Running a vendor market in Loudoun County.
In Loudoun County, VA, most special events need a zoning special event permit applied for in LandMARC, plus Fire Marshal and Health Department approvals as needed. Organizers must file a vendor list with the Commissioner of the Revenue at least 14 days before the event, and vendors report Virginia sales tax. Confirm details with each office.
Updated
Event permit.
Special Event Zoning Permit
Apply online in LandMARC, which requires an account. The county's requirements sheet asks for the attendee count, a site plan showing parking and structures, the number of sanitary facilities, and sound levels within zoning limits, and the Zoning Administrator may attach conditions or require a bond. A short Online Event Planning Form also tells you which permits your event needs.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- Loudoun County Department of Building and Development, Zoning Administration
- When
- Most special events, unless they are listed as exempt activities
Parks and public space.
Application for Road Use (VDOT)
The county's special event page lists a Road Use application for events affecting roads. Separate guidelines and applications apply to courthouse grounds.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- Virginia Department of Transportation
- When
- Events that affect roadways
Fire safety, tents and cooking.
Fire Prevention Application
The county's special event permit page lists a Fire Prevention Application and a Fire Prevention Code and Fees document. A building permit may also be needed for structures such as tents and inflatables. The requirements sheet lists the Fire Marshal at 703-737-8600 for tent questions.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- Loudoun County Fire Marshal's Office
- When
- Events that need Fire Marshal review or fire prevention permits
Vendor and business licenses.
Loudoun County business license (exemption for event itinerant vendors)
The Board of Supervisors exempted these vendors from the county business license. They must still register with Virginia Tax for sales tax and be listed with the Commissioner of the Revenue at least 14 days before the event. Vendors at events inside a town should ask that town.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Loudoun County Commissioner of the Revenue
- When
- Itinerant vendors at special events lasting seven days or less, held outside Loudoun's seven incorporated towns
Sales tax.
Temporary Sales Tax Certificate/Return (Form ST-50)
Occasional sellers report and pay the sales tax they collected at an event on Form ST-50, due by the 20th of the month after the event. The form tells sellers who attend 3 or more shows a year to register for a permanent Virginia sales tax account. The rate is 6% in the Northern Virginia localities it lists, and the extra regional 0.7% is not charged on food bought for human consumption.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Virginia Department of Taxation
- When
- Vendors without a permanent Virginia sales tax account who sell taxable goods at an event
Food vendors.
Temporary Food Permit
Vendors complete the Temporary Food Vendor Application and Information Packet through the Health Department each year, and event coordinators send event details to the department by completing the Event Coordinator Registration Form. The page does not state permit fees. Call 703-777-0234.
- Who
- Organizer and vendors
- From
- Loudoun County Health Department
- When
- Temporary food vendors operating up to 14 consecutive days in conjunction with a single event
- Timing
- Vendors: at least 10 calendar days before the event; event coordinators: at least 30 days before the event
What the rules ask of organizers about vendors.
Under Loudoun's codified ordinance 840.035, a special event organizer must file with the Commissioner of the Revenue, at least 14 days before the event, a list of every itinerant vendor assigned a space or booth, and must tell each vendor they are responsible for collecting Virginia sales and use tax. The Commissioner provides a roster form.
When to apply.
- Temporary Food Permit: Vendors: at least 10 calendar days before the event; event coordinators: at least 30 days 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 Loudoun County, VA?
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 zoning requirements sheet (https://www.loudoun.gov/DocumentCenter/View/18296) is marked 'Amended 9/16/15' and lists a Special Events Coordinator phone of 703-737-8919; the county's Special Events Planning page names a coordinator in the Office of Emergency Management, Safety and Security. Confirm current contacts.
- The county pages do not state a fee for the zoning special event permit or a lead time for it; ask Building and Development at 703-777-0220.
- The Commissioner of the Revenue's tax guidance sheet says vendors at events outside the seven towns may still be required to register for a Loudoun business license; the FAQ describes an exemption for itinerant vendors at events of seven days or less. Confirm which applies with the Commissioner at 703-777-0400.
- The sheet says Loudoun event sales should be attributed to locality code 51107.
- Event-count threshold: the ST-50 form says sellers at 3 or more shows a year must register for a permanent account, while Virginia Tax's festival-season vendor tips page (https://www.tax.virginia.gov/news/vendor-tips-fall-festival-season) says sellers at 3 or fewer events can use ST-50 and sellers at more than 3 events must register. Confirm with Virginia Tax at (804) 367-8037.
- A 1992 Virginia Tax Commissioner ruling (https://www.tax.virginia.gov/laws-rules-decisions/rulings-tax-commissioner/92-91) says an event organizer may obtain a single temporary sales tax registration covering all sellers at the event; this is an option, not a requirement, and the ruling is old, so confirm with Virginia Tax.
Common questions.
Do I need a permit to host a vendor market in Loudoun County?
Special Event Zoning Permit (Loudoun County Department of Building and Development, Zoning Administration): Apply online in LandMARC, which requires an account. The county's requirements sheet asks for the attendee count, a site plan showing parking and structures, the number of sanitary facilities, and sound levels within zoning limits, and the Zoning Administrator may attach conditions or require a bond. A short Online Event Planning Form also tells you which permits your event needs. Application for Road Use (VDOT) (Virginia Department of Transportation): The county's special event page lists a Road Use application for events affecting roads. Separate guidelines and applications apply to courthouse grounds.
Do vendors need a license to sell at events in Loudoun County?
Loudoun County business license (exemption for event itinerant vendors) (Loudoun County Commissioner of the Revenue): The Board of Supervisors exempted these vendors from the county business license. They must still register with Virginia Tax for sales tax and be listed with the Commissioner of the Revenue at least 14 days before the event. Vendors at events inside a town should ask that town.
Who handles sales tax at a market in Loudoun County?
Temporary Sales Tax Certificate/Return (Form ST-50) (Virginia Department of Taxation): Occasional sellers report and pay the sales tax they collected at an event on Form ST-50, due by the 20th of the month after the event. The form tells sellers who attend 3 or more shows a year to register for a permanent Virginia sales tax account. The rate is 6% in the Northern Virginia localities it lists, and the extra regional 0.7% is not charged on food bought for human consumption. For organizers: Under Loudoun's codified ordinance 840.035, a special event organizer must file with the Commissioner of the Revenue, at least 14 days before the event, a list of every itinerant vendor assigned a space or booth, and must tell each vendor they are responsible for collecting Virginia sales and use tax. The Commissioner provides a roster form.
Do food vendors need a separate permit in Loudoun County?
Temporary Food Permit (Loudoun County Health Department): Vendors complete the Temporary Food Vendor Application and Information Packet through the Health Department each year, and event coordinators send event details to the department by completing the Event Coordinator Registration Form. The page does not state permit fees. Call 703-777-0234.
How far ahead should I apply in Loudoun County?
Temporary Food Permit: Vendors: at least 10 calendar days before the event; event coordinators: at least 30 days 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: Loudoun County Government, 703-777-0100; Commissioner of the Revenue compliance, 703-777-0400, compliance@loudoun.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.
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