Running a vendor market in Greenville.
To run a vendor market in Greenville, the organizer applies for the city's Permit A (festival or major event) or Permit C (single-day event) for public property, or a Temporary Use Permit from Planning and Development on private property. Vendors need a South Carolina Retail License, and food vendors are authorized by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture.
Updated
Event permit.
Special Event Permits A to D (festival or major event, races and parades, single-day event, block party)
The city sorts event permits by event type. The Permit A and Permit C descriptions both mention food and beverage sales. The detail pages for each permit did not load their text in the version read, so fees, lead times and insurance rules are not listed here.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Greenville Events and Public Art
- When
- Events on public property. Permit A covers festivals and major events that may include outdoor entertainment, food and beverage sales, alcohol or revenue; Permit C covers small single-day events without road closures; Permit B covers races, walks and parades; Permit D covers neighborhood block parties with no sales.
Permit E - Events on Private Property / Temporary Use Permit
Events on private property need a Temporary Use Permit from Planning and Development rather than the public-property special event permits.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Greenville Planning and Development Department
- When
- Events held on private property
Vendor and business licenses.
City of Greenville business license
The city says all businesses conducting business within Greenville must hold a business license, bought each year by April 30 and valid May 1 to April 30. New businesses apply in person, by fax or by mail rather than online, using the city's rate sheets and calculators to work out the tax.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- City of Greenville Business License & Revenue Center
- When
- Any business conducting business within the City of Greenville. The page does not address one-day or temporary event vendors separately, so confirm with the Revenue Center whether a one-off market seller needs one.
Sales tax.
Retail License
Sellers register through MyDORWAY, collect the 6% statewide sales tax plus any local taxes, and file returns. SCDOR says selling without a valid license can bring fines up to $500 per occurrence. Unprepared food meant to be eaten at home is generally exempt from the state tax, while meals and drinks for immediate consumption are taxable.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR)
- When
- Anyone selling at a retail event (no admission fee), selling more than once in 24 months at a special event, or selling at one festival a year; one license per location
- Fee
- $50 non-refundable fee
Artist & Craftsman License
This license lets craft-show-only sellers collect the 6% statewide tax plus local taxes. Anyone who also sells elsewhere, including online, needs the Retail License instead, and sellers at no more than four shows a year of 11 consecutive days or less may need neither.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR)
- When
- Artists and crafters who sell only at craft shows and festivals, products they created or assembled, more than four times in a fiscal year
- Fee
- $20 non-refundable fee
Special Event Return (FC-1) and Special Event Affidavit (FS-152)
One-time special event sellers do not need a Retail License but must complete and submit the Special Event Return and Affidavit. SCDOR representatives provide the forms at the event; sellers who have not received them by the end of the event are told to email SCDOR.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR)
- When
- Vendors who sell at a Special Event (an event that charges admission) only once in a 24-month period
Food vendors.
Event authorization for temporary food service establishments
SCDA authorizes food vendors at events through the event coordinator, who completes the Event Authorization application listing the vendors and foods served, and receives SCDA authorization before food service begins. Vendors must follow Regulation 61-25 and SCDA may inspect during the event or order vendors to stop.
- Who
- Organizer and vendors
- From
- South Carolina Department of Agriculture (SCDA), Retail Food Safety
- When
- Food vendors at a fair, trade show or other transitory gathering, operating at a fixed location up to 14 consecutive days
- Timing
- Applications recommended 14 days in advance of the event
What the rules ask of organizers about vendors.
SCDOR asks promoters and hosts to email it a list of participating vendors (name, business name, address, phone, email and Retail License number if provided) plus the event location, date and time, and whether the event charges admission. Vendors selling without a valid Retail License can be fined, and SCDOR provides a Retail License verification tool.
When to apply.
- Event authorization for temporary food service establishments: Applications recommended 14 days in advance of 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 Greenville, SC?
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 City's event permit pages (/permit-a-festival-or-major-event, /permit-c-single-day-events, /permit-e-events-on-private-property-temporary-use-permit) and /fire-prevention-permits load their body text by script; the Business License Center and Vendor pages were read in a browser, but no event permit fee or lead time was read. Ask the City of Greenville Events and Public Art office.
- The Business License Center page states no fee and does not mention temporary event vendors; ask the Business License & Revenue Center at 864-467-4505, option 2.
- SCDA's event authorization forms state no fee. The retail food safety pages and 2025-2026 forms read are SCDA's; older DHEC pages on temporary retail food establishments may still appear in search results, so use the SCDA forms.
- The SCDOR events page says the Retail License is needed if you sell at only one festival per year at a retail event; the Special Event Return route applies only to admission-charging special events.
Common questions.
Do I need a permit to host a vendor market in Greenville?
Special Event Permits A to D (festival or major event, races and parades, single-day event, block party) (City of Greenville Events and Public Art): The city sorts event permits by event type. The Permit A and Permit C descriptions both mention food and beverage sales. The detail pages for each permit did not load their text in the version read, so fees, lead times and insurance rules are not listed here. Permit E - Events on Private Property / Temporary Use Permit (City of Greenville Planning and Development Department): Events on private property need a Temporary Use Permit from Planning and Development rather than the public-property special event permits.
Do vendors need a license to sell at events in Greenville?
City of Greenville business license (City of Greenville Business License & Revenue Center): The city says all businesses conducting business within Greenville must hold a business license, bought each year by April 30 and valid May 1 to April 30. New businesses apply in person, by fax or by mail rather than online, using the city's rate sheets and calculators to work out the tax.
Who handles sales tax at a market in Greenville?
Retail License (South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR)): Sellers register through MyDORWAY, collect the 6% statewide sales tax plus any local taxes, and file returns. SCDOR says selling without a valid license can bring fines up to $500 per occurrence. Unprepared food meant to be eaten at home is generally exempt from the state tax, while meals and drinks for immediate consumption are taxable. Artist & Craftsman License (South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR)): This license lets craft-show-only sellers collect the 6% statewide tax plus local taxes. Anyone who also sells elsewhere, including online, needs the Retail License instead, and sellers at no more than four shows a year of 11 consecutive days or less may need neither. For organizers: SCDOR asks promoters and hosts to email it a list of participating vendors (name, business name, address, phone, email and Retail License number if provided) plus the event location, date and time, and whether the event charges admission. Vendors selling without a valid Retail License can be fined, and SCDOR provides a Retail License verification tool.
Do food vendors need a separate permit in Greenville?
Event authorization for temporary food service establishments (South Carolina Department of Agriculture (SCDA), Retail Food Safety): SCDA authorizes food vendors at events through the event coordinator, who completes the Event Authorization application listing the vendors and foods served, and receives SCDA authorization before food service begins. Vendors must follow Regulation 61-25 and SCDA may inspect during the event or order vendors to stop.
How far ahead should I apply in Greenville?
Event authorization for temporary food service establishments: Applications recommended 14 days in advance of 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.
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://www.greenvillesc.gov/permits-for-parades-festivals-parties-athletic-events
- https://www.greenvillesc.gov/special-event-permits
- https://dor.sc.gov/tax-education/guides-flyers/events-festivals
- https://dor.sc.gov/businesses/apply-business-tax-account/licensing-retail-license
- https://agriculture.sc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/RFEEventAuthorizationApplication2025.pdf
- https://agriculture.sc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/TempFoodServiceEstab2026.pdf
- https://www.greenvillesc.gov/business-license-center
Collect every vendor permit in one place.
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