Running a vendor market in Miami.
To run a vendor market in Miami, the organizer needs a Special Event Permit from the City of Miami Office of Film and Entertainment, which covers events with merchandise sales on public or private property. Food vendors need a Florida DBPR temporary event license, and vendors register for Florida sales tax and hold city and county business tax receipts.
Updated
Event permit.
Special Event Permit
Miami's special event permit covers markets on both public and private land. The fee depends on expected attendance, and applications late past the deadline pay double.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Miami Office of Film and Entertainment
- When
- Gatherings with entertainment, merchandise sales, temporary structures or significant city coordination, on public or private property. Private property: no more than four events per year, each up to seven consecutive days. City property: up to ten calendar days per organization per year.
- Fee
- $250 for up to 1,000 attendees; $500 for over 1,000 attendees (fees as of May 15, 2025; double if submitted after deadlines)
- Timing
- At least 30 days for events up to 1,000 attendees; at least 45 days for events of 1,001 or more
Other rules.
Commercial general liability insurance
Applicants must carry commercial general liability coverage with limits of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, with the City listed as additional insured.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Miami Office of Film and Entertainment
- When
- Non-governmental special event applicants
Vendor and business licenses.
Business Tax Receipt (City of Miami and Miami-Dade County)
The City says every business needs a Business Tax Receipt and also needs a Miami-Dade County Local Business Tax Receipt. Whether a one-day market vendor must hold both is not spelled out, so ask the Business Licensing Division.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- City of Miami Business Licensing Division
- When
- Businesses operating in the City of Miami. Peddlers, food trucks and businesses with no physical location in Miami are excepted from the Certificate of Use step.
Sales tax.
Sales and use tax dealer registration
Vendors who sell taxable goods or services must register with the state as a sales and use tax dealer to collect, report and remit tax. Registration must be done before starting business, and the page does not describe a separate temporary or special-event registration.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Florida Department of Revenue
- When
- Any vendor selling taxable goods or services in Florida, including at markets and events
- Timing
- Register before you begin conducting business in Florida
Food vendors.
Temporary Food Service Event License
The state, not the county, licenses food vendors at temporary events. Each food vendor generally needs a temporary event license, and the event sponsor tells the division about the event and its food vendors in advance.
- Who
- Organizer and vendors
- From
- Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Hotels and Restaurants
- When
- Food is prepared, served or sold at an event of 30 days or less. Exemptions include existing Hotels & Restaurants licensees (one unit), some Agriculture or Health permit holders at 1-3 day events, vendors selling only popcorn, prepackaged food or beverages needing no preparation, and 1-3 day events run by religious or nonprofit organizations.
- Fee
- $91 for a 1-3 day event; $105 for a 4-30 day event; $456 annual
- Timing
- Event sponsors notify the division no less than three business days before the event
What the rules ask of organizers about vendors.
Florida's Department of Revenue says anyone selling taxable goods at a flea market must be registered as a sales tax dealer and collect and remit tax directly. Under that notice, market operators keep collecting tax on space rentals but are no longer required or authorized to remit vendors' sales tax.
When to apply.
- Special Event Permit: At least 30 days for events up to 1,000 attendees; at least 45 days for events of 1,001 or more
- Sales and use tax dealer registration: Register before you begin conducting business in Florida
- Temporary Food Service Event License: Event sponsors notify the division no less than three business 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 Miami, FL?
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 Miami-Dade County Tax Collector's pages could not be read (access blocked), so county receipt details come only from the City of Miami page.
- No official page found for fire marshal tent or propane rules for market organizers as of 2026-10-10; ask the City of Miami Fire-Rescue Department.
- Florida's flea-market tax notice (TIP 99A01-27) is dated July 1999; the Department of Revenue's page for it is the only flea-market-specific operator guidance found, so confirm current practice with the Department.
- Florida repealed the state sales tax on rent or license fees for real property for periods starting October 1, 2025 (Department of Revenue TIP 25A01-04). The 1999 notice's reference to tax on space rentals therefore may no longer apply to booth fees; confirm with the Department.
- Florida registration page does not state a fee; a 1999 Department notice listed a $5 registration fee, which is not repeated here because it is old.
Common questions.
Do I need a permit to host a vendor market in Miami?
Special Event Permit (City of Miami Office of Film and Entertainment): Miami's special event permit covers markets on both public and private land. The fee depends on expected attendance, and applications late past the deadline pay double.
Do vendors need a license to sell at events in Miami?
Business Tax Receipt (City of Miami and Miami-Dade County) (City of Miami Business Licensing Division): The City says every business needs a Business Tax Receipt and also needs a Miami-Dade County Local Business Tax Receipt. Whether a one-day market vendor must hold both is not spelled out, so ask the Business Licensing Division.
Who handles sales tax at a market in Miami?
Sales and use tax dealer registration (Florida Department of Revenue): Vendors who sell taxable goods or services must register with the state as a sales and use tax dealer to collect, report and remit tax. Registration must be done before starting business, and the page does not describe a separate temporary or special-event registration. For organizers: Florida's Department of Revenue says anyone selling taxable goods at a flea market must be registered as a sales tax dealer and collect and remit tax directly. Under that notice, market operators keep collecting tax on space rentals but are no longer required or authorized to remit vendors' sales tax.
Do food vendors need a separate permit in Miami?
Temporary Food Service Event License (Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Hotels and Restaurants): The state, not the county, licenses food vendors at temporary events. Each food vendor generally needs a temporary event license, and the event sponsor tells the division about the event and its food vendors in advance.
How far ahead should I apply in Miami?
Special Event Permit: At least 30 days for events up to 1,000 attendees; at least 45 days for events of 1,001 or more Sales and use tax dealer registration: Register before you begin conducting business in Florida Temporary Food Service Event License: Event sponsors notify the division no less than three business 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: 305-468-5900 or filmoffice@miamigov.com
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.miami.gov/Permits-Construction/Filming-and-Events/Get-a-Special-Events-Permit
- https://www.miami.gov/Business-Licenses/Business-Licensing/Get-a-Business-Tax-Receipt-BTR
- https://floridarevenue.com/taxes/eservices/Pages/registration.aspx
- https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/temporaryevent-guide/
- https://floridarevenue.com/taxes/tips/documents/TIP_99A01-27.pdf
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.