Special Event Permit (City of Boulder Office of Special Events): The application is filed with the city's Office of Special Events, and incomplete or late applications can be denied. Facility fees and a performance deposit vary with the event. Temporary Event application for private property (tents, generators, indoor occupancy) (City of Boulder Planning and Development Services): The city's guide says a Temporary Event Conditional Use application is required for outdoor structures on private property. Indoor events in assembly or mercantile occupancies have their own rules, and other occupancy types need a tenant improvement permit.
Do vendors need a license to sell at events in Boulder?
Special Event License (business license for event vendors) (City of Boulder Finance, Tax and License): Out-of-city vendors register for each event they attend through Boulder's online tax system under the special event vendor option. The license is event-specific.
Who handles sales tax at a market in Boulder?
Boulder special event sales and use tax return (City of Boulder Finance, Tax and License): A return is due for each event registered for. Late filings carry penalties and interest. 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 government-issued photo 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.
Do food vendors need a separate permit in Boulder?
Temporary event license and coordinator application (Boulder County Public Health): Event coordinators file an application with a fee, and each food vendor applies for a temporary event license. Vendors serving non-prepackaged food need a food safety training, and coordinators can estimate roughly 30 minutes of inspection per vendor and pass that cost on.
How far ahead should I apply in Boulder?
Special Event Permit: At least 120 days before the event; at least 60 days for alcohol service or road closures Boulder special event sales and use tax return: Return due by the 20th of the month after the event Temporary event license and coordinator application: Coordinators at least 14 days before the event; vendors at least 10 days before
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: Office of Special Events: specialevents@bouldercolorado.gov
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://bouldercolorado.gov/guide/special-events
- https://bouldercolorado.gov/temporary-event-application
- https://bouldercolorado.gov/city-boulder-special-events-handbook
- https://bouldercolorado.gov/additional-permits-requirements-and-information-special-events
- https://bouldercolorado.gov/special-event-vendor-tax-guide
- https://tax.colorado.gov/special-event-license
- https://bouldercounty.gov/records/licenses/food-safety-and-temporary-events/
- https://tax.colorado.gov/special-event-sales-tax
Collect every vendor permit in one place.
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