# Vendor event permits in Bowie, MD

In Bowie, an organizer needs a City special event permit for events in city parks, at city facilities or on city streets ($100 application fee, insurance naming the City, 750-person cap in parks). Vendors selling in city parks need a City concession permit and a Prince George's County Health permit, plus Maryland sales tax registration.

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

## For the organizer: Event permit

### Special Event Permit
Submit the Event Permit application, a written detailed event description and insurance documentation listing the City as additional insured, and rent enough park space for the expected crowd. The application asks about food, food trucks, alcohol (which needs both a City and a County permit), tents and equipment, and police support, which carries a fee.
- Who: organizer
- From: City of Bowie Community Services Department (reviewed by Police, Emergency Manager, Communications and Recreation and Parks)
- When: Any event in City parks, at City facilities or on City streets. In City parks the city does not permit events above 750 attendees, wedding ceremonies, or more than one event per day per park. The city's pages do not say whether private-property events need a city permit.
- Fee: $100 application fee per Special Event application
- Official page: https://www.cityofbowie.org/778/Hosting-Special-Events

## For the organizer: Parks and public space

### City park pavilion and group area rental
Event organizers rent pavilions or group areas sized for their crowd, with lower rates for residents and a security deposit. Alcohol in a rented area needs a separate alcohol permit.
- Who: organizer
- From: City of Bowie Recreation and Parks
- When: Special events in City parks.
- Fee: Pavilion $150 resident / $350 non-resident; Group Area 3, 4, 7 $100 resident / $250 non-resident; Group Area 5, 6, 8 $75 resident / $200 non-resident; security deposit equals the rental fee in each case
- Official page: https://www.cityofbowie.org/778/Hosting-Special-Events

## For the organizer: Other rules

### Block Party Permit
The city lists a separate Block Party permit and a Block Party Street Closure Request form; an ordinary special event permit does not replace it.
- Who: organizer
- From: City of Bowie
- When: Block parties in neighborhoods.
- Official page: https://www.cityofbowie.org/2816/Permits-Licenses

## For vendors: Vendor and business licenses

### Park concession permit (Park Concession Stand or Mobile Concession)
Applicants must first show a valid Prince George's County Health Department permit, and mobile concession operators also need a City Peddler's/Solicitor's permit. Apply at the City Hall window labeled Park Permits. A single-day Park Concession Stand permit is for groups selling from a temporary stand.
- Who: vendors
- From: City of Bowie Community Services / City Hall Park Permits window
- When: Selling any food or other items in a City of Bowie park, except at City-sponsored or City-authorized special events.
- Fee: Park Concession Stand (daily): resident $100 permit fee plus $100 security deposit; non-resident $200 permit fee plus $200 security deposit
- Official page: https://www.cityofbowie.org/735/Selling-Concessions-in-Our-Parks

### Peddler's and Solicitor's License
The application needs character references, photos and the date and number of the Prince George's County license, and the license limits selling to 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The city says most businesses should check with the Prince George's County Clerk of the Circuit Court for a county or state business license.
- Who: vendors
- From: City of Bowie Code Compliance Office
- When: People who hawk, peddle or vend wares on the streets of Bowie or go door to door. Volunteer fire companies and civic, religious, charitable and similar organizations approved by the City Manager are exempt. Bowie does not otherwise license businesses.
- Fee: $25.00 for each license, valid one year
- Official page: https://www.cityofbowie.org/DocumentCenter/View/184

### Trader's License (or Exhibitor's Affidavit)
The Comptroller says a trader's license from the Clerk of the Circuit Court and a sales tax account are required to sell goods in Maryland, and the license year runs May 1 to April 30. An exhibitor must show the promoter a photocopy of the license or affidavit before the show and display it during the show. Fees are not listed on this page.
- Who: vendors
- From: Prince George's County Clerk of the Circuit Court (statewide rules enforced by the Comptroller's License Bureau)
- When: Anyone selling goods in Maryland other than a grower or manufacturer. Exhibitors at a show do not need their own trader's license when the show is promoted by an exempt entity the Comptroller lists (for example a church, government agency or volunteer fire department), or when they give the promoter an Exhibitor's Affidavit saying they get under 10 percent of annual income from like goods at the show. Either way they must not have done more than three shows in the previous 365 days.
- Official page: https://www.marylandcomptroller.gov/businesses/new-business/business-licenses.html

## For vendors: Sales tax

### Temporary Sales and Use Tax License (30 days)
A vendor emails the event date, name and location plus business details to the Comptroller's temporary license desk (or calls 410-767-1543 or 410-767-5462) and collects the 6 percent or 9 percent Maryland sales and use tax, as the Comptroller states. Vendors at three or more events a year should register for a permanent license.
- Who: vendors
- From: Comptroller of Maryland
- When: Vendors without a permanent Maryland sales and use tax license who sell at one-time events such as craft shows and fairs. Maryland has one statewide rate and no local sales taxes.
- Timing: Temporary license is valid for 30 days
- Official page: https://services.marylandcomptroller.gov/taxes?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0010107

### Flea market and show sales are taxable
The Comptroller's tax tip says flea market sales are taxable like any other sale, a seller must get a license before collecting, and the license must be displayed where sales are made. A 30-day permit is available by phone from the Special Events Section; frequent sellers should get a permanent license through the Combined Registration Application.
- Who: vendors
- From: Comptroller of Maryland
- When: Vendors at flea markets and similar markets, including private individuals (casual and isolated sales under $1,000 of a seller's own household goods are exempt; dealers and resale goods are not).
- Official page: https://www.marylandcomptroller.gov/content/dam/mdcomp/tax/legal-publications/tips/business/bustip14.pdf

## For vendors: Food vendors

### Prince George's County Health Department food permit (required for park concessions)
Bowie asks every concession applicant for a valid Prince George's County Health Department permit. The county's temporary food permit process is covered in the prince-georges-county-md file.
- Who: vendors
- From: Prince George's County Health Department
- When: Vendors selling food in Bowie parks or at Bowie events; the City requires proof of a valid county health permit before it issues a concession permit. Bowie does not issue food permits itself.
- Official page: https://www.cityofbowie.org/735/Selling-Concessions-in-Our-Parks

## What the rules ask of organizers about vendors

A show promoter may not let an exhibitor take part unless the exhibitor has given a photocopy of a valid Trader's License or an Exhibitor's Affidavit before the show. Exhibitors must display it, and the promoter must forward all Exhibitor Affidavits to the Comptroller's State License Bureau within seven days after the show. Non-compliance is a misdemeanor with a fine up to $100 or up to 30 days in jail. (https://www.marylandcomptroller.gov/businesses/new-business/business-licenses.html)

## Where the sources are unclear

- Maryland rules on sales tax, trader's licenses and promoter duties come from the Comptroller of Maryland and apply statewide. The promoter rules are written for shows and exhibitors; confirm with the Comptroller's License Bureau that your vendor market counts as a show.
- The Comptroller's tax guidance articles (services.marylandcomptroller.gov KB pages) render with JavaScript, so an automated fetch returns an empty shell; the temporary license text was read in a browser on 2026-10-10. The static Business Tax Tip #14 lists the Special Events Section number as 410-767-1540, while the KB article lists 410-767-1543 and 410-767-5462; Tip #14 is undated. Confirm the number with the Comptroller.
- Blocked: https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/departments-offices/health/environmental-health/food-safety-permits-inspections/temporary-food-service-facility-permits returned HTTP 403 to automated fetches in this pass, so the Prince George's County temporary food permit details were not re-read here; see the prince-georges-county-md file.
- The city's Special Events page and permit pages give no lead time for the Special Event Permit; the Special Event Policy referenced by the application was not read. Ask the Special Events Manager.
- The park pages are written for events in City parks. The city's pages did not say whether a vendor market on private property inside Bowie needs a city permit; ask the Special Events Manager, and check the Prince George's County file for county permits on tents, generators and structures.
- The Peddler's/Solicitor's License sheet is dated Rev. 2023 and cites Chapter 18 of the Bowie City Code. Whether a vendor at a permitted market needs it was not stated; ask Code Compliance at 301-809-3008.

## Questions

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

Special Event Permit (City of Bowie Community Services Department (reviewed by Police, Emergency Manager, Communications and Recreation and Parks)): Submit the Event Permit application, a written detailed event description and insurance documentation listing the City as additional insured, and rent enough park space for the expected crowd. The application asks about food, food trucks, alcohol (which needs both a City and a County permit), tents and equipment, and police support, which carries a fee. City park pavilion and group area rental (City of Bowie Recreation and Parks): Event organizers rent pavilions or group areas sized for their crowd, with lower rates for residents and a security deposit. Alcohol in a rented area needs a separate alcohol permit.

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

Park concession permit (Park Concession Stand or Mobile Concession) (City of Bowie Community Services / City Hall Park Permits window): Applicants must first show a valid Prince George's County Health Department permit, and mobile concession operators also need a City Peddler's/Solicitor's permit. Apply at the City Hall window labeled Park Permits. A single-day Park Concession Stand permit is for groups selling from a temporary stand. Peddler's and Solicitor's License (City of Bowie Code Compliance Office): The application needs character references, photos and the date and number of the Prince George's County license, and the license limits selling to 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The city says most businesses should check with the Prince George's County Clerk of the Circuit Court for a county or state business license.

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

Temporary Sales and Use Tax License (30 days) (Comptroller of Maryland): A vendor emails the event date, name and location plus business details to the Comptroller's temporary license desk (or calls 410-767-1543 or 410-767-5462) and collects the 6 percent or 9 percent Maryland sales and use tax, as the Comptroller states. Vendors at three or more events a year should register for a permanent license. Flea market and show sales are taxable (Comptroller of Maryland): The Comptroller's tax tip says flea market sales are taxable like any other sale, a seller must get a license before collecting, and the license must be displayed where sales are made. A 30-day permit is available by phone from the Special Events Section; frequent sellers should get a permanent license through the Combined Registration Application. For organizers: A show promoter may not let an exhibitor take part unless the exhibitor has given a photocopy of a valid Trader's License or an Exhibitor's Affidavit before the show. Exhibitors must display it, and the promoter must forward all Exhibitor Affidavits to the Comptroller's State License Bureau within seven days after the show. Non-compliance is a misdemeanor with a fine up to $100 or up to 30 days in jail.

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

Prince George's County Health Department food permit (required for park concessions) (Prince George's County Health Department): Bowie asks every concession applicant for a valid Prince George's County Health Department permit. The county's temporary food permit process is covered in the prince-georges-county-md file.

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

Temporary Sales and Use Tax License (30 days): Temporary license is valid for 30 days

## Sources

- https://www.cityofbowie.org/778/Hosting-Special-Events
- https://www.cityofbowie.org/DocumentCenter/View/177/Special-Event-Permit-Application-PDF
- https://www.cityofbowie.org/2816/Permits-Licenses
- https://www.cityofbowie.org/110/Special-Events
- https://www.cityofbowie.org/735/Selling-Concessions-in-Our-Parks
- https://www.cityofbowie.org/DocumentCenter/View/3025
- https://www.cityofbowie.org/DocumentCenter/View/184
- https://www.cityofbowie.org/2447/Business-License
- https://www.marylandcomptroller.gov/businesses/new-business/business-licenses.html
- https://services.marylandcomptroller.gov/taxes?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0010107
- https://www.marylandcomptroller.gov/content/dam/mdcomp/tax/legal-publications/tips/business/bustip14.pdf

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