Permits: San Bernardino, CA

Running a vendor market in San Bernardino.

In San Bernardino, a Special Event Permit from the Planning Division is required for gatherings of more than 100 people or lasting over three days, with insurance and county health and fire permits attached. Vendors need a city business registration certificate, food booths need San Bernardino County permits, and sellers need a California seller's permit.

Updated October 11, 2026

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For the organizer

Event permit.

Special Event Permit

The application needs a site plan, any county health permit and county fire permit, an ABC license if alcohol is served, a security contract and portable toilet order where needed, and a certificate of insurance. Staff route it to departments and issue an approval letter with conditions that must stay on site.

Who: Organizer
From: City of San Bernardino Community Development Department, Planning Division
When: Gatherings of more than 100 attendees or lasting longer than three days; fairs, festivals and concerts outside venues built for them; food events with more than 3 trucks; certified farmers markets
Fee: $1,279.20 (Planning Division fee schedule 2024), plus any street closure, police, staff and facility charges

Official page

Temporary Use Permit

The application needs a notarized owner authorization, a site plan, proof of $1,000,000 insurance (naming the City on city-owned property), a flame-resistance certificate for tents and canopies, and a list of all vendors and their services.

Who: Organizer
From: City of San Bernardino Community Development Department, Planning Division
When: Smaller temporary uses such as food carts, food trucks and fundraising events; ask Planning whether a small market fits here instead
Fee: $327.60 (Planning Division fee schedule 2024)

Official page

For the organizer

Fire safety, tents and cooking.

County fire permit and tent flame-resistance certificate

The special event application checklist requires a copy of the County Fire Department permit, and the temporary use application requires a flame resistance certificate and specifications for tents and canopies. The application tells organizers to contact the local fire jurisdiction about cooking equipment.

Who: Organizer
From: San Bernardino County Fire (named as the County Fire Department permit on the city form)
When: Special events and temporary uses with tents or canopies

Official page

For the organizer

Other rules.

Event insurance

A certificate of insurance is required, and the city form lists minimums of $1,000,000 general liability, $1,000,000 auto liability and $1,000,000 workers' compensation, with the City and its officials named as additional insured. Limits may change with the event.

Who: Organizer
From: City of San Bernardino Planning Division
When: Before a Special Event Permit is issued

Official page

For your vendors

Vendor and business licenses.

Business Registration Certificate

City law bars doing business without a registration certificate, with a separate one per location. Businesses based outside the city but working in it may pay a flat rate. Call 909-998-2101; the page does not give event-vendor fees.

Who: Organizer and vendors
From: City of San Bernardino Finance Department, Business Registration Division
When: Anyone conducting business in the city directly or indirectly; the city lists Temporary Events and Sidewalk Vendor among types needing special permitting

Official page

For your vendors

Sales tax.

Seller's permit or temporary seller's permit

A temporary seller's permit covers one selling location for 90 days or less, with start and end dates entered when registering online. Some sellers are exempt, such as those selling only exempt food products and occasional sellers.

Who: Vendors
From: California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA)
When: Vendors making retail sales of taxable goods at a market; generally three or more taxable sales within 12 months at a location open for less than 90 days
Fee: Free
Timing: You may obtain a temporary seller's permit 90 days prior to your business start date

Official page

Seller information for the event operator

Sellers of new or used goods, including handcrafted items, generally hold a seller's permit, and a seller with an existing permit still registers a sub-permit for the temporary location. Sellers give the event operator their business details and permit number in writing, and CDTFA offers form CDTFA-410-D for this.

Who: Vendors
From: California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA)
When: Sellers at swap meets, flea markets and special events

Official page

For your vendors

Food vendors.

Temporary Food Facility event organizer permit and booth permits

The organizer provides city or county event approval, a vendor list, a site map, water, wastewater, trash and toilets with handwashing within 200 feet of each booth, and checks every vendor holds a valid permit. Each booth needs its own temporary event health permit. Email TFF@dph.sbcounty.gov or call 800-442-2283.

Who: Organizer and vendors
From: San Bernardino County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Services
When: Community events with food; an organizer permit is required when two or more food vendors are present
Timing: Organizer fees are due at least two weeks before the first event; late fee if submitted under two weeks out

Official page

Organizer duty

What the rules ask of organizers about vendors.

Under CDTFA Publication 111, operators of swap meets, flea markets and special events may not rent space to a seller until they verify the seller holds a valid seller's permit, unless an exemption applies. Operators collect each seller's business name, address, phone, ID, items sold and permit number in writing, keep the records at least four years, and give them to CDTFA within 30 days of a written request. The page warns of a penalty of up to $1,000 per seller for missing records.

Official page

Timeline

When to apply.

Seller's permit or temporary seller's permit: You may obtain a temporary seller's permit 90 days prior to your business start date
Temporary Food Facility event organizer permit and booth permits: Organizer fees are due at least two weeks before the first event; late fee if submitted under two weeks out

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 San Bernardino, CA?

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 Planning Division fee schedule is the 2024 edition and the special event application is dated June 2021 with an older phone number (909-384-7272); confirm current fees and numbers at 909-998-2000.
San Bernardino County's vendor requirements guide is dated August 2015 and says booth applications are due 48 hours before the event; the organizer checklist (April 2026) says two weeks. Confirm with Environmental Health. No county fee amounts are recorded.
The city's business registration page names Temporary Events as a business type needing special permitting but gives no event-specific steps or fee; call the Business Registration Division.

Questions

Common questions.

Do I need a permit to host a vendor market in San Bernardino?

Special Event Permit (City of San Bernardino Community Development Department, Planning Division): The application needs a site plan, any county health permit and county fire permit, an ABC license if alcohol is served, a security contract and portable toilet order where needed, and a certificate of insurance. Staff route it to departments and issue an approval letter with conditions that must stay on site. Temporary Use Permit (City of San Bernardino Community Development Department, Planning Division): The application needs a notarized owner authorization, a site plan, proof of $1,000,000 insurance (naming the City on city-owned property), a flame-resistance certificate for tents and canopies, and a list of all vendors and their services.

Do vendors need a license to sell at events in San Bernardino?

Business Registration Certificate (City of San Bernardino Finance Department, Business Registration Division): City law bars doing business without a registration certificate, with a separate one per location. Businesses based outside the city but working in it may pay a flat rate. Call 909-998-2101; the page does not give event-vendor fees.

Who handles sales tax at a market in San Bernardino?

Seller's permit or temporary seller's permit (California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA)): A temporary seller's permit covers one selling location for 90 days or less, with start and end dates entered when registering online. Some sellers are exempt, such as those selling only exempt food products and occasional sellers. Seller information for the event operator (California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA)): Sellers of new or used goods, including handcrafted items, generally hold a seller's permit, and a seller with an existing permit still registers a sub-permit for the temporary location. Sellers give the event operator their business details and permit number in writing, and CDTFA offers form CDTFA-410-D for this. For organizers: Under CDTFA Publication 111, operators of swap meets, flea markets and special events may not rent space to a seller until they verify the seller holds a valid seller's permit, unless an exemption applies. Operators collect each seller's business name, address, phone, ID, items sold and permit number in writing, keep the records at least four years, and give them to CDTFA within 30 days of a written request. The page warns of a penalty of up to $1,000 per seller for missing records.

Do food vendors need a separate permit in San Bernardino?

Temporary Food Facility event organizer permit and booth permits (San Bernardino County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Services): The organizer provides city or county event approval, a vendor list, a site map, water, wastewater, trash and toilets with handwashing within 200 feet of each booth, and checks every vendor holds a valid permit. Each booth needs its own temporary event health permit. Email TFF@dph.sbcounty.gov or call 800-442-2283.

How far ahead should I apply in San Bernardino?

Seller's permit or temporary seller's permit: You may obtain a temporary seller's permit 90 days prior to your business start date Temporary Food Facility event organizer permit and booth permits: Organizer fees are due at least two weeks before the first event; late fee if submitted under two weeks out

Keep reading.

Permits in Anaheim, CAPermits in Bakersfield, CAPermits in Berkeley, CAPermits in Chula Vista, CAPermits in Fremont, CAPermits in Fresno, CACalifornia state rules: sales tax and cottage foodPermit checklist for San BernardinoWhat 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: Planning Division, 909-998-2000, Vanir Tower, 290 North D Street

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.

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