# Vendor event permits in Port St. Lucie, FL

To run a vendor market on private commercial land in Port St. Lucie, the organizer needs a Temporary Outdoor Event permit from Neighborhood Services ($100 application fee, 60 days ahead) plus Fire District approval. Vendors need a city business tax receipt and Florida sales tax registration; food vendors need a Florida DBPR license.

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

## For the organizer: Event permit

### Temporary Outdoor Event permit
The application needs a property owner consent letter, a copy of your driver's license and a detailed site map. The permit page also lists the approvals to attach: Fire District special event permit, tent permit for tents of 30 ft x 30 ft or larger, FDBPR approval for food, and police noise and other permits where they apply.
- Who: organizer
- From: City of Port St. Lucie Neighborhood Services (Code Compliance)
- When: Temporary outdoor events or sales that are not part of a property's normal or previously approved use, on properties zoned for open space recreation, institutional, commercial or planned unit development. Church events on church property and activities at City parks or recreation facilities are not covered by this permit.
- Fee: $100 application fee; single event permit $300 plus $200 for each succeeding day; $25 per additional vendor selling goods or services; refundable security deposit $600 to $1,800 depending on permit type; 501(c)(3) nonprofits exempt from permit fees but pay the application fee and deposit
- Timing: Submit at least 60 days before the event; applications under 21 days are automatically denied; fees and deposits due 7 days before the event
- Official page: https://www.cityofpsl.com/Government/Your-City-Government/Departments/Neighborhood-Services/Outdoor-Special-Events-Temporary-Sales-Permit

## For the organizer: Parks and public space

### Events and vendor sign-up in City parks and facilities
City-park events are handled by the city's Special Events team rather than the Neighborhood Services permit. The page links a craft vendor/exhibitor sign-up form and an EventEny registration for food vendors, and says park pavilions are booked through Parks & Recreation.
- Who: organizer and vendors
- From: City of Port St. Lucie Special Events and Parks & Recreation
- When: Events at City parks or recreation facilities
- Official page: https://www.cityofpsl.com/Government/Your-City-Government/Departments/Special-Events

## For the organizer: Fire safety, tents and cooking

### St. Lucie County Fire District special event and tent permits
The city's permit page requires a Fire District special event permit, and a Fire District tent permit for large tents, to be submitted with the application. The page does not state the Fire District's fees or process.
- Who: organizer
- From: St. Lucie County Fire District
- When: Special events, and tents of 30 ft x 30 ft or larger
- Official page: https://www.cityofpsl.com/Government/Your-City-Government/Departments/Neighborhood-Services/Outdoor-Special-Events-Temporary-Sales-Permit

## For vendors: Vendor and business licenses

### City of Port St. Lucie Business Tax Receipt
The city requires a business tax receipt for businesses operating in the city. The page does not describe a temporary or one-day vendor receipt. The event permit page separately says a vendor fee covers additional vendors selling at a permitted event.
- Who: vendors
- From: City of Port St. Lucie Finance Department, Business Tax Division
- When: Any profession or business operating within the City, per the city's business tax page
- Official page: https://www.cityofpsl.com/Government/Your-City-Government/Departments/Finance/Business-Tax

## For vendors: 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
- Official page: https://floridarevenue.com/taxes/eservices/Pages/registration.aspx

## For vendors: 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
- Official page: https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/temporaryevent-guide/

## 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. (https://floridarevenue.com/taxes/tips/documents/TIP_99A01-27.pdf)

## Where the sources are unclear

- Blocked: https://www.stlucieco.gov/Home/Components/ServiceDirectory/ServiceDirectory/12 (St. Lucie County business tax receipt page returned HTTP 403), so the St. Lucie County receipt for vendors inside city limits could not be confirmed from an official page. Ask the St. Lucie County Tax Collector.
- The two Port St. Lucie permit pages agree on fees; the city page lists a vendor fee of $25 per additional vendor, which an event organizer should confirm against its final vendor count.
- 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.

## Questions

**Do I need a permit to host a vendor market in Port St. Lucie?**

Temporary Outdoor Event permit (City of Port St. Lucie Neighborhood Services (Code Compliance)): The application needs a property owner consent letter, a copy of your driver's license and a detailed site map. The permit page also lists the approvals to attach: Fire District special event permit, tent permit for tents of 30 ft x 30 ft or larger, FDBPR approval for food, and police noise and other permits where they apply. Events and vendor sign-up in City parks and facilities (City of Port St. Lucie Special Events and Parks & Recreation): City-park events are handled by the city's Special Events team rather than the Neighborhood Services permit. The page links a craft vendor/exhibitor sign-up form and an EventEny registration for food vendors, and says park pavilions are booked through Parks & Recreation.

**Do vendors need a license to sell at events in Port St. Lucie?**

City of Port St. Lucie Business Tax Receipt (City of Port St. Lucie Finance Department, Business Tax Division): The city requires a business tax receipt for businesses operating in the city. The page does not describe a temporary or one-day vendor receipt. The event permit page separately says a vendor fee covers additional vendors selling at a permitted event.

**Who handles sales tax at a market in Port St. Lucie?**

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 Port St. Lucie?**

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 Port St. Lucie?**

Temporary Outdoor Event permit: Submit at least 60 days before the event; applications under 21 days are automatically denied; fees and deposits due 7 days before the event 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

## Sources

- https://www.cityofpsl.com/Government/Your-City-Government/Departments/Neighborhood-Services/Outdoor-Special-Events-Temporary-Sales-Permit
- https://www.cityofpsl.com/Government/Your-City-Government/Departments/Neighborhood-Services/Special-Event-Permit
- https://www.cityofpsl.com/Government/Your-City-Government/Departments/Special-Events
- https://www.cityofpsl.com/Government/Your-City-Government/Departments/Finance/Business-Tax
- 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

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