Permits: Spokane, WA

Running a vendor market in Spokane.

To run a vendor market in Spokane, an organizer applies for a city Special Event Permit when the event uses public property or needs public safety services, with a fee set by expected attendance. Vendors need a Spokane business registration and Washington sales tax registration, and food booths need a Spokane Regional Health District temporary food permit.

Updated October 11, 2026

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For the organizer

Event permit.

Special Event Permit

The application is filed online and the city's departments respond within about 10 days with any added requirements. Fire permits, park use, temporary entertainment facility charges and services such as off-duty police are extra.

Who: Organizer
From: City of Spokane
When: Pre-planned events using or affecting public property or facilities, or needing city public safety services, such as events with street closures, moving routes, sound amplification or over 10,000 attendees
Fee: Application fee by size: $50 (50 or fewer people), $100 (51-1,000), $250 (1,001-10,000), $500 (10,001 or more)
Timing: Apply as early as 90 days and no less than 30 days before the event

Official page

For the organizer

Other rules.

Event liability insurance

The city is named as additional insured; the permits page says a homeowner's policy may substitute for small residential events.

Who: Organizer
From: City of Spokane
When: Special event permit holders
Fee: Comprehensive general liability of at least $1 million single limit

Official page

For your vendors

Vendor and business licenses.

Temporary business registration and itinerant vendor permit

The city says no one may do business in or with the city without a valid temporary business registration, and itinerant vendors need a permit on top of it. Both can be obtained online through the city's permit portal or by PDF application. The page states no fee.

Who: Vendors
From: City of Spokane Taxes and Licenses
When: Businesses with no permanent location, or doing business in the city without a regular registration; itinerant vendors selling from fixed or temporary spots

Official page

For your vendors

Sales tax.

Retail sales tax

Sellers collect sales tax from customers and remit it as trust funds with their excise tax return. The state rate is 6.5% and the local rate varies by location, based on where the customer receives the goods.

Who: Vendors
From: Washington State Department of Revenue
When: Businesses making retail sales in Washington, including at events.

Official page

Temporary Registration Certificate

Each certificate covers one event only. Register online or through a local field office, no earlier than six months before the event, and file the certificate form within 10 business days after the event; it cannot be filed online.

Who: Vendors
From: Washington State Department of Revenue
When: A business with no more than two events per year in Washington, each lasting no longer than one month, such as home, garden or craft shows, antique shows or fairs. Not available to established Washington businesses or those needing another agency's permit.
Fee: There is no fee for a Temporary Registration Certificate

Official page

For your vendors

Food vendors.

Temporary food establishment (TFE) permit

Fees depend on the menu risk level and number of days. Applications under 3 days before the event are not accepted, and large-event organizers pay a separate fee by number of food vendors.

Who: Organizer and vendors
From: Spokane Regional Health District
When: Selling or giving away food or drink to the public at a community event in Spokane County
Fee: Level 1 from $120 (1 day) to $180 (annual); Level 2 from $325 to $400; Level 3 from $400 to $520 (recurring); large-event organizer $500 (20-39 food vendors) or $1,250 (40+)
Timing: At least 14 days before the event or fees may double

Official page

Organizer duty

What the rules ask of organizers about vendors.

A special event promoter (someone who organizes, operates or sponsors an event and contracts with vendors) must make a good faith effort to verify every vendor selling goods or services has a Department of Revenue tax registration number, put that requirement and a number field in written vendor contracts, keep each vendor's name, address and number for one year, and give the Department a vendor list within 20 days of a written request. Penalties include $100 per unregistered vendor, with exclusions for nonprofit-benefit events and events charging vendors $200 or less.

Official page

Timeline

When to apply.

Special Event Permit: Apply as early as 90 days and no less than 30 days before the event
Temporary food establishment (TFE) permit: At least 14 days before the event or fees may double

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 Spokane, WA?

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 Department of Revenue's Spokane endorsement page lists fees for non-resident businesses (none at $0-$4,000 gross income in the city, $65.50 plus employee fees at $4,000-$18,000), but it does not say how they apply to a temporary registration; ask Taxes and Licenses at 509-625-6070.
The Spokane permits page mentions fire permits of about $210; no Spokane Fire Department page was read for tent or cooking rules.
Spokane Regional Health District fees come from its fee page, which does not show a revision date.

Questions

Common questions.

Do I need a permit to host a vendor market in Spokane?

Special Event Permit (City of Spokane): The application is filed online and the city's departments respond within about 10 days with any added requirements. Fire permits, park use, temporary entertainment facility charges and services such as off-duty police are extra.

Do vendors need a license to sell at events in Spokane?

Temporary business registration and itinerant vendor permit (City of Spokane Taxes and Licenses): The city says no one may do business in or with the city without a valid temporary business registration, and itinerant vendors need a permit on top of it. Both can be obtained online through the city's permit portal or by PDF application. The page states no fee.

Who handles sales tax at a market in Spokane?

Retail sales tax (Washington State Department of Revenue): Sellers collect sales tax from customers and remit it as trust funds with their excise tax return. The state rate is 6.5% and the local rate varies by location, based on where the customer receives the goods. Temporary Registration Certificate (Washington State Department of Revenue): Each certificate covers one event only. Register online or through a local field office, no earlier than six months before the event, and file the certificate form within 10 business days after the event; it cannot be filed online. For organizers: A special event promoter (someone who organizes, operates or sponsors an event and contracts with vendors) must make a good faith effort to verify every vendor selling goods or services has a Department of Revenue tax registration number, put that requirement and a number field in written vendor contracts, keep each vendor's name, address and number for one year, and give the Department a vendor list within 20 days of a written request. Penalties include $100 per unregistered vendor, with exclusions for nonprofit-benefit events and events charging vendors $200 or less.

Do food vendors need a separate permit in Spokane?

Temporary food establishment (TFE) permit (Spokane Regional Health District): Fees depend on the menu risk level and number of days. Applications under 3 days before the event are not accepted, and large-event organizers pay a separate fee by number of food vendors.

How far ahead should I apply in Spokane?

Special Event Permit: Apply as early as 90 days and no less than 30 days before the event Temporary food establishment (TFE) permit: At least 14 days before the event or fees may double

Keep reading.

Permits in Bellevue, WAPermits in Seattle, WAPermits in Tacoma, WAPermits in Vancouver, WAWashington state rules: sales tax and cottage foodPermit checklist for SpokaneWhat 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: Special Events Coordinator: eventpermits@spokanecity.org or 311 (509-755-2489)

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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