Permits: Fairfax County, VA

Running a vendor market in Fairfax County.

For a market on private property in Fairfax County, VA, the organizer applies to Zoning for a special event administrative permit in the PLUS portal. Food vendors need a Health Department temporary food establishment permit, vendors report Virginia sales tax, and sellers may need county business or solicitor licensing. Confirm with each office.

Updated October 10, 2026

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For the organizer

Event permit.

Special Event Administrative Permit (Tier-One or Tier-Two)

The property owner, or someone with the owner's written permission, applies electronically through the PLUS portal. Shorter one-day events can use a Tier-One permit, and larger or longer events use Tier-Two.

Who: Organizer
From: Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development, Zoning Permits Section
When: Temporary outdoor events on private property that are open to the public, such as festivals, fairs and open-air markets; events on County, Park Authority or school property are not required to get this permit
Fee: $140 for Tier-One; $285 for Tier-Two; credit card payments carry a 2.35% service charge

Official page

For the organizer

Parks and public space.

VDOT Road Use Permit (street closures)

If your event closes a public street, start with the Road Use Permit from VDOT. After VDOT approves, or if no street closes, send the special event permit materials to the County's Zoning Permits Section at least 30 days before the event start date.

Who: Organizer
From: Virginia Department of Transportation, Arlington/Fairfax Permits Section
When: Events that need any public street closed
Timing: Submit the Road Use Permit 45 days before the event start date

Official page

For the organizer

Fire safety, tents and cooking.

Fire Prevention Code permits and building permits for large structures

After zoning review, contact the Fire Marshal about any Fire Prevention Code permits the event needs. Certain structures, such as a large tent or amusement rides, may also need a building permit. The Fire Marshal's office lists (703) 246-4803.

Who: Organizer
From: Fairfax County Office of the Fire Marshal
When: Events that need Fire Prevention Code permits, or that use large tents or amusement rides

Official page

For your vendors

Vendor and business licenses.

Solicitors License (Fairfax County Code Chapter 31)

The county says anyone selling from a temporary location needs this license. Applicants apply in person at 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 127, with a notarized application, two forms of ID and payment. Ask the county whether vendors at a permitted market are covered.

Who: Vendors
From: Fairfax County Department of Cable and Consumer Services
When: Individuals who sell goods or services door-to-door or from a temporary location in the county; fresh farm food products, newspapers, and licensed real estate or insurance sales are exempt
Fee: $35 total ($20 permit plus $15 Virginia State Police background check)

Official page

Business, Professional and Occupational License (BPOL)

The county says all business owners are subject to BPOL, with no minimum receipts threshold, and new businesses register within 75 days of starting. Renewal is due March 1 each year. The county's page does not say how itinerant or event-only sellers are treated.

Who: Vendors
From: Fairfax County Department of Tax Administration
When: Business owners operating in Fairfax County, including home-based businesses
Fee: $0 for receipts of $10,000 or less; $30 for $10,001 to $50,000; $50 for $50,001 to $100,000; rates vary by business type above that

Official page

For your vendors

Sales tax.

Temporary Sales Tax Certificate/Return (Form ST-50)

Occasional sellers report and pay the sales tax they collected at an event on Form ST-50, due by the 20th of the month after the event. The form tells sellers who attend 3 or more shows a year to register for a permanent Virginia sales tax account. The rate is 6% in the Northern Virginia localities it lists, and the extra regional 0.7% is not charged on food bought for human consumption.

Who: Vendors
From: Virginia Department of Taxation
When: Vendors without a permanent Virginia sales tax account who sell taxable goods at an event

Official page

For your vendors

Food vendors.

Temporary Food Establishment Permit (TFEP)

The event coordinator registers the event in the PLUS portal and supplies the list of participating food vendors with contact details and an event layout map showing toilets and waste disposal. Vendors apply online and are subject to inspection. Permitted Fairfax County restaurants pay no additional application fee; the page does not state fees for other vendors.

Who: Organizer and vendors
From: Fairfax County Health Department, Environmental Health Services
When: Vendors preparing and serving food to the public at a temporary event of up to 14 consecutive days; the packet also names categories such as county-permitted restaurants, farm vendors and mobile food units that apply under special terms
Timing: The completed application and fee must be received at least ten (10) days prior to the event

Official page

Timeline

When to apply.

VDOT Road Use Permit (street closures): Submit the Road Use Permit 45 days before the event start date
Temporary Food Establishment Permit (TFEP): The completed application and fee must be received at least ten (10) days prior to the event

On bzar

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.

For vendors

Selling at markets in Fairfax County, VA?

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.

Check with the agency

Where the sources are unclear.

Lead times differ by source: the zoning special event page says special permits that go beyond the administrative permit limits must be filed at least 120 days before the permit takes effect, while the county's Special Event Process flyer says to submit administrative permit materials at least 30 days before the event.
The Health Department's temporary event packet (https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health/sites/health/files/assets/documents/pdf/temporaryeventguidelines43.2.pdf) says its permits cover temporary events in Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax and Falls Church.
No official page found for a Fairfax County promoter duty about vendor sales tax lists as of 2026-10-10; ask the Fairfax County Department of Tax Administration.
The Special Event Process flyer says neighborhood block parties, private events and sidewalk sales accessory to a retail use may not need an administrative permit, and that events with animals need an Exhibitor's Permit from Animal Protection Police at least 21 days ahead.
Event-count threshold: the ST-50 form says sellers at 3 or more shows a year must register for a permanent account, while Virginia Tax's festival-season vendor tips page (https://www.tax.virginia.gov/news/vendor-tips-fall-festival-season) says sellers at 3 or fewer events can use ST-50 and sellers at more than 3 events must register. Confirm with Virginia Tax at (804) 367-8037.
A 1992 Virginia Tax Commissioner ruling (https://www.tax.virginia.gov/laws-rules-decisions/rulings-tax-commissioner/92-91) says an event organizer may obtain a single temporary sales tax registration covering all sellers at the event; this is an option, not a requirement, and the ruling is old, so confirm with Virginia Tax.

Questions

Common questions.

Do I need a permit to host a vendor market in Fairfax County?

Special Event Administrative Permit (Tier-One or Tier-Two) (Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development, Zoning Permits Section): The property owner, or someone with the owner's written permission, applies electronically through the PLUS portal. Shorter one-day events can use a Tier-One permit, and larger or longer events use Tier-Two. VDOT Road Use Permit (street closures) (Virginia Department of Transportation, Arlington/Fairfax Permits Section): If your event closes a public street, start with the Road Use Permit from VDOT. After VDOT approves, or if no street closes, send the special event permit materials to the County's Zoning Permits Section at least 30 days before the event start date.

Do vendors need a license to sell at events in Fairfax County?

Solicitors License (Fairfax County Code Chapter 31) (Fairfax County Department of Cable and Consumer Services): The county says anyone selling from a temporary location needs this license. Applicants apply in person at 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 127, with a notarized application, two forms of ID and payment. Ask the county whether vendors at a permitted market are covered. Business, Professional and Occupational License (BPOL) (Fairfax County Department of Tax Administration): The county says all business owners are subject to BPOL, with no minimum receipts threshold, and new businesses register within 75 days of starting. Renewal is due March 1 each year. The county's page does not say how itinerant or event-only sellers are treated.

Who handles sales tax at a market in Fairfax County?

Temporary Sales Tax Certificate/Return (Form ST-50) (Virginia Department of Taxation): Occasional sellers report and pay the sales tax they collected at an event on Form ST-50, due by the 20th of the month after the event. The form tells sellers who attend 3 or more shows a year to register for a permanent Virginia sales tax account. The rate is 6% in the Northern Virginia localities it lists, and the extra regional 0.7% is not charged on food bought for human consumption.

Do food vendors need a separate permit in Fairfax County?

Temporary Food Establishment Permit (TFEP) (Fairfax County Health Department, Environmental Health Services): The event coordinator registers the event in the PLUS portal and supplies the list of participating food vendors with contact details and an event layout map showing toilets and waste disposal. Vendors apply online and are subject to inspection. Permitted Fairfax County restaurants pay no additional application fee; the page does not state fees for other vendors.

How far ahead should I apply in Fairfax County?

VDOT Road Use Permit (street closures): Submit the Road Use Permit 45 days before the event start date Temporary Food Establishment Permit (TFEP): The completed application and fee must be received at least ten (10) days prior to the event

Keep reading.

Permits in Herndon, VAPermits in Vienna, VAPermits in Alexandria, VAPermits in Arlington County, VAPermits in Fairfax (City), VAPermits in Falls Church, VAVirginia state rules: sales tax and cottage foodPermit checklist for Fairfax CountyWhat event permits cost across US citiesCollecting vendor insurance and permitsHow to host a vendor eventVendor application form template

Sources

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: Zoning Permits Section, 703-222-1082, dpdzoningpermits@fairfaxcounty.gov

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.

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