Running a vendor market in Prince George's County.
In Prince George's County, MD, an organizer holding a vendor market with tents, stages, generators or food needs a Special Event Temporary Use and Occupancy Permit from DPIE, applied for about 45 days ahead. Food vendors need a Health Department temporary food permit, and vendors need a Maryland trader's license and sales tax license.
Updated
Event permit.
Special Event Temporary Use and Occupancy Permit
Apply in the Momentum permit portal with a site plan showing all structures and the Special Event Temporary Use Procedures Checklist. The owner's business must be registered and in good standing with Maryland. Fees include a structures fee and a technology fee, and expedited review fees apply to late filings (see the DPIE Fee Schedule).
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- Prince George's County Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE)
- When
- Temporarily using a space for an event other than its approved use. Parades, bike rides and walks with no tents, stages, inflatables, generators, ticket sales, food trucks or on-site food, and community meetings of 50 or fewer, are exempt from this permit but still need county approval for road closures and police traffic control.
- Timing
- Submit 45 days before the event, and no less than 3 weeks before; later applications are not guaranteed review and carry expedited review fees
Fire safety, tents and cooking.
Tent, generator and structure requirements
Tent applications need the manufacturer's flame retardation certification and tent dimensions. Generators need an electrical permit obtained by a master electrician. Stages and similar structures need signed and sealed structural drawings. Organizers should contact the Fire Marshal's Office and the health and third-party inspectors to coordinate inspections.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- DPIE, Fire Marshal's Office and Health Department inspections
- When
- Events using tents, generators, stages, platforms, inflatables or carnival rides.
Other rules.
Benefit performance, bazaar and raffle permits
The Licensing Center lists separate permits for these activities under County Code Section 5-115, with fees in the DPIE fee schedule.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- DPIE Licensing Center
- When
- Nonprofit-style bazaars, benefit dinners, bingo, silent auctions, carnivals and raffles.
Vendor and business licenses.
Trader's License (or Exhibitor's Affidavit)
The Comptroller's license bureau says a trader's license from the Clerk of the Circuit Court is required, along with a sales tax account, and the license year runs May 1 to April 30. A copy of the license or affidavit must be shown to the promoter before the show and displayed during it. Fees are not listed on this page.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Prince George's County, Clerk of the Circuit Court (statewide rules enforced by the Comptroller's License Bureau)
- When
- Anyone selling goods in Maryland other than a grower or manufacturer. Exhibitors at a show do not need their own trader's license when the show is promoted by an exempt entity the Comptroller lists (for example a church, government agency or volunteer fire department), or when they give the promoter an Exhibitor's Affidavit saying they get under 10 percent of annual income from like goods at the show. Either way they must not have done more than three shows in the previous 365 days.
Transient Vendor License (roadside or temporary sales)
Free, valid for 90 days, and issued only to holders of a Maryland sales and use tax license. It must be displayed when selling, and a local trader's license from the Clerk of the Circuit Court may also be needed.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Comptroller of Maryland
- When
- Sellers at a roadside or other temporary location. The Comptroller says this does not apply to exhibitors at fairs, trade shows and flea markets.
- Fee
- Free; valid for 90 days
Sales tax.
Temporary Sales and Use Tax License (30 days)
A vendor emails the event date, name and location plus business details to the Comptroller's temporary license desk (or calls 410-767-1543 or 410-767-5462) and collects the 6 percent or 9 percent Maryland sales and use tax, as the Comptroller states. Vendors at three or more events a year should register for a permanent license through Maryland Tax Connect.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Comptroller of Maryland
- When
- Vendors without a permanent Maryland sales and use tax license who sell at one-time events such as craft shows and fairs. Maryland has one statewide rate and no local sales taxes.
- Timing
- Temporary license is valid for 30 days
Flea market and show sales are taxable
The Comptroller says sales at flea markets are subject to the 6 percent sales and use tax like other retail sales, and a seller must hold a license before collecting it. A 30-day permit is available by phone from the Special Events Section at 410-767-1543 or 410-767-1531; frequent sellers should get a permanent license through the Combined Registration Application.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Comptroller of Maryland
- When
- Vendors at flea markets and similar markets, including nonprofits and private individuals (casual and isolated sales under $1,000 and a few other sales are exempt).
Food vendors.
Temporary Food Service Facility Permit
Apply and pay online in Momentum; the application is incomplete without payment. Inspectors may visit during the event and either hand over the permit there or email it beforehand. The page does not state the fee.
- Who
- Organizer and vendors
- From
- Prince George's County Health Department
- When
- People selling food or drinks at fairs, festivals, carnivals, community days, concession stands and other special events.
- Timing
- Apply and pay at least five business days before the event
What the rules ask of organizers about vendors.
A show promoter may not let an exhibitor take part unless the exhibitor has given a photocopy of a valid Trader's License or an Exhibitor's Affidavit before the show. Exhibitors must display it, and the promoter must forward all Exhibitor Affidavits to the Comptroller's State License Bureau within seven days after the show. Non-compliance is a misdemeanor with a fine up to $100 or up to 30 days in jail.
When to apply.
- Special Event Temporary Use and Occupancy Permit: Submit 45 days before the event, and no less than 3 weeks before; later applications are not guaranteed review and carry expedited review fees
- Temporary Food Service Facility Permit: Apply and pay at least five business days before the event
- Temporary Sales and Use Tax License (30 days): Temporary license is valid for 30 days
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 Prince George's County, MD?
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.
- Maryland rules on sales tax, trader's licenses and promoter duties come from the Comptroller of Maryland and apply statewide. The promoter rules are written for shows and exhibitors; confirm with the Comptroller's License Bureau that your vendor market counts as a show.
- The county's Business Licensing Requirements page lists a Peddlers and Itinerant Vendors License limited to ice cream trucks and non-profit grocery trucks; it lists no general county vendor license for market sellers.
- These county pages block automated fetch tools; they were read in a browser on 2026-10-10. The Special Event Contacts list and Procedures Checklist PDFs linked from the permit page were not read.
- No official page found for a public-space or park-use permit for markets as of 2026-10-10; ask DPIE and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.
Common questions.
Do I need a permit to host a vendor market in Prince George's County?
Special Event Temporary Use and Occupancy Permit (Prince George's County Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE)): Apply in the Momentum permit portal with a site plan showing all structures and the Special Event Temporary Use Procedures Checklist. The owner's business must be registered and in good standing with Maryland. Fees include a structures fee and a technology fee, and expedited review fees apply to late filings (see the DPIE Fee Schedule).
Do vendors need a license to sell at events in Prince George's County?
Trader's License (or Exhibitor's Affidavit) (Prince George's County, Clerk of the Circuit Court (statewide rules enforced by the Comptroller's License Bureau)): The Comptroller's license bureau says a trader's license from the Clerk of the Circuit Court is required, along with a sales tax account, and the license year runs May 1 to April 30. A copy of the license or affidavit must be shown to the promoter before the show and displayed during it. Fees are not listed on this page. Transient Vendor License (roadside or temporary sales) (Comptroller of Maryland): Free, valid for 90 days, and issued only to holders of a Maryland sales and use tax license. It must be displayed when selling, and a local trader's license from the Clerk of the Circuit Court may also be needed.
Who handles sales tax at a market in Prince George's County?
Temporary Sales and Use Tax License (30 days) (Comptroller of Maryland): A vendor emails the event date, name and location plus business details to the Comptroller's temporary license desk (or calls 410-767-1543 or 410-767-5462) and collects the 6 percent or 9 percent Maryland sales and use tax, as the Comptroller states. Vendors at three or more events a year should register for a permanent license through Maryland Tax Connect. Flea market and show sales are taxable (Comptroller of Maryland): The Comptroller says sales at flea markets are subject to the 6 percent sales and use tax like other retail sales, and a seller must hold a license before collecting it. A 30-day permit is available by phone from the Special Events Section at 410-767-1543 or 410-767-1531; frequent sellers should get a permanent license through the Combined Registration Application. For organizers: A show promoter may not let an exhibitor take part unless the exhibitor has given a photocopy of a valid Trader's License or an Exhibitor's Affidavit before the show. Exhibitors must display it, and the promoter must forward all Exhibitor Affidavits to the Comptroller's State License Bureau within seven days after the show. Non-compliance is a misdemeanor with a fine up to $100 or up to 30 days in jail.
Do food vendors need a separate permit in Prince George's County?
Temporary Food Service Facility Permit (Prince George's County Health Department): Apply and pay online in Momentum; the application is incomplete without payment. Inspectors may visit during the event and either hand over the permit there or email it beforehand. The page does not state the fee.
How far ahead should I apply in Prince George's County?
Special Event Temporary Use and Occupancy Permit: Submit 45 days before the event, and no less than 3 weeks before; later applications are not guaranteed review and carry expedited review fees Temporary Food Service Facility Permit: Apply and pay at least five business days before the event Temporary Sales and Use Tax License (30 days): Temporary license is valid for 30 days
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: Special Event Permit page with application links and contacts: https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/departments-offices/permitting-inspections-and-enforcement/permits/special-event-permit
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.princegeorgescountymd.gov/departments-offices/permitting-inspections-and-enforcement/permits/special-event-permit
- https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/departments-offices/health/environmental-health/food-safety-permits-inspections/temporary-food-service-facility-permits
- https://www.marylandcomptroller.gov/businesses/new-business/business-licenses.html
- https://services.marylandcomptroller.gov/taxes?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0010143
- https://services.marylandcomptroller.gov/taxes?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0010107
- https://services.marylandcomptroller.gov/taxes?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0010150
- https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/departments-offices/permitting-inspections-and-enforcement/licensing/business-licenses/business-licensing-requirements
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.