Permits: Richmond, VA

Running a vendor market in Richmond.

For a vendor market on Richmond public property, the organizer submits a Special Events Request Form at least 45 days ahead when the event involves sales of food, drink or merchandise. Vendors need a Richmond business license, food vendors need a Richmond City Health District temporary food permit, and temporary vendors report sales tax to Virginia Tax on form ST-50.

Updated October 10, 2026

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For the organizer

Event permit.

Special Events Request Form (Special Events Conditional Use Permit)

The organizer files the request through the city's special event planning portal and reads the city's rules and regulations first. Permit fees are set by city ordinance; the page lists no amounts.

Who: Organizer
From: City of Richmond Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities (Special Events)
When: Events on public property that involve sales of food, beverages or merchandise, amplified sound, airborne objects, fireworks or carnival-type attractions, or that affect streets, rights-of-way or adjacent private property. The city also says any event on or affecting public property needs city permits.
Timing: Submit at least 45 days before the event

Official page

For the organizer

Parks and public space.

Street Closure Permit and temporary no-parking signs

Street closures are decided case by case, and local access for residents and emergency vehicles must stay open. The applicant supplies barricades and traffic devices and a certificate of liability insurance naming the City of Richmond as additional insured, and registers the event with the Special Events office first.

Who: Organizer
From: Richmond Police Department, Permit Section
When: Events that fully close a street and sidewalk to vehicles, or reserve curb parking with temporary signs
Timing: 90 days before for events with 300 or more participants needing police staffing; at least 15 business days before for smaller events

Official page

For your vendors

Vendor and business licenses.

Richmond business license (BPOL), including itinerant merchant and peddler flat fees

Most businesses must hold an annual city license, new ones within 30 days of opening, and a zoning certificate is checked first. Itinerant merchants, peddlers and sidewalk vendors pay flat fees, and sidewalk vendors must show liability insurance naming the City.

Who: Vendors
From: City of Richmond Department of Finance, Business Unit
When: Businesses operating in the city; the page does not say how it treats a vendor attending a single event
Fee: Itinerant merchant $500 flat fee; peddlers $300; sidewalk vendors $300. Other businesses: $0 license cost on gross receipts of $5,000 or less, $30 for $5,001 to $500,000

Official page

For your vendors

Sales tax.

Temporary Sales Tax Certificate/Return (Form ST-50)

Event vendors without a Virginia account report and pay the tax on the ST-50 return, due by the 20th of the month after the event. A seller who attends 3 or more shows a year must instead register for a permanent sales tax account.

Who: Vendors
From: Virginia Department of Taxation (Virginia Tax)
When: Vendors at a show or event who are not permanently registered for Virginia sales tax; sellers at fairs and flea markets cannot rely on the occasional sale exemption

Official page

For your vendors

Food vendors.

Temporary Food Establishment permit

Vendors file a Temporary Food Establishment application, and the event coordinator files a coordinator's application for the temporary event. The district's phone is 804-205-3912.

Who: Organizer and vendors
From: Virginia Department of Health, Richmond City Health District (Environmental Health)
When: Food vendors at a temporary event in the city, unless they already hold a VDH food establishment permit (a posted copy then serves as the event permit)
Fee: $40 annually
Timing: Vendor applications at least 10 days before the event

Official page

Organizer duty

What the rules ask of organizers about vendors.

Virginia sales tax rules for fairs and flea markets say the Department of Taxation may authorize a sponsor or operator to remit the tax collected by the vendors at the event; an operator who wants that arrangement must apply to the Department in writing. The rule does not require a vendor list.

Official page

Timeline

When to apply.

Special Events Request Form (Special Events Conditional Use Permit): Submit at least 45 days before the event
Street Closure Permit and temporary no-parking signs: 90 days before for events with 300 or more participants needing police staffing; at least 15 business days before for smaller events
Temporary Food Establishment permit: Vendor applications at least 10 days before the event

On bzar

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.

For vendors

Selling at markets in Richmond, 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.

Check with the agency

Where the sources are unclear.

The ST-50 PDF read for this page is the version for events on or after October 1, 2020 (revision 03/20). Virginia Tax may publish a newer version, and regional tax rates have changed, so check current rates before quoting any. No rates are listed here. Virginia Tax's sales tax rule for fairs and flea markets: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title23/agency10/chapter210/section570/
The city's pages use different triggers for a 'special event': the Special Event Planning page lists sales of food, drink or merchandise, amplified sound and street impacts, while the Police permit page also lists 300 or more participants. Treat any market with food or merchandise sales on or affecting public property as permitted, and confirm with Special Events, (804) 646-0761.
The Richmond Special Events pages and Parks fee page do not state the Special Events Conditional Use Permit fee; the Parks fee page notes some park permits carry a $25 processing fee and a 30% surcharge for non-residents (https://www.rva.gov/parks-recreation/scheduling-events-and-fees).
No official page read says whether a vendor at a one-day private-property market needs an itinerant merchant license ($500) or a regular business license; ask the Department of Finance via RVA 311, 804-646-7000.
Richmond is an independent city (no county government) and has its own health district. Richmond City Health District phone: 804-205-3912.

Questions

Common questions.

Do I need a permit to host a vendor market in Richmond?

Special Events Request Form (Special Events Conditional Use Permit) (City of Richmond Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities (Special Events)): The organizer files the request through the city's special event planning portal and reads the city's rules and regulations first. Permit fees are set by city ordinance; the page lists no amounts. Street Closure Permit and temporary no-parking signs (Richmond Police Department, Permit Section): Street closures are decided case by case, and local access for residents and emergency vehicles must stay open. The applicant supplies barricades and traffic devices and a certificate of liability insurance naming the City of Richmond as additional insured, and registers the event with the Special Events office first.

Do vendors need a license to sell at events in Richmond?

Richmond business license (BPOL), including itinerant merchant and peddler flat fees (City of Richmond Department of Finance, Business Unit): Most businesses must hold an annual city license, new ones within 30 days of opening, and a zoning certificate is checked first. Itinerant merchants, peddlers and sidewalk vendors pay flat fees, and sidewalk vendors must show liability insurance naming the City.

Who handles sales tax at a market in Richmond?

Temporary Sales Tax Certificate/Return (Form ST-50) (Virginia Department of Taxation (Virginia Tax)): Event vendors without a Virginia account report and pay the tax on the ST-50 return, due by the 20th of the month after the event. A seller who attends 3 or more shows a year must instead register for a permanent sales tax account. For organizers: Virginia sales tax rules for fairs and flea markets say the Department of Taxation may authorize a sponsor or operator to remit the tax collected by the vendors at the event; an operator who wants that arrangement must apply to the Department in writing. The rule does not require a vendor list.

Do food vendors need a separate permit in Richmond?

Temporary Food Establishment permit (Virginia Department of Health, Richmond City Health District (Environmental Health)): Vendors file a Temporary Food Establishment application, and the event coordinator files a coordinator's application for the temporary event. The district's phone is 804-205-3912.

How far ahead should I apply in Richmond?

Special Events Request Form (Special Events Conditional Use Permit): Submit at least 45 days before the event Street Closure Permit and temporary no-parking signs: 90 days before for events with 300 or more participants needing police staffing; at least 15 business days before for smaller events Temporary Food Establishment permit: Vendor applications at least 10 days before the event

Keep reading.

Permits in Alexandria, VAPermits in Arlington County, VAPermits in Fairfax (City), VAPermits in Fairfax County, VAPermits in Falls Church, VAPermits in Fauquier County, VAVirginia state rules: sales tax and cottage foodPermit checklist for RichmondWhat event permits cost across US citiesCollecting vendor insurance and permitsHow to host a vendor eventVendor application form template

Sources

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: (804) 646-0761 (Special Events, Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities)

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.

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