Running a vendor market in Provo.
In Provo, UT, a Special Event Permit ($50, apply about 90 days ahead) is needed for events on city property or large private gatherings. Vendors need a Provo business license or temporary business license, vendors use a Utah special event sales tax license with the promoter submitting the participant list, and food booths need a Utah County Health Department permit.
Updated
Event permit.
Special Event Permit
Organizers apply for a Special Event Permit; approval is not guaranteed. The city provides application guidelines, park use policies and a planned public assembly form, with extra park-use guidelines for park or trail events.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- Provo City (Provo 311 Customer Service)
- When
- Events on city property such as parks, parking lots, streets or sidewalks, and large gatherings on private property within Provo
- Fee
- $50 non-refundable application fee
- Timing
- City recommends applying at least 90 days before the event
Vendor and business licenses.
Provo Commercial Business License and Temporary Business License
Provo says every business in the city needs a license, applied for online, with about 14 days processing. Its Temporary Business License form says most licenses issue in about two weeks, may need Planning, Building, Fire or Police approval, and that fees are non-refundable. Fees are in the city's Consolidated Fee Schedule, which was not read.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Provo City Licensing (Provo 311)
- When
- Businesses operating in Provo; the city also publishes a Temporary Business License application, but the page read does not say which sellers it covers
- Timing
- About 14 days processing
Sales tax.
Temporary Sales Tax License and Special Return (TC-790C)
Each vendor needs a Special Event Taxpayer ID, which is given to each event promoter, and the Tax Commission issues the event-specific license and return once the promoter submits the participant list. The vendor files the return and pays within 30 days after the event ends, using the tax rate where the event takes place.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Utah State Tax Commission, Special Events Unit
- When
- Vendors with taxable sales at a one-time event or an event running six months or less, such as festivals, swap meets and art shows
Food vendors.
Temporary Booth and Event Coordinator applications
The county's permits page lists a Temporary Booth Application, an Event Coordinator Application and a Mass Gathering Application. Its temporary food guidelines require overhead protection, a handwash station, a covered trash can and a visibly posted county permit. The pages read show no fee or deadline.
- Who
- Organizer and vendors
- From
- Utah County Health Department, Environmental Health
- When
- Food booths at events in Utah County, including events in Provo
What the rules ask of organizers about vendors.
Utah's Tax Commission says the promoter of an organized special event must collect each vendor's name, address, phone, Special Event Tax ID, SSN, EIN or sales tax account number, product and email, and send the participant list (form TC-791) so the Commission can issue vendors' event licenses. As of April 2025 vendors need a Special Event Taxpayer ID to take part, and local licensing offices may check vendors' sales tax numbers.
When to apply.
- Special Event Permit: City recommends applying at least 90 days before the event
- Provo Commercial Business License and Temporary Business License: About 14 days processing
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 Provo, UT?
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 Utah County Health Department temporary booth application is an online form, so fees and deadlines were not readable; ask the department's Environmental Health Division.
- Provo's temporary business license PDF was only partly viewed; ask Provo 311 at 311 (inside Provo) or (801) 852-6000 whether vendors at a one-day market need it. provo.org licensing pages returned a Cloudflare DNS error.
Common questions.
Do I need a permit to host a vendor market in Provo?
Special Event Permit (Provo City (Provo 311 Customer Service)): Organizers apply for a Special Event Permit; approval is not guaranteed. The city provides application guidelines, park use policies and a planned public assembly form, with extra park-use guidelines for park or trail events.
Do vendors need a license to sell at events in Provo?
Provo Commercial Business License and Temporary Business License (Provo City Licensing (Provo 311)): Provo says every business in the city needs a license, applied for online, with about 14 days processing. Its Temporary Business License form says most licenses issue in about two weeks, may need Planning, Building, Fire or Police approval, and that fees are non-refundable. Fees are in the city's Consolidated Fee Schedule, which was not read.
Who handles sales tax at a market in Provo?
Temporary Sales Tax License and Special Return (TC-790C) (Utah State Tax Commission, Special Events Unit): Each vendor needs a Special Event Taxpayer ID, which is given to each event promoter, and the Tax Commission issues the event-specific license and return once the promoter submits the participant list. The vendor files the return and pays within 30 days after the event ends, using the tax rate where the event takes place. For organizers: Utah's Tax Commission says the promoter of an organized special event must collect each vendor's name, address, phone, Special Event Tax ID, SSN, EIN or sales tax account number, product and email, and send the participant list (form TC-791) so the Commission can issue vendors' event licenses. As of April 2025 vendors need a Special Event Taxpayer ID to take part, and local licensing offices may check vendors' sales tax numbers.
Do food vendors need a separate permit in Provo?
Temporary Booth and Event Coordinator applications (Utah County Health Department, Environmental Health): The county's permits page lists a Temporary Booth Application, an Event Coordinator Application and a Mass Gathering Application. Its temporary food guidelines require overhead protection, a handwash station, a covered trash can and a visibly posted county permit. The pages read show no fee or deadline.
How far ahead should I apply in Provo?
Special Event Permit: City recommends applying at least 90 days before the event Provo Commercial Business License and Temporary Business License: About 14 days processing
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: Provo 311 Customer Service, 311 inside Provo or (801) 852-6000
Every fact on this page comes from these official pages, checked on 2026-10-11. Details change; tell us at hello@bzar.app if something here is out of date.
- https://www.provo.gov/211/Special-Event-Permits
- https://www.provo.gov/196/Commercial-Business-License
- https://www.provo.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10002
- https://tax.utah.gov/business/sales-tax/other-sales-tax/specialevents/
- https://health.utahcounty.gov/environmental-health/annual-permits-and-certifications/
- https://health.utahcounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Temporary-Event-Guidance-11.12.25.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.