Permits: Lansing, MI

Running a vendor market in Lansing.

In Lansing, event food vendors need a temporary food license from the Ingham County Health Department, $100 or $250 if applied for less than five days before the event, and vendors need a Michigan sales tax license or concessionaire return. The City of Lansing handles special event, street closure and noise waiver permits; confirm its requirements.

Updated October 11, 2026

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For the organizer

Event permit.

Special Event Permit Application (SEPA)

Organizers download the SEPA form and email it with the fee and supporting documents; the city does not accept it through the website, and submission does not guarantee approval. The fee rises the closer to the event the application arrives.

Who: Organizer
From: City of Lansing Parks and Recreation, Special Events Planning
When: Events such as festivals, concerts, parades, runs and neighborhood events on a street, in a city park or in a city parking lot, and events needing a street closure.
Fee: $250 if submitted 90 days or more before the event; $400 if less than 90 but more than 60 days; $800 if less than 60 but more than 30 days (non-refundable)
Timing: At least 90 days before the event to avoid a penalty; no applications accepted less than 30 days before

Official page

For your vendors

Vendor and business licenses.

Transient Merchant License

Lansing requires certain businesses to hold a city license, and its list includes a Transient Merchant License for temporary selling. A city license does not replace required state and county licenses. Applications can be printed and mailed or, for some licenses, submitted online.

Who: Vendors
From: City of Lansing City Clerk, Business Licensing
When: Anyone who runs a temporary business selling and delivering goods within the city. The page does not say whether a vendor at an organizer's permitted market counts; ask the City Clerk. Licenses are generally issued for one year.

Official page

For your vendors

Sales tax.

Michigan sales tax license or Concessionaire's Sales Tax Return (Form 5089)

Retailers collect 6% sales tax, and Michigan has no city, local or county sales tax. Vendors at more than two events a year must hold a sales tax license, registered online through Michigan Treasury Online or on Form 518. Sellers may begin selling before the license arrives but must remit tax from their first sale.

Who: Vendors
From: Michigan Department of Treasury
When: Anyone selling tangible goods to final consumers, including at events. Vendors at only one or two Michigan events a year can use Form 5089 instead of a license.
Fee: No fee for a sales tax license

Official page

For your vendors

Food vendors.

Temporary Food License

The license covers one location for a maximum of 14 consecutive days and is applied for online. The department's fee schedule includes the state's $9.00 temporary license fee.

Who: Vendors
From: Ingham County Health Department, Environmental Health
When: Food vendors at a temporary event in Ingham County, including Lansing
Fee: $100.00; $250.00 if the application is received less than 5 days before the event
Timing: Apply at least 5 days before the event to avoid the late fee

Official page

Timeline

When to apply.

Temporary Food License: Apply at least 5 days before the event to avoid the late fee
Special Event Permit Application (SEPA): At least 90 days before the event to avoid a penalty; no applications accepted less than 30 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 Lansing, MI?

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 City of Lansing pages load their body text by script, so they were read in a browser. The Business Licenses page also lists Canvasser/Street Peddler and Show License types (a Show License covers sponsoring or operating a show in the city); it does not state fees for them, and the parade and noise waiver pages were not read. Ask the City Clerk (517-483-4133) whether a market organizer needs a Show License and whether vendors at a permitted event need a Transient Merchant License.
The Ingham County fee schedule is for 2025-2026 and was linked from the Environmental Health Permits & Licensing page; the temporary application form is hosted on inghamcounty.seamlessdocs.com and was not read.

Questions

Common questions.

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

Special Event Permit Application (SEPA) (City of Lansing Parks and Recreation, Special Events Planning): Organizers download the SEPA form and email it with the fee and supporting documents; the city does not accept it through the website, and submission does not guarantee approval. The fee rises the closer to the event the application arrives.

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

Transient Merchant License (City of Lansing City Clerk, Business Licensing): Lansing requires certain businesses to hold a city license, and its list includes a Transient Merchant License for temporary selling. A city license does not replace required state and county licenses. Applications can be printed and mailed or, for some licenses, submitted online.

Who handles sales tax at a market in Lansing?

Michigan sales tax license or Concessionaire's Sales Tax Return (Form 5089) (Michigan Department of Treasury): Retailers collect 6% sales tax, and Michigan has no city, local or county sales tax. Vendors at more than two events a year must hold a sales tax license, registered online through Michigan Treasury Online or on Form 518. Sellers may begin selling before the license arrives but must remit tax from their first sale.

Do food vendors need a separate permit in Lansing?

Temporary Food License (Ingham County Health Department, Environmental Health): The license covers one location for a maximum of 14 consecutive days and is applied for online. The department's fee schedule includes the state's $9.00 temporary license fee.

How far ahead should I apply in Lansing?

Temporary Food License: Apply at least 5 days before the event to avoid the late fee Special Event Permit Application (SEPA): At least 90 days before the event to avoid a penalty; no applications accepted less than 30 days before

Keep reading.

Permits in Ann Arbor, MIPermits in Detroit, MIPermits in Grand Rapids, MIMichigan state rules: sales tax and cottage foodPermit checklist for LansingWhat 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.

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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