# Vendor event permits in Salt Lake City, UT

To run a vendor market in Salt Lake City, the organizer needs a Special Event Permit from the city's event permit office when the market uses public property. Vendors need a city business license and a Utah special event sales tax license, and food booths need a Salt Lake County Health Department temporary food permit.

_Sources checked 2026-10-11. Not legal or tax advice; confirm with each agency._

## For the organizer: Event permit

### Special Event Permit
The organizer applies to the city's event permit office, which coordinates review with departments such as Parks, Police, Fire, Transportation and the Salt Lake County Health Department. The city warns that holding an event without a final permit can put future permit requests at risk and can be charged as a Class B misdemeanor.
- Who: organizer
- From: Salt Lake City Event Permits office
- When: Events, demonstrations, film shoots and block parties on Salt Lake City public property such as parks, roads, sidewalks and plazas. Activity held only on private property does not need this permit.
- Fee: $151.00 application fee (the instructions page lists $137.00; see notes)
- Timing: Apply between 364 days and 30 days before the event; 3 to 6 months ahead is recommended for larger or first-time events
- Official page: https://www.slc.gov/eventpermits/

## For the organizer: Other rules

### Event liability insurance
The city's instructions call for a policy naming Salt Lake City Corporation as additional insured, issued by a Utah-licensed insurer rated A- or better.
- Who: organizer
- From: Salt Lake City Event Permits office
- When: Many special events; the requirement depends on the event
- Fee: $1,000,000 per occurrence with a $2,000,000 general aggregate
- Official page: https://www.slc.gov/eventpermits/special-event-permit-instructions/

### Alcohol at an event: DABS local consent and single event permit
The event needs state DABS approval, and Salt Lake City Business Licensing supplies the local consent through a single event application. The permit instructions page asks for alcohol events to apply earlier than other events.
- Who: organizer
- From: Salt Lake City Business Licensing; Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services
- When: Events serving or selling beer or alcohol, on public or private property
- Timing: Single event applications at least 17 days before the event; at least 60 days before for alcohol on the special event permit
- Official page: https://www.slc.gov/Finance/single-event-or-single-event-beer-permit/

## For vendors: Vendor and business licenses

### Salt Lake City business license
The city says any business engaged in business in Salt Lake City, even temporarily, must hold a valid license, and applications are online only. Applicants need Utah Commerce registration and a state sales tax number if applicable. The pages read describe no separate short-term market vendor license; ask Business Licensing.
- Who: vendors
- From: Salt Lake City Finance, Business Licensing
- When: Any business that sells goods within city limits, permanently or temporarily
- Official page: https://www.slc.gov/finance/business-licensing

## For vendors: 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
- Official page: https://tax.utah.gov/business/sales-tax/other-sales-tax/specialevents/

## For vendors: Food vendors

### Temporary food permit (daily, three-day, extended or seasonal)
Permits come as daily, three-day, extended (up to 14 non-consecutive days at multiple events) and seasonal (up to 9 months at one location). The county calculates the fee after you apply and charges a late fee if the application arrives within seven days of the event.
- Who: organizer and vendors
- From: Salt Lake County Health Department, Food Protection
- When: Any food service offered to the public at an event, whether sold or free; every food vendor needs its own permit
- Timing: Get the permit at least one week before the event
- Official page: https://saltlakecounty.gov/health/food-protection/permits/temporary

## 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. (https://tax.utah.gov/business/sales-tax/other-sales-tax/specialevents/)

## Where the sources are unclear

- The Salt Lake City event permit page lists a $151.00 special event application fee while the permit instructions page lists $137.00; confirm the current fee with the Event Permits office.
- The Salt Lake County temporary food page states no dollar amounts; the late fee amount and permit fees were not shown. Ask the Health Department at 385-468-3845.
- The Tax Commission page lists a Special Events Unit contact at 801-297-6303.

## Questions

**Do I need a permit to host a vendor market in Salt Lake City?**

Special Event Permit (Salt Lake City Event Permits office): The organizer applies to the city's event permit office, which coordinates review with departments such as Parks, Police, Fire, Transportation and the Salt Lake County Health Department. The city warns that holding an event without a final permit can put future permit requests at risk and can be charged as a Class B misdemeanor.

**Do vendors need a license to sell at events in Salt Lake City?**

Salt Lake City business license (Salt Lake City Finance, Business Licensing): The city says any business engaged in business in Salt Lake City, even temporarily, must hold a valid license, and applications are online only. Applicants need Utah Commerce registration and a state sales tax number if applicable. The pages read describe no separate short-term market vendor license; ask Business Licensing.

**Who handles sales tax at a market in Salt Lake City?**

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 Salt Lake City?**

Temporary food permit (daily, three-day, extended or seasonal) (Salt Lake County Health Department, Food Protection): Permits come as daily, three-day, extended (up to 14 non-consecutive days at multiple events) and seasonal (up to 9 months at one location). The county calculates the fee after you apply and charges a late fee if the application arrives within seven days of the event.

**How far ahead should I apply in Salt Lake City?**

Special Event Permit: Apply between 364 days and 30 days before the event; 3 to 6 months ahead is recommended for larger or first-time events Alcohol at an event: DABS local consent and single event permit: Single event applications at least 17 days before the event; at least 60 days before for alcohol on the special event permit Temporary food permit (daily, three-day, extended or seasonal): Get the permit at least one week before the event

## Sources

- https://www.slc.gov/eventpermits/
- https://www.slc.gov/eventpermits/?p=41
- https://www.slc.gov/eventpermits/special-event-permit-instructions/
- https://www.slc.gov/Finance/single-event-or-single-event-beer-permit/
- https://www.slc.gov/finance/business-licensing
- https://www.slc.gov/Finance/business-licensing/application-process/
- https://tax.utah.gov/business/sales-tax/other-sales-tax/specialevents/
- https://saltlakecounty.gov/health/food-protection/permits/temporary

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