# Vendor event permits in Richmond, VA

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.

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

## 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: https://rva.gov/parks-recreation/special-event-planning

## 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: https://rva.gov/police/permits

## For 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: https://www.rva.gov/finance/bpol-tax

## For 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: https://www.tax.virginia.gov/sites/default/files/taxforms/retail-sales-and-use/any/st-50-october-2020-and-later-any.pdf

## For 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: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/richmond-city/food-safety/

## 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. (https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title23/agency10/chapter210/section570/)

## 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

**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

## Sources

- https://rva.gov/parks-recreation/special-event-planning
- https://rva.gov/parks-recreation/special-events-film-production-site-coordination
- https://rva.gov/police/permits
- https://www.rva.gov/finance/bpol-tax
- https://www.tax.virginia.gov/sites/default/files/taxforms/retail-sales-and-use/any/st-50-october-2020-and-later-any.pdf
- https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/richmond-city/food-safety/
- https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/environmental-health/food-safety-in-virginia/tfe/
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title23/agency10/chapter210/section570/

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