Running a vendor market in Buffalo.
In Buffalo, organizers of events on public property apply for a Special Events Permit from the City's Special Events Office at least 90 days ahead. Vendors need a City Temporary Stand or Exhibitor license, food vendors need an Erie County temporary food permit, and sellers register for a New York Certificate of Authority.
Updated
Event permit.
Special Events Permit
The organizer files a complete electronic application with a signed hold harmless agreement and a certificate of insurance naming the City as additional insured. The office sends a cost breakdown, and an advisory committee gives final approval once payment is received. Selling food also requires an Erie County temporary food permit.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Buffalo Special Events Office
- When
- Events expected to draw large crowds, held on public property or on private property that affects public property, and needing City support or resources. Buffalo's page does not say whether a small event wholly on private property needs one.
- Timing
- Complete the application at least 90 days before the event
Vendor and business licenses.
Temporary Stand / Exhibitor license
The event organizer submits the Temporary Stand/Exhibitor form listing the event, dates and products sold, with a separate fee by category. Buffalo's license list also has separate mobile and stationary peddler licenses for sellers outside an organized event.
- Who
- Organizer and vendors
- From
- City of Buffalo Department of Permit and Inspection Services, Office of Licenses
- When
- Food stands and merchandise exhibitors at a temporary event in Buffalo. The form states it is turned in to the Office of Licenses by the event organizer.
- Fee
- $40.00 Temporary Stand (sale of food); $35.00 Exhibitor (sale of merchandise)
Sales tax.
Certificate of Authority (regular)
Show and entertainment vendors must get a regular Certificate of Authority; a temporary certificate is not available to them and the separate show-vendor certificate was discontinued. Apply online through New York Business Express.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- New York State Department of Taxation and Finance
- When
- Anyone making taxable sales in New York, including at craft shows, flea markets and other shows, even if sales are occasional
- Timing
- Register at least 20 days before you begin business
Show promoter permit (Form DTF-723) for four or more shows a year
Promoters in that group must register and display a Permit to Operate a Show at the entrance, and report each show afterward. Fewer than four shows a year means no state promoter registration.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- New York State Department of Taxation and Finance
- When
- Organizers who operate four or more shows in a calendar year, or lease space to others who do. Flea markets, craft shows, antique shows and fairs with more than one vendor selling taxable goods count as shows. A show is one event of up to seven consecutive days.
- Timing
- File at least 10 days before the fourth show opens
Food vendors.
Temporary Food Service Establishment permit
Each food stand applies on the county's temporary food service application, follows New York State Sanitary Code Part 14-2, and is subject to inspection at any time during the event.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Erie County Department of Health, Environmental Health Division
- When
- Any stand serving or selling food, or giving away samples, to the public at a single event or celebration of not more than 14 consecutive days in Erie County, which includes the City of Buffalo. A permit is specific to one event and its dates; blanket permits for several events are not allowed.
- Fee
- $106 (1-3 days), $120 (4-7 days) or $150 (8-14 days) if applied at least 5 days before; $146, $160 or $190 if later; extra $25 for a frozen dessert machine
- Timing
- Submit at least 5 days before the first day of operation to avoid the late fee
What the rules ask of organizers about vendors.
New York State bars a show promoter from letting anyone sell taxable goods at a show unless the seller is registered with the Tax Department, and requires the promoter to make sure each vendor displays a valid Certificate of Authority. Starting with the fourth show a year, promoters must keep each vendor's name, address, certificate number and rent paid for three years and file Form DTF-727 after each show.
When to apply.
- Temporary Food Service Establishment permit: Submit at least 5 days before the first day of operation to avoid the late fee
- Certificate of Authority (regular): Register at least 20 days before you begin business
- Show promoter permit (Form DTF-723) for four or more shows a year: File at least 10 days before the fourth show opens
- Special Events Permit: Complete the application at least 90 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 Buffalo, NY?
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.
- Erie County's page states a fee cap of $1,000 per operator at an event when one operator is responsible for several stands; the fee schedule PDF was not separately read, and the application form is dated 2023-03.
- The state sales tax publication (Pub 750) used for promoter rules is dated 11/2015; confirm current forms with the Tax Department.
- The New York State Sanitary Code says a temporary permit covers one event of up to 14 days; Erie County says it does not issue one permit for several events.
- Buffalo's Special Events page links a separate Special Events Fee Schedule that was not read, so permit fees are not listed; the City's Office of Licenses lists mobile and stationary peddler licenses, whose forms were not read. The Temporary Stand/Exhibitor form is revision 02-26 and says the organizer turns in the forms.
Common questions.
Do I need a permit to host a vendor market in Buffalo?
Special Events Permit (City of Buffalo Special Events Office): The organizer files a complete electronic application with a signed hold harmless agreement and a certificate of insurance naming the City as additional insured. The office sends a cost breakdown, and an advisory committee gives final approval once payment is received. Selling food also requires an Erie County temporary food permit.
Do vendors need a license to sell at events in Buffalo?
Temporary Stand / Exhibitor license (City of Buffalo Department of Permit and Inspection Services, Office of Licenses): The event organizer submits the Temporary Stand/Exhibitor form listing the event, dates and products sold, with a separate fee by category. Buffalo's license list also has separate mobile and stationary peddler licenses for sellers outside an organized event.
Who handles sales tax at a market in Buffalo?
Certificate of Authority (regular) (New York State Department of Taxation and Finance): Show and entertainment vendors must get a regular Certificate of Authority; a temporary certificate is not available to them and the separate show-vendor certificate was discontinued. Apply online through New York Business Express. Show promoter permit (Form DTF-723) for four or more shows a year (New York State Department of Taxation and Finance): Promoters in that group must register and display a Permit to Operate a Show at the entrance, and report each show afterward. Fewer than four shows a year means no state promoter registration. For organizers: New York State bars a show promoter from letting anyone sell taxable goods at a show unless the seller is registered with the Tax Department, and requires the promoter to make sure each vendor displays a valid Certificate of Authority. Starting with the fourth show a year, promoters must keep each vendor's name, address, certificate number and rent paid for three years and file Form DTF-727 after each show.
Do food vendors need a separate permit in Buffalo?
Temporary Food Service Establishment permit (Erie County Department of Health, Environmental Health Division): Each food stand applies on the county's temporary food service application, follows New York State Sanitary Code Part 14-2, and is subject to inspection at any time during the event.
How far ahead should I apply in Buffalo?
Temporary Food Service Establishment permit: Submit at least 5 days before the first day of operation to avoid the late fee Certificate of Authority (regular): Register at least 20 days before you begin business Show promoter permit (Form DTF-723) for four or more shows a year: File at least 10 days before the fourth show opens Special Events Permit: Complete the application at least 90 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: Erie County Environmental Health (716) 961-6800; Buffalo Special Events Office (716) 851-4004; Buffalo Office of Licenses (716) 851-4041
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://www3.erie.gov/envhealth/restaurant-inspections-food-sanitation-services
- https://www3.erie.gov/envhealth/sites/www3.erie.gov.envhealth/files/2023-03/tempfoodserviceestablishmentapp.pdf
- https://www3.erie.gov/envhealth/sites/www3.erie.gov.envhealth/files/2022-11/guidelinestemporaryfoodstands.pdf
- https://www.tax.ny.gov/pubs_and_bulls/tg_bulletins/st/how_to_register_for_nys_sales_tax.htm
- https://www.tax.ny.gov/pdf/publications/sales/pub750.pdf
- https://www.buffalony.gov/767/Special-Events-Applications
- https://www.buffalony.gov/640/License-Applications-Code-Requirements
- https://www.buffalony.gov/DocumentCenter/View/15892/TES-EXP-02-26
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