# Vendor event permits in Salem, OR In Salem, OR, an event on city property needs a community event permit from Recreation Services (SRC Chapter 104), with a site plan and insurance, allowing at least 30 days for processing. Vendors at the event need a short-term concessionaire permit, food booths need a Marion County temporary restaurant license, and Oregon has no sales tax for vendors to collect. _Sources checked 2026-10-11. Not legal or tax advice; confirm with each agency._ ## For the organizer: Event permit ### Community Event Permit (Salem Revised Code Chapter 104) Organizers bring the permit application, a detailed site plan (canopies, toilets, fencing), a certificate of insurance and the application fees to the Recreation Services office, and may be told about other permits such as sound or tent. The organizer also reimburses the city for extra staffing costs the event causes. - Who: organizer - From: City of Salem Recreation Services - When: Events on city property (examples include product fairs, concerts, festivals and runs); the licenses page adds that a license is also needed to run a fee-charging special event at your own property - Timing: Allow a minimum of 30 calendar days to process; permits and documents due to the city 30 days before the event - Official page: https://www.cityofsalem.net/community/things-to-do/parks/host-a-community-event ## For vendors: Vendor and business licenses ### Short-Term Concessionaire Permit The organizer gives the city a list of approved concessionaires, and each vendor submits a short-term concessionaire permit application, the Daily Concessions Fee and a certificate of insurance. The permit page does not state the fee amount. - Who: organizer and vendors - From: City of Salem Recreation Services - When: Food, craft and other concession vendors at an event on city property - Timing: Each vendor submits at least 30 days before the event - Official page: https://www.cityofsalem.net/community/things-to-do/parks/host-a-community-event ## For vendors: Sales tax ### No Oregon sales tax Oregon says it has no general sales or use/transaction tax, so vendors at an Oregon market do not register for or collect sales tax. The exceptions the page names are a use tax on new vehicles bought out of state and certain taxes on specific services such as hotel or rental car bookings. - Who: vendors - From: Oregon Department of Revenue - When: All sales in Oregon. - Official page: https://www.oregon.gov/dor/programs/businesses/Pages/sales-tax.aspx ## For vendors: Food vendors ### Temporary restaurant license The vendor downloads the application and mails or delivers it with the fee to Marion County Environmental Health before the event. The page does not state the fee amount. - Who: organizer and vendors - From: Marion County Health and Human Services, Environmental Health - When: Any establishment operating temporarily at an event where food is prepared or served to the public, such as fairs, festivals and concerts - Timing: Submit the application at least one week before the event - Official page: https://www.co.marion.or.us/HLT/PH/EHS/inspections ## Where the sources are unclear - No official page read for Salem's event-permit and vendor-license topics as of 2026-10-11; ask the City of Salem Parks and Recreation office. - Part of Salem lies in Polk County; events there would use Polk County's health department, which was not researched. - The Marion County temporary restaurant application (revised 2/26) lists benevolent, out-of-county mobile unit, intermittent and seasonal license types but no fees; ask Environmental Health at 503-588-5346. - No Oregon promoter or organizer duty regarding vendors' taxes was found, which fits the state having no sales tax. - Salem's event page does not state fees (the Daily Concessions Fee is in the city's fee schedule, not read) or tent permit details. The Licenses page lists street vendor/pushcart and mobile food unit business licenses for non-event vending; it does not describe a general business license for craft vendors. ## Questions **Do I need a permit to host a vendor market in Salem?** Community Event Permit (Salem Revised Code Chapter 104) (City of Salem Recreation Services): Organizers bring the permit application, a detailed site plan (canopies, toilets, fencing), a certificate of insurance and the application fees to the Recreation Services office, and may be told about other permits such as sound or tent. The organizer also reimburses the city for extra staffing costs the event causes. **Do vendors need a license to sell at events in Salem?** Short-Term Concessionaire Permit (City of Salem Recreation Services): The organizer gives the city a list of approved concessionaires, and each vendor submits a short-term concessionaire permit application, the Daily Concessions Fee and a certificate of insurance. The permit page does not state the fee amount. **Who handles sales tax at a market in Salem?** No Oregon sales tax (Oregon Department of Revenue): Oregon says it has no general sales or use/transaction tax, so vendors at an Oregon market do not register for or collect sales tax. The exceptions the page names are a use tax on new vehicles bought out of state and certain taxes on specific services such as hotel or rental car bookings. **Do food vendors need a separate permit in Salem?** Temporary restaurant license (Marion County Health and Human Services, Environmental Health): The vendor downloads the application and mails or delivers it with the fee to Marion County Environmental Health before the event. The page does not state the fee amount. **How far ahead should I apply in Salem?** Community Event Permit (Salem Revised Code Chapter 104): Allow a minimum of 30 calendar days to process; permits and documents due to the city 30 days before the event Short-Term Concessionaire Permit: Each vendor submits at least 30 days before the event Temporary restaurant license: Submit the application at least one week before the event ## Sources - https://www.cityofsalem.net/community/things-to-do/parks/host-a-community-event - https://www.cityofsalem.net/business/business-resources/licenses - https://www.oregon.gov/dor/programs/businesses/Pages/sales-tax.aspx - https://www.co.marion.or.us/HLT/PH/EHS/inspections All cities: https://bzar.app/permits