Running a vendor market in Long Beach.
To run a vendor market in Long Beach, the organizer applies to the city's Special Events & Filming office for a special event permit and holds a Long Beach business license. Vendors need a Special Event Vendor Permit and a California seller's permit from CDTFA, and food vendors and organizers need temporary food permits from the Long Beach Health Department.
Updated
Event permit.
Special Event Permit
The organizer applies through Special Events & Filming, and a coordinator sends a checklist of required documents such as insurance, a site map and operational permits. The city's tiers run from free, no-setup events (Tier I) to ticketed events with extensive setup (Tier III).
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Long Beach Special Events & Filming
- When
- Organized, large-scale events on public space with about 75 or more people. The city sorts events into three tiers by public access, ticketing and setup.
- Fee
- Non-refundable application fee of $102 (Tier I), $205 (Tier II) or $410 (Tier III), plus per-event-day permit and venue fees; a 10% administrative fee is added to all fees
- Timing
- Applications must be received at least 60 days before the event
Special Events application and requirements
The city's overview page explains the tier system and says all event promoters must hold a Long Beach business license. Partial-year licenses are offered in 3, 6 and 9 month terms.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Long Beach Special Events & Filming
- When
- Anyone planning a special event in the city.
Other rules.
Promoter business license
Promoters submit a Business License Application along with the event application (email FM-SpecialEventApps@longbeach.gov). The city also charges the promoter a compliance fee for each vendor found selling without a special event vendor permit.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Long Beach Business License Division
- When
- Promoters holding an event in Long Beach.
- Fee
- $35.00 compliance fee per un-permitted vendor charged to the promoter
Vendor and business licenses.
Special Event Vendor Permit
Vendors apply for a Special Event Vendor Permit by email, mail or in person; the business tax is charged per booth, per day, with amounts listed on the application. Business license inspectors check vendors at events, and unlicensed vendors owe the tax plus a field collection fee.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- City of Long Beach Business License Division
- When
- Anyone vending, selling or displaying items at a special event in Long Beach.
- Fee
- $38.00 field collection fee for vendors found without a permit; per-booth, per-day tax amounts are on the application form
- Timing
- Submit the application at least 10 days in advance
Sales tax.
Seller's permit or temporary seller's permit
Craft, swap meet and special event sellers need a California seller's permit; a temporary one is for locations open under 90 days and is registered per location with start and end dates. Vendors give the event operator their permit number and details, and CDTFA offers form CDTFA-410-D for this.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA)
- When
- Vendors making retail sales of taxable items at a market. A temporary seller's permit covers a sales location that will operate under 90 days; vendors who already hold a regular seller's permit register the market as a sub-permit instead.
- Timing
- A temporary seller's permit can be obtained up to 90 days before the start date
Operator duties for swap meets, flea markets and special events (Publication 111)
CDTFA's guidance for sellers and vendors lists what each seller must give the event operator in writing: business name, mailing address, phone, driver license or state ID number, a description of items sold, and the seller's permit number.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA)
- When
- Organizers who rent or lease space to sellers at a swap meet, flea market or special event.
Food vendors.
Temporary Food Facility permits (vendor and organizer)
Each food vendor needs a temporary food facility permit, and the event organizer needs a separate organizer permit. A temporary facility can operate at a fixed location for no more than 25 days in any 90-day period.
- Who
- Organizer and vendors
- From
- City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Environmental Health
- When
- Whenever food is sold or given away to the public at a community event.
- Timing
- Both vendor and organizer permits must be obtained at least two weeks before the event
What the rules ask of organizers about vendors.
California law lets CDTFA require swap meet, flea market and special event operators to collect proof from each seller before renting space (a valid seller's permit, or a written statement that they sell nothing taxable), and to send CDTFA a vendor list when it asks. An operator who fails to comply can face a penalty of up to $1,000 per offense.
When to apply.
- Special Event Permit: Applications must be received at least 60 days before the event
- Special Event Vendor Permit: Submit the application at least 10 days in advance
- Seller's permit or temporary seller's permit: A temporary seller's permit can be obtained up to 90 days before the start date
- Temporary Food Facility permits (vendor and organizer): Both vendor and organizer permits must be obtained at least two weeks before 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 Long Beach, CA?
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.
- Long Beach is its own health jurisdiction, so food permits come from the city health department rather than Los Angeles County.
- The Special Events page does not publish fire department or insurance minimums; the application packet lists them per event, so ask the Special Events office what applies.
- Fee schedules change; the event fees page lists a separate per-event-day permit and venue fee that depends on tier and location.
Common questions.
Do I need a permit to host a vendor market in Long Beach?
Special Event Permit (City of Long Beach Special Events & Filming): The organizer applies through Special Events & Filming, and a coordinator sends a checklist of required documents such as insurance, a site map and operational permits. The city's tiers run from free, no-setup events (Tier I) to ticketed events with extensive setup (Tier III). Special Events application and requirements (City of Long Beach Special Events & Filming): The city's overview page explains the tier system and says all event promoters must hold a Long Beach business license. Partial-year licenses are offered in 3, 6 and 9 month terms.
Do vendors need a license to sell at events in Long Beach?
Special Event Vendor Permit (City of Long Beach Business License Division): Vendors apply for a Special Event Vendor Permit by email, mail or in person; the business tax is charged per booth, per day, with amounts listed on the application. Business license inspectors check vendors at events, and unlicensed vendors owe the tax plus a field collection fee.
Who handles sales tax at a market in Long Beach?
Seller's permit or temporary seller's permit (California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA)): Craft, swap meet and special event sellers need a California seller's permit; a temporary one is for locations open under 90 days and is registered per location with start and end dates. Vendors give the event operator their permit number and details, and CDTFA offers form CDTFA-410-D for this. Operator duties for swap meets, flea markets and special events (Publication 111) (California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA)): CDTFA's guidance for sellers and vendors lists what each seller must give the event operator in writing: business name, mailing address, phone, driver license or state ID number, a description of items sold, and the seller's permit number. For organizers: California law lets CDTFA require swap meet, flea market and special event operators to collect proof from each seller before renting space (a valid seller's permit, or a written statement that they sell nothing taxable), and to send CDTFA a vendor list when it asks. An operator who fails to comply can face a penalty of up to $1,000 per offense.
Do food vendors need a separate permit in Long Beach?
Temporary Food Facility permits (vendor and organizer) (City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Environmental Health): Each food vendor needs a temporary food facility permit, and the event organizer needs a separate organizer permit. A temporary facility can operate at a fixed location for no more than 25 days in any 90-day period.
How far ahead should I apply in Long Beach?
Special Event Permit: Applications must be received at least 60 days before the event Special Event Vendor Permit: Submit the application at least 10 days in advance Seller's permit or temporary seller's permit: A temporary seller's permit can be obtained up to 90 days before the start date Temporary Food Facility permits (vendor and organizer): Both vendor and organizer permits must be obtained at least two weeks before 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.
Special events contact: Special Events & Filming: 562-570-5333, EventPermits@longbeach.gov
Every fact on this page comes from these official pages, checked on 2026-10-10. Details change; tell us at hello@bzar.app if something here is out of date.
- https://www.longbeach.gov/special-events-filming/special-events/event-fees/
- https://longbeach.gov/special-events-filming/special-events/
- https://longbeach.gov/finance/business-info/business-licenses/special-event-vendor/
- https://cdtfa.ca.gov/industry/temporary-sellers/
- https://cdtfa.ca.gov/formspubs/pub111/sellers-and-vendors.htm
- https://www.longbeach.gov/health/services/directory/food---temporary-facilities/
- https://cdtfa.ca.gov/lawguides/vol1/sutl/6073.html
Collect every vendor permit in one place.
bzar is free for organizers: vendor applications with required documents, booth payments, tickets and check-in in one dashboard.