# Vendor event permits in Madison, WI

To run a vendor market in Madison, the organizer needs a Street Use Permit and event vending license for streets and sidewalks, or a Park Event Permit for parks, both through the Parks Division. Sellers need a Wisconsin seller's permit, and food vendors need a Public Health Madison and Dane County transient food license.

_Sources checked 2026-10-10. Not legal or tax advice; confirm with each agency._

## For the organizer: Event permit

### Street Use Permit
Applicants submit an event schedule and site map, an accessibility plan, an emergency action plan sized to expected attendance, and a vending license form if there will be vendors. A non-refundable application fee is due with the application and remaining fees are invoiced after approval; insurance is required for conditional approval.
- Who: organizer
- From: City of Madison Parks Division, Community Events
- When: Events that close or reserve a street, sidewalk, parking lane or space, or that put structures, amplified sound or vending on the public right-of-way. Events on private property need it too if they reserve parking or affect traffic.
- Timing: 15 days for parking meter or stall requests, 30 days for street closures, 60 days for vending or beer and wine sales
- Official page: https://www.cityofmadison.com/parks/special-events/streets/street-use-permit

## For the organizer: Parks and public space

### Park Event Permit
Applicants pay a non-refundable application fee, then scheduling and vending fees are invoiced with the permit. The fee schedule lists vending permits by number of vendors, plus separate beer and wine and amplification permits.
- Who: organizer
- From: City of Madison Parks Division, Community Events
- When: Park events with more than 250 attendees, admission or donations, vending, fundraising, extensive use of park space or broad public promotion. Private gatherings of friends or clubs do not need one.
- Fee: $60 non-refundable application fee; scheduling $200 (small one-day) to $1,500 (large multi-day); single vendor $275 first day and $50 each additional day; umbrella vending permit (up to 7 vendors) $845 first day; $250 late fee
- Timing: 180 days for new events, 60 days for returning events with no changes
- Official page: https://www.cityofmadison.com/specialevents/parkEvents

## For vendors: Vendor and business licenses

### Street Use Event Vending License
The organizer lists every vendor with its Wisconsin seller's permit number and whether it sells food or merchandise, and submits the list at least two weeks before the event. The fee depends on how many vendors take part. Events on city property must also send event and food vendor information to Public Health Madison and Dane County.
- Who: organizer
- From: City of Madison Parks Division, Community Events
- When: Street Use Permit events where vendors will sell food, drinks, merchandise or services.
- Fee: $400 (1 to 25 vendors), $675 (26 to 100), $975 (101 to 300), $1,700 (301 or more)
- Timing: Vendor list at least 2 weeks before the event; 60 days if a Special Event Resolution is needed for new Mall Concourse vending
- Official page: https://www.cityofmadison.com/parks/special-events/documents/VendingLicenseForm.pdf

### Street Vending License and Mall Craft Vending License
Artists selling handmade goods on the Mall Concourse need both licenses, and all goods must be handmade by the vendor. Fees are invoiced after approval and are not prorated. For private property or special event vending, the page tells vendors to ask the Street Vending office.
- Who: vendors
- From: City of Madison Economic Development, Street Vending Program
- When: Makers selling handcrafted goods in the downtown Mall Concourse vending area (not the same as selling at a permitted special event).
- Fee: Street Vending License $250/year or $150/month; Mall Craft Vending License $500/year or $150/month
- Official page: https://www.cityofmadison.com/dpced/economic-development/street-vending/types-of-vending/arts-and-crafts-vending

## For vendors: Sales tax

### Wisconsin seller's permit
Sellers register for a seller's permit online or on Form BTR-101, then file sales tax returns even when no tax is due. Vendors should display the permit at events, and out-of-state sellers at a Wisconsin event are liable for Wisconsin tax.
- Who: vendors
- From: Wisconsin Department of Revenue
- When: Anyone making taxable sales in Wisconsin, including at craft fairs, flea markets and festivals. Sellers with under $2,000 of taxable sales in a calendar year are not required to hold one.
- Official page: https://revenue.wi.gov/Pages/HTML/temevent.aspx

### Sales tax on operator charges (booths, rentals, electricity)
Booth space rental alone is not taxable, but renting a free-standing booth, kiosk or other property, or charging for electricity, can be. Operators' taxable charges are subject to Wisconsin sales tax.
- Who: organizer
- From: Wisconsin Department of Revenue
- When: Operators who themselves sell taxable goods or services, or rent booths, kiosks, chairs or electricity to vendors.
- Official page: https://revenue.wi.gov/DOR%20Publications/pb228.pdf

## For vendors: Food vendors

### Transient food license
Vendors apply and pay online through the City of Madison portal or by mail to the City Clerk and should contact Public Health before the event. Event organizers must send Public Health an Event Information form and an event map at least 14 days before the event. Licenses from other Wisconsin counties are accepted at Dane County events but remain subject to inspection.
- Who: vendors
- From: Public Health Madison & Dane County
- When: Food stands at special events (fairs, festivals, sporting events, farmers markets) operating at one location for no more than 14 consecutive days. Some non-profits, youth sports stands, free samples and home bakers are exempt.
- Timing: Organizers submit the event form and map at least 14 days before the event
- Official page: https://www.publichealthmdc.com/environmental-health/licensing-permits/retail-food-establishment-licensing/temporary-food-and-farmers-market

## What the rules ask of organizers about vendors

Event operators must report every seller at a temporary event, including exempt sellers, to the Department of Revenue on Form S-240 within 10 days after the event ends, and the department asks for it before the event starts. A $200 penalty can apply for a first failure and $500 for each later one. (https://revenue.wi.gov/DOR%20Publications/pb228.pdf)

## Where the sources are unclear

- The Street Use Permit page and the park event pages send readers to fee schedules; the street use application fee amount was not read, so it is not recorded.
- The street event vending license form was last updated 3/27/2024, and its fee tiers were not on a Madison web page, so confirm them with the Community Events office.
- Madison Parks pages list two phone numbers for Community Events (608-266-4711 and 608-266-6033); both are official.
- The Public Health Madison & Dane County transient food page does not state the license fee, so none is recorded.
- Wisconsin seller's permit and promoter facts are copied from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue pages, re-loaded October 10, 2026. The vending form also tells event organizers with vendors to file Form S-240 with the Department of Revenue.

## Questions

**Do I need a permit to host a vendor market in Madison?**

Street Use Permit (City of Madison Parks Division, Community Events): Applicants submit an event schedule and site map, an accessibility plan, an emergency action plan sized to expected attendance, and a vending license form if there will be vendors. A non-refundable application fee is due with the application and remaining fees are invoiced after approval; insurance is required for conditional approval. Park Event Permit (City of Madison Parks Division, Community Events): Applicants pay a non-refundable application fee, then scheduling and vending fees are invoiced with the permit. The fee schedule lists vending permits by number of vendors, plus separate beer and wine and amplification permits.

**Do vendors need a license to sell at events in Madison?**

Street Use Event Vending License (City of Madison Parks Division, Community Events): The organizer lists every vendor with its Wisconsin seller's permit number and whether it sells food or merchandise, and submits the list at least two weeks before the event. The fee depends on how many vendors take part. Events on city property must also send event and food vendor information to Public Health Madison and Dane County. Street Vending License and Mall Craft Vending License (City of Madison Economic Development, Street Vending Program): Artists selling handmade goods on the Mall Concourse need both licenses, and all goods must be handmade by the vendor. Fees are invoiced after approval and are not prorated. For private property or special event vending, the page tells vendors to ask the Street Vending office.

**Who handles sales tax at a market in Madison?**

Wisconsin seller's permit (Wisconsin Department of Revenue): Sellers register for a seller's permit online or on Form BTR-101, then file sales tax returns even when no tax is due. Vendors should display the permit at events, and out-of-state sellers at a Wisconsin event are liable for Wisconsin tax. Sales tax on operator charges (booths, rentals, electricity) (Wisconsin Department of Revenue): Booth space rental alone is not taxable, but renting a free-standing booth, kiosk or other property, or charging for electricity, can be. Operators' taxable charges are subject to Wisconsin sales tax. For organizers: Event operators must report every seller at a temporary event, including exempt sellers, to the Department of Revenue on Form S-240 within 10 days after the event ends, and the department asks for it before the event starts. A $200 penalty can apply for a first failure and $500 for each later one.

**Do food vendors need a separate permit in Madison?**

Transient food license (Public Health Madison & Dane County): Vendors apply and pay online through the City of Madison portal or by mail to the City Clerk and should contact Public Health before the event. Event organizers must send Public Health an Event Information form and an event map at least 14 days before the event. Licenses from other Wisconsin counties are accepted at Dane County events but remain subject to inspection.

**How far ahead should I apply in Madison?**

Street Use Permit: 15 days for parking meter or stall requests, 30 days for street closures, 60 days for vending or beer and wine sales Park Event Permit: 180 days for new events, 60 days for returning events with no changes Street Use Event Vending License: Vendor list at least 2 weeks before the event; 60 days if a Special Event Resolution is needed for new Mall Concourse vending Transient food license: Organizers submit the event form and map at least 14 days before the event

## Sources

- https://www.cityofmadison.com/parks/special-events/streets/street-use-permit
- https://www.cityofmadison.com/specialevents/parkEvents
- https://www.cityofmadison.com/parks/special-events/parks/park-event-permit/fee-schedule
- https://www.cityofmadison.com/parks/special-events/documents/VendingLicenseForm.pdf
- https://www.cityofmadison.com/dpced/economic-development/street-vending/types-of-vending/arts-and-crafts-vending
- https://revenue.wi.gov/Pages/HTML/temevent.aspx
- https://revenue.wi.gov/DOR%20Publications/pb228.pdf
- https://www.publichealthmdc.com/environmental-health/licensing-permits/retail-food-establishment-licensing/temporary-food-and-farmers-market

All cities: https://bzar.app/permits