Permits: Fargo, ND

Running a vendor market in Fargo.

To close a street for a Fargo vendor market, the organizer files a General Special Permit/Street Closing request with the Engineering Department 45 days ahead and may need insurance. Food vendors contact Fargo Cass Public Health for event licensing, and organizers of events with 25 or more vendors send North Dakota's Tax Commissioner a vendor list.

Updated October 11, 2026

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For the organizer

Event permit.

General Special Permit / Street Closing / Block Party Request

The organizer describes the event, expected attendance and any street closure; the city circulates it to Fire, Police, ambulance, Street and Traffic. Events other than local block parties are advised to use police modular vehicle barriers or sign a waiver declining them.

Who: Organizer
From: City of Fargo Engineering Department
When: Special events on city streets or that need a street closure, parade or barricades. The Engineering Department, not the Police Department, administers these permits.
Timing: Applications must be submitted 45 days prior to the event

Official page

For the organizer

Other rules.

Event insurance

The city sets the coverage level it considers necessary, with the City of Fargo named as an insured. Proof of insurance is due at least 10 days before the event.

Who: Organizer
From: City of Fargo
When: Parades and mobile events on city streets, events open to the public with a large expected crowd, events with exotic animals, and any other event the city deems necessary
Timing: Proof of insurance at least 10 days before the event

Official page

For your vendors

Vendor and business licenses.

No general city vendor license listed

Fargo states it does not require a business license for every type of commerce and lists only certain businesses as needing a city license. A craft or product vendor is not on that list, but should confirm with the Auditor's Office; state registration and the North Dakota sales tax permit (listed separately) still apply.

Who: Vendors
From: City of Fargo Auditor's Office, Licensing Department
When: Vendors selling at a market in Fargo. The city's page lists the specific businesses that need a city license (such as pawn brokers, second-hand dealers, commercial haulers and certain trades); a general vendor or peddler license is not among them.

Official page

For your vendors

Sales tax.

North Dakota sales tax permit

The state's guidance says businesses selling taxable items apply for a North Dakota Sales Tax Permit through ND TAP. The special event reporting instructions say not all event attendees are required to have a permit, and vendors unsure should call the Registration Section at 701.328.1241.

Who: Vendors
From: North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner
When: Businesses selling products or services subject to sales tax, including vendors at special events such as art or craft shows, flea markets and bazaars.

Official page

Special event vendor list

The organizer submits a list of vendors, with their sales tax permit numbers where known, on the Special Event Vendor Reporting Form (Excel or PDF) to salestax@nd.gov. Vendors without a permit should not be turned away.

Who: Organizer
From: North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner
When: Anyone who promotes or organizes a special event (such as a craft show, flea market, trade show or bazaar) with 25 or more vendors. Events organized for the exclusive benefit of a nonprofit, with all net proceeds going to it, are excluded.
Timing: Submit within 20 days of the event

Official page

For your vendors

Food vendors.

Temporary food service establishment license

Fargo Cass Public Health says it inspects food vendors that require licensure at local events and tells prospective event food vendors to contact it at 701.476.6729 or FCPHFood@FargoND.gov to start. The state Food and Lodging unit licenses temporary stands in places outside local jurisdictions, such as the Red River Valley Fairgrounds.

Who: Vendors
From: Fargo Cass Public Health, Environmental Health (a local public health agency)
When: Food vendors at local events in Fargo and West Fargo that require licensure
Timing: Submit the license application at least 10 days prior to event

Official page

Organizer duty

What the rules ask of organizers about vendors.

North Dakota requires the organizer of a special event with 25 or more vendors to submit a list of vendors to the Office of State Tax Commissioner within 20 days of the event. The organizer should ask vendors for their sales tax permit numbers, but vendors without a permit should not be turned away.

Official page

Timeline

When to apply.

General Special Permit / Street Closing / Block Party Request: Applications must be submitted 45 days prior to the event
Special event vendor list: Submit within 20 days of the event
Temporary food service establishment license: Submit the license application at least 10 days prior to event
Event insurance: Proof of insurance at least 10 days before 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 Fargo, ND?

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.

The vendor-license entry is inferred from the City's Business & Occupational Licensing page, which lists the licenses Fargo requires and includes no general vendor or peddler license; confirm with the Auditor's Office (701.241.1304).
No official page found for a Fargo fire or tent permit for events, or a park event permit (Fargo parks are run by the separate Fargo Park District), as of 2026-10-11; ask the Engineering Department and Fargo Fire.
The City's temporary food page does not state a fee or lead time; the state's page asks for applications at least 10 days before the event.
Fargo Cass Public Health also covers West Fargo; for events outside Fargo and West Fargo the state Food and Lodging unit may be the licensing agency.

Questions

Common questions.

Do I need a permit to host a vendor market in Fargo?

General Special Permit / Street Closing / Block Party Request (City of Fargo Engineering Department): The organizer describes the event, expected attendance and any street closure; the city circulates it to Fire, Police, ambulance, Street and Traffic. Events other than local block parties are advised to use police modular vehicle barriers or sign a waiver declining them.

Do vendors need a license to sell at events in Fargo?

No general city vendor license listed (City of Fargo Auditor's Office, Licensing Department): Fargo states it does not require a business license for every type of commerce and lists only certain businesses as needing a city license. A craft or product vendor is not on that list, but should confirm with the Auditor's Office; state registration and the North Dakota sales tax permit (listed separately) still apply.

Who handles sales tax at a market in Fargo?

North Dakota sales tax permit (North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner): The state's guidance says businesses selling taxable items apply for a North Dakota Sales Tax Permit through ND TAP. The special event reporting instructions say not all event attendees are required to have a permit, and vendors unsure should call the Registration Section at 701.328.1241. Special event vendor list (North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner): The organizer submits a list of vendors, with their sales tax permit numbers where known, on the Special Event Vendor Reporting Form (Excel or PDF) to salestax@nd.gov. Vendors without a permit should not be turned away. For organizers: North Dakota requires the organizer of a special event with 25 or more vendors to submit a list of vendors to the Office of State Tax Commissioner within 20 days of the event. The organizer should ask vendors for their sales tax permit numbers, but vendors without a permit should not be turned away.

Do food vendors need a separate permit in Fargo?

Temporary food service establishment license (Fargo Cass Public Health, Environmental Health (a local public health agency)): Fargo Cass Public Health says it inspects food vendors that require licensure at local events and tells prospective event food vendors to contact it at 701.476.6729 or FCPHFood@FargoND.gov to start. The state Food and Lodging unit licenses temporary stands in places outside local jurisdictions, such as the Red River Valley Fairgrounds.

How far ahead should I apply in Fargo?

General Special Permit / Street Closing / Block Party Request: Applications must be submitted 45 days prior to the event Special event vendor list: Submit within 20 days of the event Temporary food service establishment license: Submit the license application at least 10 days prior to event Event insurance: Proof of insurance at least 10 days before the event

Keep reading.

North Dakota state rules: sales tax and cottage foodPermit checklist for FargoWhat 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: Engineering Department, 701.241.1545, feng@fargond.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.

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