# Vendor event permits in Spotsylvania County, VA

In Spotsylvania County, VA, festivals, car shows and parades need a Temporary Use Permit from the Zoning Office, and music or entertainment festivals need a Special Entertainment Event Permit from the Board of Supervisors, applied for 60 days ahead. Food vendors need a $40 Rappahannock Health District permit, and vendors file Virginia's ST-50 sales tax return.

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

## For the organizer: Event permit

### Temporary Use Permit (festivals, car shows, parades)
The Zoning Office issues the permit after a staff review by Building, Fire Marshal, Health Department, Sheriff's Office and Zoning, using the 'Commercial Temporary Event' application on the county's Commercial Applications page. The applicant must make sure all other permits (Building, Fire Marshal, VDOT) are issued first.
- Who: organizer
- From: Spotsylvania County Planning and Zoning, Zoning Division
- When: Special events other than music or entertainment festivals, such as car shows, festivals and parades
- Timing: All special events: permit application submitted 60 days before the event
- Official page: https://www.spotsylvania.va.us/547/Special-Events

### Special Entertainment Event Permit
Staff review (Building, Fire Marshal, Health Department, Sheriff and Zoning) is forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for approval. The county page names a Special Entertainment Event Permit Application.
- Who: organizer
- From: Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors (staff review by Zoning)
- When: Music or entertainment festivals: gatherings held in open spaces, not inside a structure, mainly to listen to or take part in musical performances
- Timing: Application 60 days before the event
- Official page: https://www.spotsylvania.va.us/547/Special-Events

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

### Commercial Temporary Event/Tent application packet
The packet is a commercial permit application reviewed by Building, the Fire Marshal and Zoning; applications are not accepted unless fully completed, with the processing and deposit fee paid at submission. The packet is marked updated 6-2026.
- Who: organizer
- From: Spotsylvania County Community Development Division (Building, Fire Marshal, Zoning, Erosion review)
- When: Carnivals, festivals, weddings and other events using tents, per the packet title
- Official page: https://www.spotsylvania.va.us/DocumentCenter/View/16823

## For vendors: Vendor and business licenses

### County business license
The Commissioner of the Revenue assesses business licenses under County Code Chapter 11.1. The Business License Division can be reached at 540-507-7051 for questions about whether an event vendor must file.
- Who: vendors
- From: Spotsylvania County Commissioner of the Revenue, Business License Division
- When: Businesses in the county; the Commissioner's page says some businesses are exempt under Virginia Code 58.1-3703. It does not say whether one-day event vendors need a license.
- Official page: https://www.spotsylvania.va.us/528/Business-License

## For vendors: Sales tax

### Temporary Sales Tax Certificate/Return (Form ST-50)
The vendor collects sales tax at the rate of the locality where the event is held and files the ST-50 with payment by the 20th of the month after the event. The form lists a 5.3% general rate and 6% in the Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads and Central Virginia regions.
- Who: vendors
- From: Virginia Department of Taxation (Virginia Tax)
- When: Vendors without a permanent Virginia sales tax account who sell taxable goods at a show, fair or event
- Timing: Return due on or before the 20th of the month following the show
- Official page: https://www.tax.virginia.gov/sites/default/files/taxforms/retail-sales-and-use/any/st-50-any.pdf

### Permanent sales tax account for frequent event sellers
Virginia Tax says vendors at more than three events a year must register a sales tax account, and seasonal sellers can register as a seasonal business so they file only for the months they sell. Registration is done online through Virginia Tax's business registration page.
- Who: vendors
- From: Virginia Department of Taxation (Virginia Tax)
- When: Vendors who sell at events regularly. Virginia Tax's festival-season page says more than 3 events a year; the ST-50 form says 3 or more shows a year
- Official page: https://www.tax.virginia.gov/news/vendor-tips-fall-festival-season

### Fairs and flea markets are not "occasional sales" (23VAC10-210-570)
The regulation says sellers at fairs and flea markets must hold a certificate of registration and collect and remit tax, with no distinction between profit and nonprofit vendors, and they cannot use the occasional-sale exemption. It also lets the Department authorize a sponsor or operator to remit the tax for the vendors.
- Who: organizer and vendors
- From: Virginia Department of Taxation (Virginia Tax)
- When: Anyone selling tangible goods at a fair, flea market, carnival or circus, including nonprofits
- Official page: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title23/agency10/chapter210/section570/

## For vendors: Food vendors

### Temporary Food Establishment (temporary event) permit
Each vendor files the Temporary Event Application with the local health department. Large special events with 10 or more vendors also need the organizer's Temporary Event Coordinator Application. The state page adds that a vendor with a valid permanent VDH food permit generally does not need a second permit.
- Who: organizer and vendors
- From: Virginia Department of Health, Rappahannock Health District
- When: Anyone selling or serving food at a public event in the Rappahannock Health District, which covers Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania, Caroline and King George. Spotsylvania's environmental office is 540-507-7386
- Fee: $40 Temporary Event Application fee
- Timing: Vendor application at least 10 days before the event; coordinator application 30 days before for events with 10 or more vendors
- Official page: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/rappahannock/services/food-services/

## What the rules ask of organizers about vendors

Virginia Tax's rule for fairs and flea markets says the Department may authorize a sponsor or operator to remit the tax collected by the vendors at the event; an operator who wants that arrangement must apply to the Department in writing. The rule does not require a vendor list. A 1992 Tax Commissioner ruling also describes an organizer obtaining a single temporary registration covering all sellers at the event, which is optional. (https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title23/agency10/chapter210/section570/)

## Where the sources are unclear

- The county pages do not state a fee for the Temporary Use Permit or the Special Entertainment Event Permit; the tent packet says a processing and deposit fee is paid at submission. Ask Zoning at 540-507-7222.
- The Special Entertainment Event Permit Application is a Word document and was not read.
- No official page found for a Spotsylvania insurance minimum for event organizers as of 2026-10-11.
- Event-count threshold differs by source: the ST-50 form says sellers at 3 or more shows a year must register for a permanent sales tax account, while Virginia Tax's festival-season page says sellers at more than 3 events must register. Confirm with Virginia Tax at (804) 367-8037.
- A 1992 Virginia Tax Commissioner ruling (https://www.tax.virginia.gov/laws-rules-decisions/rulings-tax-commissioner/92-91) describes an organizer obtaining one temporary registration for all sellers at an event; this is optional and the ruling is old, so confirm with Virginia Tax.

## Questions

**Do I need a permit to host a vendor market in Spotsylvania County?**

Temporary Use Permit (festivals, car shows, parades) (Spotsylvania County Planning and Zoning, Zoning Division): The Zoning Office issues the permit after a staff review by Building, Fire Marshal, Health Department, Sheriff's Office and Zoning, using the 'Commercial Temporary Event' application on the county's Commercial Applications page. The applicant must make sure all other permits (Building, Fire Marshal, VDOT) are issued first. Special Entertainment Event Permit (Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors (staff review by Zoning)): Staff review (Building, Fire Marshal, Health Department, Sheriff and Zoning) is forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for approval. The county page names a Special Entertainment Event Permit Application.

**Do vendors need a license to sell at events in Spotsylvania County?**

County business license (Spotsylvania County Commissioner of the Revenue, Business License Division): The Commissioner of the Revenue assesses business licenses under County Code Chapter 11.1. The Business License Division can be reached at 540-507-7051 for questions about whether an event vendor must file.

**Who handles sales tax at a market in Spotsylvania County?**

Temporary Sales Tax Certificate/Return (Form ST-50) (Virginia Department of Taxation (Virginia Tax)): The vendor collects sales tax at the rate of the locality where the event is held and files the ST-50 with payment by the 20th of the month after the event. The form lists a 5.3% general rate and 6% in the Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads and Central Virginia regions. Permanent sales tax account for frequent event sellers (Virginia Department of Taxation (Virginia Tax)): Virginia Tax says vendors at more than three events a year must register a sales tax account, and seasonal sellers can register as a seasonal business so they file only for the months they sell. Registration is done online through Virginia Tax's business registration page. For organizers: Virginia Tax's rule for fairs and flea markets says the Department may authorize a sponsor or operator to remit the tax collected by the vendors at the event; an operator who wants that arrangement must apply to the Department in writing. The rule does not require a vendor list. A 1992 Tax Commissioner ruling also describes an organizer obtaining a single temporary registration covering all sellers at the event, which is optional.

**Do food vendors need a separate permit in Spotsylvania County?**

Temporary Food Establishment (temporary event) permit (Virginia Department of Health, Rappahannock Health District): Each vendor files the Temporary Event Application with the local health department. Large special events with 10 or more vendors also need the organizer's Temporary Event Coordinator Application. The state page adds that a vendor with a valid permanent VDH food permit generally does not need a second permit.

**How far ahead should I apply in Spotsylvania County?**

Temporary Use Permit (festivals, car shows, parades): All special events: permit application submitted 60 days before the event Special Entertainment Event Permit: Application 60 days before the event Temporary Sales Tax Certificate/Return (Form ST-50): Return due on or before the 20th of the month following the show Temporary Food Establishment (temporary event) permit: Vendor application at least 10 days before the event; coordinator application 30 days before for events with 10 or more vendors

## Sources

- https://www.spotsylvania.va.us/547/Special-Events
- https://www.spotsylvania.va.us/227/Commercial
- https://www.spotsylvania.va.us/DocumentCenter/View/16823
- https://www.spotsylvania.va.us/528/Business-License
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title58.1/chapter37/section58.1-3703/
- https://www.tax.virginia.gov/sites/default/files/taxforms/retail-sales-and-use/any/st-50-any.pdf
- https://www.tax.virginia.gov/news/vendor-tips-fall-festival-season
- https://www.tax.virginia.gov/register-business-virginia
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title23/agency10/chapter210/section570/
- https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/rappahannock/services/food-services/
- https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/environmental-health/food-safety-in-virginia/tfe/
- https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/rappahannock/spotsylvania-county-health-department-and-environmental-services/

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