Running a vendor market in Fort Collins.
To run a vendor market in Fort Collins, an organizer needs a city Special Event Permit for events on streets, sidewalks, parks or natural areas, while private events that don't affect traffic need none. Vendors need a Fort Collins sales tax license, with a temporary form for event participants, plus a Larimer County food license for food booths.
Updated
Event permit.
Special Event Permit
Apply through the city's online special events portal. A security and damage deposit is due with the application and scales with expected attendance, from $250 for under 500 people without alcohol up to $5,000 for over 2,500.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Fort Collins, Special Event Permits
- When
- Events on city streets, sidewalks, parks or natural areas, whatever their size. Private events on your own property that don't close streets or affect traffic don't need one.
- Fee
- $100 application fee ($50 for non-profits), plus a deposit of $250 to $5,000 by attendance
- Timing
- At least 45 business days before the event; 60 business days with alcohol or at Civic Center Park, Washington Park, Legacy Park or Oak Street Plaza
Other rules.
Event liability insurance
Most events on City property need general liability insurance; the City's Risk Management Office reviews each application and sets the amount. Events using vehicles beyond commuting need auto liability coverage of at least $500,000.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Fort Collins, Special Event Permits
- When
- Most large events, races and events serving alcohol
Vendor and business licenses.
City sales tax license (temporary license form for special events)
The city requires everyone doing business there to hold a city sales tax license, and the same page lists a Temporary Sales Tax License form for special event participants. The page states no temporary license fee or eligibility rules, and it describes no separate general business license.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- City of Fort Collins Sales Tax Office
- When
- Anyone doing business in Fort Collins, including event participants selling in the city
Sales tax.
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 government-issued photo 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. Fort Collins is a home-rule city, so its own tax rules apply in addition to the state special event license above.
- Fee
- Single event license $8.00 per event; multiple event license $16.00 for a 2-year cycle
Food vendors.
Temporary special event food license
Vendors apply for each booth or mobile unit, choosing a license length; the application has options for non-profits and for licensed food trucks that attach their retail food license. Event coordinators complete a separate application, after which the county asks for the list of food vendors. Operating unlicensed can bring civil penalties of up to $1000.
- Who
- Organizer and vendors
- From
- Larimer County Department of Health and Environment
- When
- Food booths at temporary special events of up to 14 consecutive days, such as markets and festivals
- Fee
- Vendor license: $105 for 1-3 consecutive days, $265 for 1-14 consecutive days, $315 for a calendar year; doubled if the application comes within 48 hours of the event
- Timing
- Vendors at least 14 days before the event; event coordinators at least 30 days before
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.
When to apply.
- Special Event Permit: At least 45 business days before the event; 60 business days with alcohol or at Civic Center Park, Washington Park, Legacy Park or Oak Street Plaza
- Temporary special event food license: Vendors at least 14 days before the event; event coordinators at least 30 days before
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 Fort Collins, 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.
- The fcgov.com special event and sales tax pages now redirect to fortcollins.gov; the fortcollins.gov pages are cited.
- The Larimer County vendor fees come from the undated vendor application PDF; the food safety program page itself gives no dollar amounts. Confirm fees with the county, 970-498-6775.
- The Colorado Department of Revenue site returned an access challenge to command-line fetches; the special event license and organizer pages were read through a fetch tool on 2026-10-11. Reconfirm fees at tax.colorado.gov before publishing.
- No Fort Collins fire or tent permit page was read; ask Poudre Fire Authority.
Common questions.
Do I need a permit to host a vendor market in Fort Collins?
Special Event Permit (City of Fort Collins, Special Event Permits): Apply through the city's online special events portal. A security and damage deposit is due with the application and scales with expected attendance, from $250 for under 500 people without alcohol up to $5,000 for over 2,500.
Do vendors need a license to sell at events in Fort Collins?
City sales tax license (temporary license form for special events) (City of Fort Collins Sales Tax Office): The city requires everyone doing business there to hold a city sales tax license, and the same page lists a Temporary Sales Tax License form for special event participants. The page states no temporary license fee or eligibility rules, and it describes no separate general business license.
Who handles sales tax at a market in Fort Collins?
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 government-issued photo 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.
Do food vendors need a separate permit in Fort Collins?
Temporary special event food license (Larimer County Department of Health and Environment): Vendors apply for each booth or mobile unit, choosing a license length; the application has options for non-profits and for licensed food trucks that attach their retail food license. Event coordinators complete a separate application, after which the county asks for the list of food vendors. Operating unlicensed can bring civil penalties of up to $1000.
How far ahead should I apply in Fort Collins?
Special Event Permit: At least 45 business days before the event; 60 business days with alcohol or at Civic Center Park, Washington Park, Legacy Park or Oak Street Plaza Temporary special event food license: Vendors at least 14 days before the event; event coordinators at least 30 days before
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: Special Event Permits: SpecialEventPermit@fortcollins.gov, 970-416-2303
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.
- https://fortcollins.gov/Business/Permits-and-Licensing/Special-Event-Permits
- https://fortcollins.gov/Business/Sales-Tax
- https://tax.colorado.gov/special-event-license
- https://www.larimer.gov/health/environmental-health/food-safety-program
- https://www.larimer.gov/sites/default/files/temporary-food-events-vendor-application.pdf
- https://tax.colorado.gov/special-event-sales-tax
Collect every vendor permit in one place.
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