Running a vendor market in Manassas.
In Manassas, VA, an event on public property that includes for-profit activity needs a Police Department special events permit at least 45 days ahead. The organizer can buy an Umbrella License from the Commissioner of the Revenue covering all vendors, food vendors need a Prince William Health District temporary food permit, and vendors report Virginia sales tax.
Updated
Event permit.
Special Events Permit (public property)
The organizer applies online, and approved permits are mailed with an electronic copy. The City may bill for services it requires, and organizers need general liability insurance naming the City as additional insured. Minimum limits are $1,000,000, rising to $5,000,000 (including liquor liability) if alcohol is served.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Manassas Police Department
- When
- Events on public property that include for-profit activity or advertising by a for-profit business, such as festivals, fairs, races, block parties and parades; private commercial events use a separate form
- Fee
- No permit fee stated; City services such as officers are billed at $60.00 per officer or supervisor
- Timing
- Applications must be submitted at least 45 days prior to the event
Fire safety, tents and cooking.
Fire Marshal and Development Services approvals
Food trucks at the event must be inspected and approved by the Fire Marshal (703-257-8455). Approvals and inspections of temporary structures and amusement devices go through Development Services (703-257-8278) and the Fire Marshal.
- Who
- Organizer and vendors
- From
- City of Manassas Fire Marshal and Development Services Division
- When
- Food trucks, temporary structures and amusement devices at a special event
Vendor and business licenses.
Umbrella License for Event Merchants
Under City Code Sec. 30-136.1, the sponsor can buy one umbrella license instead of each vendor licensing separately. Within 10 days after the event, the license holder files a final accounting of the vendors who actually sold.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Manassas Commissioner of the Revenue
- When
- Event sponsors where merchants, peddlers or vendors sell at a special event; the Special Events page says all vendors must be licensed with the Commissioner and that organizers may get an umbrella permit for all businesses at the event
- Fee
- $500.00 annual license (unlimited events that calendar year), or $10.00 per participating vendor per event with a $50.00 minimum and $500.00 maximum
- Timing
- Final accounting due within 10 days of the last day of the event
Business License (BPOL)
New licenses must be obtained before the business starts in Manassas, and renewals are due March 1. The City's rate schedule applies to gross receipts above $150,000; the City page says most home occupations and self-employment must file. Operating without a license is a Class 1 misdemeanor under the page's cited state law.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- City of Manassas Commissioner of the Revenue
- When
- Merchants, peddlers and vendors doing business in the City, including at special events unless covered by an organizer's umbrella license
- Fee
- Rates apply to gross receipts of more than $150,000 (retail merchants $0.17 per $100)
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.
Application for Temporary Food Establishment Permit
Vendors send the application to the Health District; the form lists exemptions from the fee for churches, fraternal groups, schools, social organizations and volunteer fire and rescue departments, and for an individual resident of the district taking part in only one temporary event in a calendar year. Questions go to 703-792-6310, option 1.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Virginia Department of Health, Prince William Health District, Environmental Health
- When
- Food vendors at fairs, festivals, carnivals and other special events in the health district, which serves Manassas, Manassas Park and Prince William County
- Fee
- $40.00 Temporary Event Initial Application Fee (if the applicant cannot show a receipt that the state fee was paid that calendar year)
- Timing
- Forms must be submitted at least 10 days prior to the event to be considered
What the rules ask of organizers about vendors.
If the sponsor holds a City Umbrella License for an event, it must file a final accounting with the Commissioner of the Revenue within 10 days after the event listing every merchant, peddler and vendor who actually conducted business. Vendors selling prepared food must also file and pay the City Meals Tax.
When to apply.
- Special Events Permit (public property): Applications must be submitted at least 45 days prior to the event
- Umbrella License for Event Merchants: Final accounting due within 10 days of the last day of the event
- Application for Temporary Food Establishment Permit: Forms must be submitted at least 10 days prior to the event to be considered
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 Manassas, 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 Special Events page lists the Planning and Resource Manager at 703-257-8013; the page's email link is malformed in the page source, so confirm the address with the Police Department.
- The Special Events page links a 'Private Commercial Event' form hosted on an external form service; no official page stating whether private-property markets need a permit was read. Ask the Police Department.
- The Special Events page also requires workers' compensation evidence from participating organizations that have employees, and says higher insurance limits may be required after City Risk Management review.
- The Prince William Health District form is dated 'Rev. Sep-2024' and the district page confirms it serves Manassas City.
- No separate page was read for the Manassas BPOL treatment of event-only sellers; the Umbrella License page is the City's stated route for event vendors.
- 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 Manassas?
Special Events Permit (public property) (City of Manassas Police Department): The organizer applies online, and approved permits are mailed with an electronic copy. The City may bill for services it requires, and organizers need general liability insurance naming the City as additional insured. Minimum limits are $1,000,000, rising to $5,000,000 (including liquor liability) if alcohol is served.
Do vendors need a license to sell at events in Manassas?
Umbrella License for Event Merchants (City of Manassas Commissioner of the Revenue): Under City Code Sec. 30-136.1, the sponsor can buy one umbrella license instead of each vendor licensing separately. Within 10 days after the event, the license holder files a final accounting of the vendors who actually sold. Business License (BPOL) (City of Manassas Commissioner of the Revenue): New licenses must be obtained before the business starts in Manassas, and renewals are due March 1. The City's rate schedule applies to gross receipts above $150,000; the City page says most home occupations and self-employment must file. Operating without a license is a Class 1 misdemeanor under the page's cited state law.
Who handles sales tax at a market in Manassas?
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: If the sponsor holds a City Umbrella License for an event, it must file a final accounting with the Commissioner of the Revenue within 10 days after the event listing every merchant, peddler and vendor who actually conducted business. Vendors selling prepared food must also file and pay the City Meals Tax.
Do food vendors need a separate permit in Manassas?
Application for Temporary Food Establishment Permit (Virginia Department of Health, Prince William Health District, Environmental Health): Vendors send the application to the Health District; the form lists exemptions from the fee for churches, fraternal groups, schools, social organizations and volunteer fire and rescue departments, and for an individual resident of the district taking part in only one temporary event in a calendar year. Questions go to 703-792-6310, option 1.
How far ahead should I apply in Manassas?
Special Events Permit (public property): Applications must be submitted at least 45 days prior to the event Umbrella License for Event Merchants: Final accounting due within 10 days of the last day of the event Application for Temporary Food Establishment Permit: Forms must be submitted at least 10 days prior to the event to be considered
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: Police Department Planning and Resource Manager, 703-257-8013; Commissioner of the Revenue (umbrella licenses), 703-257-8214
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.manassasva.gov/how_do_i_/host_a/special_event/
- https://www.manassasva.gov/parks_culture_and_recreation/umbrella_license_for_event_merchants.php
- https://www.manassasva.gov/connect/commissioner_of_the_revenue/business_taxes/business_licenses/index.php
- https://www.manassasva.gov/connect/commissioner_of_the_revenue/business_taxes/business_licenses/bpol_rate_schedule.php
- https://www.tax.virginia.gov/sites/default/files/taxforms/retail-sales-and-use/any/st-50-any.pdf
- https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uploads/sites/24/2021/04/Temporary-Event-Application.pdf
- https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/prince-william/applications-forms/
- https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/prince-william/
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