Permits: Lakewood, CO

Running a vendor market in Lakewood.

To run a vendor market in a Lakewood park, an organizer files a Community and Special Event Application with the city's Community Resources Department, and each vendor needs a $50 vendor permit. Vendors show a Lakewood sales tax license, and food booths need Jefferson County Public Health approval.

Updated October 11, 2026

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For the organizer

Event permit.

Community and Special Event Application

The organizer files the application with the department, listing vendors on it. Fees depend on the kind of event, with day rates for group events by attendance.

Who: Organizer
From: City of Lakewood Community Resources Department
When: Events in a Lakewood park with 25 or more participants; smaller events may also need permits with amplified sound, tents, vendors, food, alcohol or an athletic component
Fee: $25 non-refundable application fee (waived for group events); group events $50 to $200 per day by attendance
Timing: Accepted up to 10 months ahead; submit at least 60 days before the event

Official page

For the organizer

Other rules.

Event liability insurance

Coverage names the City of Lakewood as additional insured and must not be a wasting policy. The certificate is due 5 days before the event, and the city encourages sending it two weeks ahead.

Who: Organizer
From: City of Lakewood Community Resources Department
When: Events permitted in Lakewood parks
Fee: At least $1,000,000 each occurrence

Official page

City Clerk permits (alcohol, noise, block party, parade)

The Clerk's office issues these event permits and licenses. Its page states no fees or deadlines; call the office.

Who: Organizer
From: City of Lakewood City Clerk's Office
When: Events with alcohol, amplified noise, a block party or a parade

Official page

For your vendors

Vendor and business licenses.

Vendor permit

Each vendor fills out its own permit application and must be listed on the event application. Required documents are a Jefferson County health certificate for food vendors, a Lakewood sales tax license, proof of liability insurance naming the city, and the permit fee.

Who: Vendors
From: City of Lakewood Community Resources Department
When: Each vendor selling or serving at a permitted Lakewood park event
Fee: $50 non-refundable permit application fee
Timing: At least 60 days before the event (180 days for admission events); allow 10 days for review

Official page

For your vendors

Sales tax.

Lakewood Sales and Use Tax License

Apply through Lakewood Business Pro. The city page does not discuss temporary event vendors; the parks event package tells vendors without a Lakewood license to contact the Finance Department to arrange sales tax.

Who: Vendors
From: City of Lakewood Finance Department
When: Businesses with a substantial presence in Lakewood, including those sending employees or agents into the city; Lakewood is a home-rule city with its own 3.0% tax
Fee: $20 nonrefundable fee; license expires in two years
Timing: Apply at least 30 days before starting; a $30 late charge applies after that

Official page

Special Event Reporting Log

The parks event package lists a Finance Department reporting log and says the event must collect and submit sales tax.

Who: Organizer
From: City of Lakewood Department of Finance
When: Events with food or retail sales of any kind

Official page

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. Lakewood 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

Official page

For your vendors

Food vendors.

Temporary food service vendor license and coordinator approval

Each vendor holds a Jefferson County Temporary Food Vendor License (or a Colorado mobile unit license) and keeps it in the booth. The event coordinator applies separately, supplies a labeled site map and a final vendor list, and is responsible for vendors being licensed.

Who: Organizer and vendors
From: Jefferson County Public Health
When: Food booths at temporary or special events in Jefferson County, including Lakewood
Fee: Vendors: full food service $145 (or $175 if received 13 days or less before), pre-packaged only $125 ($155 late). Coordinators: $95 (or $125 if received 29 days or less before)
Timing: Vendors at least 14 days before; coordinators at least 30 days before, with the final vendor list 7 days before

Official page

Organizer duty

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.

Official page

Timeline

When to apply.

Community and Special Event Application: Accepted up to 10 months ahead; submit at least 60 days before the event
Vendor permit: At least 60 days before the event (180 days for admission events); allow 10 days for review
Lakewood Sales and Use Tax License: Apply at least 30 days before starting; a $30 late charge applies after that
Temporary food service vendor license and coordinator approval: Vendors at least 14 days before; coordinators at least 30 days before, with the final vendor list 7 days before

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 Lakewood, 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.

Check with the agency

Where the sources are unclear.

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.
The vendor permit and insurance facts come from the Lakewood Parks community and special event package (file name references Bear Creek Lake Park); confirm the same rules apply to other city parks with Community Resources.
The old lakewood.org addresses redirect to lakewoodco.gov; the new addresses are cited.
The Lakewood sales tax page lists a Belmar rate of 5.5% combined and a 7.5% rate for most of the city; check the city rate for the event site.

Questions

Common questions.

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

Community and Special Event Application (City of Lakewood Community Resources Department): The organizer files the application with the department, listing vendors on it. Fees depend on the kind of event, with day rates for group events by attendance.

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

Vendor permit (City of Lakewood Community Resources Department): Each vendor fills out its own permit application and must be listed on the event application. Required documents are a Jefferson County health certificate for food vendors, a Lakewood sales tax license, proof of liability insurance naming the city, and the permit fee.

Who handles sales tax at a market in Lakewood?

Lakewood Sales and Use Tax License (City of Lakewood Finance Department): Apply through Lakewood Business Pro. The city page does not discuss temporary event vendors; the parks event package tells vendors without a Lakewood license to contact the Finance Department to arrange sales tax. Special Event Reporting Log (City of Lakewood Department of Finance): The parks event package lists a Finance Department reporting log and says the event must collect and submit sales tax. 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 Lakewood?

Temporary food service vendor license and coordinator approval (Jefferson County Public Health): Each vendor holds a Jefferson County Temporary Food Vendor License (or a Colorado mobile unit license) and keeps it in the booth. The event coordinator applies separately, supplies a labeled site map and a final vendor list, and is responsible for vendors being licensed.

How far ahead should I apply in Lakewood?

Community and Special Event Application: Accepted up to 10 months ahead; submit at least 60 days before the event Vendor permit: At least 60 days before the event (180 days for admission events); allow 10 days for review Lakewood Sales and Use Tax License: Apply at least 30 days before starting; a $30 late charge applies after that Temporary food service vendor license and coordinator approval: Vendors at least 14 days before; coordinators at least 30 days before, with the final vendor list 7 days before

Keep reading.

Permits in Aurora, COPermits in Boulder, COPermits in Colorado Springs, COPermits in Denver, COPermits in Fort Collins, COColorado state rules: sales tax and cottage foodPermit checklist for LakewoodWhat 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: Community Resources Department: 303-987-7800, CRInfo@LakewoodCO.gov; City Clerk 303-987-7080

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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