# Vendor event permits in Santa Clarita, CA

In Santa Clarita, events at city parks need a Special Event Permit and events on private property need a Temporary Use Permit. Food booths need Los Angeles County Public Health permits, the Fire Prevention office reviews events, and vendors need a California seller's permit. The city says it does not require its own business license.

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

## For the organizer: Event permit

### Special Event Permit (city parks and public property)
Submit the Special Event Inquiry or application, with a security deposit to hold a date. Street use and park use are charged on the fee schedule. A private function with no public access is a facility rental instead.
- Who: organizer
- From: City of Santa Clarita (Special Events and Reservations)
- When: Events with a bigger impact than casual park use: tents, stages or other structures, use of a street, sidewalk or right-of-way, noise over the limit, or parking beyond the venue
- Fee: Application fee $200 for resident nonprofits, $250 for non-resident nonprofits and private functions, $300 for businesses and any commercial use (schedule effective January 1, 2026)
- Timing: All fees are due 30 days before the event; applications with less than one month notice add a $175 late fee
- Official page: https://santaclarita.gov/arts-and-culture/events/plan-and-book-event/

### Temporary Use Permit (private property)
The city says an event on private property needs a Temporary Use Permit rather than a park Special Event Permit. The city's planning FAQ points to the temporary use types in its Unified Development Code; the permit page itself was not found, so confirm with the Planning Division.
- Who: organizer
- From: City of Santa Clarita
- When: Special events held on private property
- Official page: https://santaclarita.gov/arts-and-culture/events/plan-and-book-event/

## For the organizer: Parks and public space

### Park, trail and street day rates for special events
Day rates on the 2026 schedule are $500 / $750 / $1,000 (resident nonprofit / non-resident nonprofit and private function / business) for community parks and for streets and roads, and $1,250 / $1,875 / $2,500 for regional parks. Security deposits run $250 to $1,500 by attendance, higher with alcohol.
- Who: organizer
- From: City of Santa Clarita
- When: Special events in city parks, on trails or on closed streets
- Fee: Community parks and streets and roads: $500, $750 or $1,000 per day; regional parks: $1,250, $1,875 or $2,500 per day
- Official page: https://santaclarita.gov/arts-and-culture/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/09/2026-Special-Event-Fees.pdf

## For the organizer: Fire safety, tents and cooking

### Fire Prevention application and Building and Safety permit for large tents and stages
The city says the Fire Prevention office must be told about the event and a Fire Prevention application filed. Large tents and stages also need a permit from City Building and Safety.
- Who: organizer
- From: Fire Prevention office (as named on the city page); City of Santa Clarita Building and Safety
- When: Events with food, large tents or stages
- Official page: https://santaclarita.gov/arts-and-culture/events/plan-and-book-event/

## For the organizer: Other rules

### Event insurance and alcohol permit
Organizers provide a certificate of insurance with endorsements naming the City as additional insured on a primary and non-contributory basis, auto liability if vehicles are used, and liquor liability if needed. Alcohol also needs a state Alcoholic Beverage Control permit. Limits are not stated.
- Who: organizer
- From: City of Santa Clarita
- When: Events on city property; events serving alcohol
- Official page: https://santaclarita.gov/arts-and-culture/events/plan-and-book-event/

## For vendors: Vendor and business licenses

### No city business license; county license may apply
Economic Development says the city neither issues nor requires business licenses, but a business may need a license from Los Angeles County depending on its activities. The planning FAQ instead says city business licensing is contracted through the county, so check with the county.
- Who: vendors
- From: City of Santa Clarita Economic Development
- When: Vendors and businesses operating in Santa Clarita
- Official page: https://econdev.santaclarita.gov/faq/

## For 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: https://cdtfa.ca.gov/industry/temporary-sellers/

### 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: https://cdtfa.ca.gov/formspubs/pub111/sellers-and-vendors.htm

## For vendors: Food vendors

### Community Event Organizer permit and Temporary Food Facility permits
Each food booth needs its own Temporary Food Facility permit, and food trucks need a valid county permit. Applications and questions go to communityevents@ph.lacounty.gov or (626) 430-5320. The county page names Long Beach, Pasadena and Vernon as cities with their own programs.
- Who: organizer and vendors
- From: Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division (Community Events Program)
- When: Public events with food or free samples: the organizer needs a permit when there are 2 or more food booths or 3 or more food trucks; private invitation-only events do not need a health permit
- Timing: Applications are due 30 days before the event; those under 14 calendar days out are late and add 25% of the permit fee or $50, whichever is greater
- Official page: https://publichealth.lacounty.gov/eh/business/community-events.htm

## 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. (https://cdtfa.ca.gov/formspubs/pub111/)

## Where the sources are unclear

- Santa Clarita's own pages conflict on business licenses: Economic Development says the city issues none, while the planning FAQ says licensing is contracted through Los Angeles County. Ask the county Treasurer and Tax Collector.
- The city's events page lists (661) 250-3710 as a fax number while the older inquiry form lists it as staff phone; use the email or City Hall number.

## Questions

**Do I need a permit to host a vendor market in Santa Clarita?**

Special Event Permit (city parks and public property) (City of Santa Clarita (Special Events and Reservations)): Submit the Special Event Inquiry or application, with a security deposit to hold a date. Street use and park use are charged on the fee schedule. A private function with no public access is a facility rental instead. Temporary Use Permit (private property) (City of Santa Clarita): The city says an event on private property needs a Temporary Use Permit rather than a park Special Event Permit. The city's planning FAQ points to the temporary use types in its Unified Development Code; the permit page itself was not found, so confirm with the Planning Division.

**Do vendors need a license to sell at events in Santa Clarita?**

No city business license; county license may apply (City of Santa Clarita Economic Development): Economic Development says the city neither issues nor requires business licenses, but a business may need a license from Los Angeles County depending on its activities. The planning FAQ instead says city business licensing is contracted through the county, so check with the county.

**Who handles sales tax at a market in Santa Clarita?**

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 Santa Clarita?**

Community Event Organizer permit and Temporary Food Facility permits (Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division (Community Events Program)): Each food booth needs its own Temporary Food Facility permit, and food trucks need a valid county permit. Applications and questions go to communityevents@ph.lacounty.gov or (626) 430-5320. The county page names Long Beach, Pasadena and Vernon as cities with their own programs.

**How far ahead should I apply in Santa Clarita?**

Special Event Permit (city parks and public property): All fees are due 30 days before the event; applications with less than one month notice add a $175 late fee Seller's permit or temporary seller's permit: You may obtain a temporary seller's permit 90 days prior to your business start date Community Event Organizer permit and Temporary Food Facility permits: Applications are due 30 days before the event; those under 14 calendar days out are late and add 25% of the permit fee or $50, whichever is greater

## Sources

- https://santaclarita.gov/arts-and-culture/events/plan-and-book-event/
- https://santaclarita.gov/arts-and-culture/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/09/2026-Special-Event-Fees.pdf
- https://santaclarita.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/42/migration/Special%20Event%20Inquiry%20Form.pdf
- https://santaclarita.gov/planning/faqs/
- https://econdev.santaclarita.gov/faq/
- https://cdtfa.ca.gov/industry/temporary-sellers/
- https://cdtfa.ca.gov/formspubs/pub111/sellers-and-vendors.htm
- https://publichealth.lacounty.gov/eh/business/community-events.htm
- https://cdtfa.ca.gov/formspubs/pub111/

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