Running a vendor market in Denver.
To run a vendor market in Denver, an organizer applies to the Office of Special Events for a permit if the event is open to the public on city property and meets the city's criteria. Food vendors need Denver Public Health and Environment licenses, and vendors register for Denver sales tax. Confirm details with each office.
Updated
Event permit.
Office of Special Events (OSE) permit
After the online application, an Event Permitting Specialist is assigned to guide the organizer through the park, traffic, fire and community notification requirements, and the permit issues once every requirement is met. Fees depend on expected daily attendance.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City and County of Denver Office of Special Events (Public Event and Film Permitting)
- When
- Events open to the public on Denver public property (parks, streets, sidewalks, alleys) that meet at least two of the city's criteria, which include a park or street closure location, tents over 200 sq ft, propane or open flames, generators over 5kW or stages, sales of tickets, food, beverages or merchandise, and hired security. Events entirely on private property or with an invite-only guest list generally do not need an OSE application but may need approval from other city departments.
- Fee
- Processing fee by daily attendance: 1 - 350 $25; 351 - 3,000 $75; 3,001 - 10,000 $150; 10,000+ $250. Fees are doubled for applications less than 60 days before setup, and a rush fee equal to the application fee applies if requirements are not met 5 days before the event
- Timing
- Apply 60 days before the event set up date; first-time or complex events should contact the office 90 days ahead; applications less than 30 days before setup are not accepted
Public event permitting overview and application
Denver's permitting page walks organizers through whether a permit applies and links to the online application. Applications fewer than 60 days ahead face doubled fees and those under 30 days are rejected.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City and County of Denver Office of Special Events
- When
- Same as above; events with 350 or fewer attendees per day fully inside a park, with no street closures, fireworks or drones, do not need a permit
Fire safety, tents and cooking.
Fire permit
The Fire Department reviews event elements and issues a permit when one is needed; organizers check its Special Events Guidelines to confirm.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- Denver Fire Department
- When
- Events with tents over 200 sq ft, propane, open flames, fuel storage, pyrotechnics or parade floats
- Timing
- Submit a Fire Permit Application at least 30 days before the event
Vendor and business licenses.
Denver Retailer's Sales, Use and Lodgers Tax License
Denver does not charge a license fee for the biannual retailer's license, and Treasury sends licenses each December 1. Businesses register and file through Denver's eBiz platform or the state's Sales Use Tax System.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Denver Department of Finance, Treasury Division
- When
- Businesses already licensed in Denver, which can sell at events without extra permits or fees; other vendors register for the Special Event Sales Tax account (see sales tax)
- Fee
- No license fee charged
Sales tax.
Denver Special Event Sales Tax account
All vendors at the event must collect and pay Denver sales tax. Denver-licensed vendors report event sales on their regular returns; other vendors register online for a Special Event Sales Tax account.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Denver Department of Finance, Treasury Division
- When
- Vendors at Denver events who are not already Denver licensed businesses
- Timing
- Sales tax licensing deadline listed as 30 days before 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 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.
- Fee
- Single event license $8.00 per event; multiple event license $16.00 for a 2-year cycle
Food vendors.
Restaurant Temporary License / Retail Food Mobile License
The organizer must check that every food vendor holds the right Denver license. Mobile licenses can take several weeks, so vendors should apply early, and a vendor with a temporary restaurant license adds each event to it.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Denver Department of Public Health and Environment (with Excise and Licenses)
- When
- Food vendors at an event. Brick-and-mortar restaurants need a Restaurant Temporary License; food trucks need a Retail Food Mobile License; Colorado Cottage Foods Act sales may be exempt.
- Timing
- Food vendor approval deadline listed as 30 days before the event
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.
When to apply.
- Office of Special Events (OSE) permit: Apply 60 days before the event set up date; first-time or complex events should contact the office 90 days ahead; applications less than 30 days before setup are not accepted
- Fire permit: Submit a Fire Permit Application at least 30 days before the event
- Denver Special Event Sales Tax account: Sales tax licensing deadline listed as 30 days before the event
- Restaurant Temporary License / Retail Food Mobile License: Food vendor approval deadline listed as 30 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 Denver, 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.
- Denver's permit is called an Office of Special Events Permit (OSEP) on an older checklist page and an Event Operational Permit (EOP) on the current permitting pages; the event planning guide used here is dated December 5, 2024.
- Denver Treasury's page does not detail the Special Event Sales Tax account; the figures above come from the Office of Special Events guide. Questions go to Treasury at 720-913-9446.
- No Denver Public Health fee for temporary food licenses was found on a fetched official page as of 2026-10-10; ask DDPHE at phicomments@denvergov.org.
Common questions.
Do I need a permit to host a vendor market in Denver?
Office of Special Events (OSE) permit (City and County of Denver Office of Special Events (Public Event and Film Permitting)): After the online application, an Event Permitting Specialist is assigned to guide the organizer through the park, traffic, fire and community notification requirements, and the permit issues once every requirement is met. Fees depend on expected daily attendance. Public event permitting overview and application (City and County of Denver Office of Special Events): Denver's permitting page walks organizers through whether a permit applies and links to the online application. Applications fewer than 60 days ahead face doubled fees and those under 30 days are rejected.
Do vendors need a license to sell at events in Denver?
Denver Retailer's Sales, Use and Lodgers Tax License (Denver Department of Finance, Treasury Division): Denver does not charge a license fee for the biannual retailer's license, and Treasury sends licenses each December 1. Businesses register and file through Denver's eBiz platform or the state's Sales Use Tax System.
Who handles sales tax at a market in Denver?
Denver Special Event Sales Tax account (Denver Department of Finance, Treasury Division): All vendors at the event must collect and pay Denver sales tax. Denver-licensed vendors report event sales on their regular returns; other vendors register online for a Special Event Sales Tax account. 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 Denver?
Restaurant Temporary License / Retail Food Mobile License (Denver Department of Public Health and Environment (with Excise and Licenses)): The organizer must check that every food vendor holds the right Denver license. Mobile licenses can take several weeks, so vendors should apply early, and a vendor with a temporary restaurant license adds each event to it.
How far ahead should I apply in Denver?
Office of Special Events (OSE) permit: Apply 60 days before the event set up date; first-time or complex events should contact the office 90 days ahead; applications less than 30 days before setup are not accepted Fire permit: Submit a Fire Permit Application at least 30 days before the event Denver Special Event Sales Tax account: Sales tax licensing deadline listed as 30 days before the event Restaurant Temporary License / Retail Food Mobile License: Food vendor approval deadline listed as 30 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: Denver 311 or 720-913-1311; online application at specialeventapplication.denvergov.org
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://www.denvergov.org/files/assets/public/v/1/special-events/documents/info/2024-12-5_event-planning-guide-updated.pdf
- https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Office-of-Special-Events/Permitting-Special-Events
- https://www.denvergov.org/Business/Business-Tax/Tax-Information
- https://tax.colorado.gov/special-event-license
- https://tax.colorado.gov/special-event-sales-tax
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